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700 Introduction to Safety Management
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Successful Recognition Programs

There are many types of safety recognition programs promoted these days. While some are more effective than others, it's clear that no single program fits all situations.

Your recognition program must fit the culture of your organization.

For a recognition program to succeed, it needs to align with the organization's unique culture. For instance, you can't expect a lot of participation in a safety recognition program in a coercive corporate culture. It just won't work. On the other hand, in a world-class safety culture, managers often see recognition as an opportunity to build positive working relationships.

Safety recognition programs work best when they exist within a culture of strong tough-caring leadership. Even if your company doesn't have a formal safety recognition program, effective informal safety incentives and recognitions can still be in place. In the best-case scenario, a formal program may not be necessary if leaders already provide meaningful incentives and recognition on a one-on-one basis with their employees.

To assess the need for incentives and recognition, take a look at the quality of leadership within your company. To enhance leadership, consider implementing the concepts presented in this module. These ideas will help steer your corporate culture in the direction of strong safety leadership.

Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.

3-3. When do safety recognition programs work best?