In June of 1996, the National Safety Council (NSC) announced the first National Safety Month. Thirty years later, the annual June observance continues to promote workplace safety to employers and employees in high-risk industries, including manufacturing.

This year, the first week of National Safety Month focuses on moving safety forward by advancing a culture of safety with forward-thinking strategies and tools.

This blog will focus on some of the strategies and tools that FlexTrades uses year-round to promote safety in the workplace for our employees.

Proactive Approach

Our Risk & Safety Team is involved with every project before we have any boots on the ground. Before sending one of our employees into what could be a dangerous environment, it is important to understand the risks a project presents and ensure that each potential job site is proactively addressing those risks to keep people safe.

Some of the first documents we request from a potential client are their OSHA logs and safety records. The Risk & Safety Team reviews those documents to understand the site history and ensure safety compliance.

Sometimes, we will find a gap in a potential client’s safety approach or documentation. Whenever that happens, we work to resolve those gaps. Worst case, we may decline a project if we do not feel those gaps can be properly filled or if there is unnecessary risk to a FlexTrades employee. But normally, safety concerns are addressed and we can confidently move forward.

Early in the relationship, our Risk & Safety Team builds a relationship with the client safety point of contact so there is a direct line of communication from the start.

Communicating Safety

Safety is everyone’s responsibility, and it is important to regularly communicate safety topics to keep them top of mind. At FlexTrades, we produce content that helps maintain safety awareness across the industry. That includes anything from blogs like this to social media posts that promote content from organizations like the National Safety Council (NSC) or Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

It is equally important to consistently and clearly communicate safety information to our technicians. Leading up to a deployment, our technicians receive all the details about the project they will be starting. This includes their travel arrangements and details about their position, but it also includes Safety First Reminders.

Safety First Reminders include the basics, like what PPE a technician is required to bring versus what will be provided on site. The reminders also include position-specific information. For instance, a welder’s Safety First Reminders will include reminders about ventilation, inspecting equipment, protective barriers, and fire safety.

Reporting Unsafe Conditions

Unfortunately, this is not a perfect world. Bad things can happen despite proactive efforts to prevent them, and we always want to be aware of any unsafe activity so we can address it and learn how to prevent it.

With that in mind, we created an Employee Safety Hotline. This is a phone number provided to all employees where they can anonymously report anything that is unsafe on a job site.

What can be reported?

  • Unsafe working conditions
  • Accidents, injuries, or near misses
  • Harassment, bullying, or workplace violence
  • Any concerns affecting safety or well-being

For some people, it can be hard to speak up about these topics, especially if it involves a coworker or leader. With this anonymous hotline, we hope to enable all our employees to comfortably report any unsafe activities.

Recognizing Safe Practices

It is also important to celebrate safe outcomes and recognize the people who go above and beyond to contribute to them. Our SpotSafe Program empowers our Operations Engagement Managers (OEMs) to quickly recognize technicians for safe, proactive behavior. It also provides additional incentives for everyone to find ways to maintain the highest safety standards.

Why should this be important to everyone?

  • Safer, more efficient projects with reduced risk and downtime
  • Hazards are identified and corrected in real time
  • A strong safety culture is promoted on projects
  • Technicians are motivated to perform at their best

There are three categories for recognition in the SpotSafe Program.

The first category for recognition is “Hazard Hero.” This recognizes employees for reporting and/or correcting hazards or near misses. A hazard or near miss may not cause an injury the first time or even the hundredth time, but it represents a gap that can be filled to keep everyone safe.

The second category for recognition is “Safe Start.” This recognizes employees for consistently following PPE requirements on site. PPE requirements are based on lessons learned in blood and tears, and they are the last line of defense in the Hierarchy of Controls.

The third category is “Lead by Example.” This recognizes employees for coaching peers, mentoring, or leading safety initiatives. Leadership is not just top-down. Someone who takes safety to heart and encourages those around them to do the same is extremely valuable.

Winners receive a certificate announcing which category they were nominated for. They also earn raffle entries for monthly and annual awards that include prizes and company-wide recognition.

Conclusion

National Safety Month serves as an important reminder that safety is never a one-time conversation or a box to check. In manufacturing and skilled trades, maintaining a strong culture of safety requires consistent communication, proactive planning, accountability, and recognition of the people who make safety a priority every day.

At FlexTrades, safety is built into every stage of the process. From evaluating projects before they begin, to preparing technicians for the environments they will enter, to creating open channels for reporting concerns and recognizing employees who lead by example, these efforts are all part of our commitment to protecting our people and helping create safer, more productive job sites for everyone involved.

As we recognize National Safety Month this June, we encourage everyone across the industry to continue moving safety forward by staying proactive, speaking up, and supporting one another both on and off the job site.