What’s hidden under the slogan ‘Anzen Ichi Ban’ (Safety First) part 10 – Safety management.

Many companies and businesses nowadays regard safety management more important than other management systems due to the fact that it could stimulate cost saving, produce higher quality products and services, provide ideal working environment and an organizational culture that is positive towards attaining higher goals. The topic like 5S which was traditionally regarded as the steps for the betterment of housekeeping has made its way into more important revenue generating activities integrating itself with kaizen or continuous improvement, total productive maintenance and time management systems. In fact safety management, if we were to look at it in a broad perspective is the driving power of all systems that are essential for a good business of today.
A successful safety management today does not only focus on accident prevention and accidents investigations, it encompasses all activities that make business running and earning profit. As mentioned earlier, this is accomplished through its integration with all the functions of the organization. The benefits that a company may enjoy can be listed as following:

1. In human resources department: High employees’ morale is always associated with organizations that are accident free and always show evidence of lower rate of employment turn over. People are more attracted working in accident free organization – it goes without saying.

2. In finance department: Accident free environment of a business would resul in lower premiums of various types of insurances. Medical expenditure would also be at minimum.

3. In manufacturing department: High efficiency of work performance and lower resignation rate are the forces behind better quality products and services, hence meeting the requirements of customers. Meeting delivery datelines of customers is also one of its merits.

4. In design department: As all the employees are driven by the ‘Safety First’ slogan, design personnel will take serious considerations on the safety aspects when designing new products or an improved new versions of the existing products. This will increase the confidence of the customers towards using the products or services provided by the company.

5. In purchasing or procurement department: Getting reliable services from suppliers and sub-contractors can be a nightmare if they were unreliable, problematic and without the knowledge of 5S. Sub-contractors who are outstanding in the safety records would normally share the same values with the principle companies and often they have no problem work in accordance to the set of rules that were imposed upon the by the principle companies when signing the service agreements.

6. In the CEO’s department: As the leader of the organization or the company, he has to lead his organization by giving undivided attention and facilitate in all safety activities. He has to demonstrate leadership by example and to uphold the 3 objectives of safety management; firstly zero loss of life, secondly zero injuries and thirdly zero damage to properties.