2023 is almost upon us. Time to look forward to what’s ahead! This time of year is a great time to set organizational safety intentions aimed at helping us have the BEST and safest 2023 possible. At BEST Safety Training and Consulting, we believe that setting safety goals sets a tone for a safe, healthy, and successful year. Why set safety goals?
- Provide focus on safety
- Send the message that safety matters
- Use goals as part of safety reward or incentive programs
- Build positive safety culture
- Send a cohesive message to all staff about what’s important this year
- Start the New Year off with a positive message
- Increase engagement and commitment when you work toward common goals
How to Set SMART Safety Goals
Have you ever heard of SMART Goals? When it comes to safety goals for 2023, think SMART. Smart stands for:
Specific: A specific goal answers questions such as:
- What needs to be accomplished?
- Who is going to be responsible?
- Who are the key players who will help us achieve this goal?
- What steps do we need to take to get there?
The more specific your goal, the clearer the path to achieving it.
Measurable: Great goals have measurable success indicators. For example, setting a goal of reducing lost-time injuries looks great on paper! But how will you know you’ve achieved the goal? You’ll want to look at quantifiable and measurable data to determine if the strategies you put in place are reducing the number of lost-time injuries. Regardless of the goal, be sure that there is a method in place for measuring progress and success. If the data isn’t indicative of progress, you may need to switch strategies or revise the goal.
Achievable: Goals need to be achievable. For instance, if we take our example of reducing lost-time injuries and say we have a goal of zero lost-time injuries for 2023, is that achievable? It all depends. If we had zero or maybe one last year, then it is perhaps achievable. But if we had 20 last year, reducing lost-time injuries to zero the following year isn’t an achievable goal and needs to be revised. An achievable goal in this example might be reducing lost-time injuries by 20%, as opposed to aiming for zero.
Relevant: Take a step back from the goal and ask, “Why am I setting the goal that I am setting?” Doing this will help you ensure your goal is relevant to the overall health and safety initiatives at your organization.
Timely or Time-Bound: Setting a safety goal is a great start, especially if it’s specific, measurable, achievable, and relevant. But without a “by-when” the goal lacks the teeth it needs to be truly effective. For example, if we set a goal to reduce lost-time injuries by 20%, what does that mean? Does it mean 20% each quarter? 20% by the end of the fiscal year? Or 20% from now until the end of time? Making your goal time-bound will build accountability and enable you to set new goals once you reach your current targets.
Where Do I Start?
Not sure where to start when it comes to setting SMART safety goals for 2023? Start by reflecting. Maybe that’s something you do alone, or perhaps you bring a few key players together, such as the JHSC. To get you started, we’ve listed a few ideas below.
Get More Tips on Planning for the Safest Year Yet!
SMART Goal 1: Support the Right to Disconnect
On June 2, 2022, employers had to have created and implemented a written policy supporting workers’ rights to disconnect outside of working hours, with a few exceptions. But having a policy isn’t enough. Set a SMART goal to help your organization commit to ensuring that all employees are taking that much-needed time away to recharge so that they bring their best selves forward when it’s time for work.
SMART Goal 2: Motivate your JHSC
A motivated Joint Health and Safety Committee (JHSC) is an effective JHSC! Having an effective JHSC has numerous benefits, such as:
- Lower injury and illness rates in the workplace, resulting in less lost time
- A more positive safety culture, resulting in proactive safety initiatives and programs
- Happier and healthier workers with better productivity rates
Learn More about why you need an effective JHSC
Set a SMART goal to keep the JHSC motivated and effective, such as implementing an incentive program or giving them new stretch goals. And don’t forget to reward the JHSC for their hard work and efforts!
Learn More about JHSC Training
SMART Goal 3: Commit to Learning More in 2023
Make 2023 the year that all your employees take the training required to keep them compliant, safe, and well at work. This may include getting workers re-trained or re-certified if their training has expired, providing new or updated training to all employees, or committing to getting all JHSC members certified.
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Not Sure Where to Start? BEST Safety Training Can Help
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To ask questions about our training programs or to book a consultation to help you develop a customized working at heights safety program contact us online or call 226.777.7385. Visit us 24/7 on the web at bestsafetytraining.ca.