You might think that the main objective to use for a safety award program would be pretty simple…reduce accidents.  While that might be self evident, should it really be the specific objective of the program, or the end goal.  A matter of semantics…we think not.

Too often safety incentive programs, especially those using large cash bonuses, are implemented to award employees at the end if they don’t nave an accident.  Those types of programs may luckily produce some results, but effectively have nothing to do with changing behaviors of your employees. After these types of program are completed, without behavior change, the performance often goes back to the norm, and you have effectively done nothing to effect long term change.  The one thing you did do, is cement the cash bonus into the compensation package and make it very easy to remove.

Here are some ideas for other objectives and ways to implement an award program that will go a long way to changing behavior and culminate in reduction of incidents of accident and injuries over the long term.