Reactive vs. Proactive Recognition
Safety recognition may be reactive, proactive, or both. The approach depends on the nature of the actions or behaviors that are being recognized. Let's take a look at both types of recognition.
Reactive Recognition
Unfortunately, some companies recognize in a "reactive" way for behaviors and actions that occur after incidents and accidents. Reactive safety recognition programs are ineffective because they function only to minimize the negative impact of events that have already occurred. What is the most common inappropriate behavior in a reactive safety culture? Failing to report accidents.
That's right! "Failing to report" is a behavior as much as the act of reporting. Why do employees decide not to report an injury?
Look for a sign in the workplace that says something like, "300 accident-free days!" When you see a sign like this, the company may actually be rewarding its employees for withholding injury reports. Sure, they might have 300 days without a reported accident, but that does not necessarily mean they have been accident-free for 300 days: it may only mean they have gone that long without accidents being reported. In reality, some workplaces may be full of the "walking wounded" because employees don't report an injury or illness. So, why don't employees report accidents?
The problem occurs because employees don't think it's important or they may actually be afraid to report their injuries. Employees don't want to spoil their department's safety record, especially if they are competing with other departments. In some instances, the peer pressure is so great that employees will not report an injury until it's obvious or the pain becomes so severe they miss work and must report it to their supervisor. Consequently, the actual number of injuries in the workplace may decline, but the severity of each injury increases, as do the associated accident costs. In such cases, everybody loses.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
1-4. Why do employees fail to report injuries in a reactive safety culture?
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