What does it take to be a workplace hero? It takes someone willing and able to put their life on the line for theirs, of course. No one ever said being a hero would always come easy or without risk. But with an average annual accident rate at 20 percent (a whopping number), accidents are not only amongst the most costly but also the deadliest workplace injuries that commercial fleets face every year. There are many reasons why companies should build a culture of a safe work environment, including lower employee turnover rates and increased engagement levels, which then leads to better morale!
Calgary fleet maintenance shops understand that safety is a team effort that requires a multi-pronged approach. Whether you have an established program or not, these elements will help boost your fleet’s safety efforts in the future. Utilizing monthly training sessions to keep drivers up-to-date on new regulations and best practices can be one way of establishing this culture within your company, as well as rewarding those who participate with bonuses for their hard work!
How do you create a fleet culture that values safety?
- Start with good communication.
- Publish written policies outlining your traffic safe driving expectations and procedures to make them clear, comprehensive, enforceable documents for all drivers.
- Distribute these policies regularly, so they are accessible for every driver in the company at any time of day or night!
- This allows each individual to know what is expected from them while also knowing their rights under this policy document that equally protects both parties.
- The last step would be implementing an infrastructure where employees feel comfortable bringing up potential problems without fear of retribution – it’s imperative everyone knows how important their input is when shaping the future success of your business by maintaining its wellbeing through proper precautions like practicing road safety standards.
Create a contract as part of your safety program
Fleet maintenance shops in Calgary hear stories of how every company has a fleet of cars, trucks, or other vehicles to move their product and employees from one location to the next. It is important for these companies that this fleet be safe so they can continue operating efficiently without interruption due to vehicle malfunctions or accidents on the road.
One way you can do this is by establishing a contract with all your drivers as part of your safety program for employees, which will acknowledge expectations like maintenance, reporting violations, and safety performance. A contract is a great tool to maintain an efficient business but, most importantly, keep everyone safe on the roads.
Involve yourself in the safety program
Safety may seem like a no-brainer, but drivers notice whether their fleet truly places the highest priority on safety.
- Do managers attend meetings where driver concerns are discussed?
- Are they encouraged to bring up any potential hazards or unsafe practices in conversations with other employees?
- When customers make demands that potentially impact safety, do our top leaders ask themselves if it’s safe before going ahead and doing anything?
A culture of safety is created every day through consistent messaging from management and communicating what we value at the company.
Provide regular training to keep drivers up to date
In a world where the potential for danger is always present, it’s important to stay safe. Having experienced drivers can help reduce traffic accidents and keep your employees safer on the road, but they need periodic training sessions from time to time.
To make sure that all of your drivers are well-coached in safety protocols, set up corporate group coaching sessions with predetermined standards that you want every driver to meet or to exceed so as not to have any bias during one-on-one meetings. With standardized scripts available online, good coaches should easily provide this service without having difficulty remembering scripted words when running these types of workshops!
Lead by example
Leadership is vital in the safety of a fleet. They can set the tone for everyone to follow by creating policies, communicating values, and allocating resources so that no one gets left behind.
- When leadership creates a strong culture of safety, every driver feels responsible for their contribution to it, leading them to go out of their way to eliminate unsafe behaviors when they see one happening on site.
- Drivers should view this as an important part, just like hard work or punctuality, since having that quality shows how much you care about your job. Additionally, committed employees help with retention rates because people are willing to save lives and protect the bottom line too!
Contact CFM Auto Pro to book an appointment!
