1999 HERSHEY CHALLENGE #1
Create ideas which encourage employees to be proactive and make a personal
commitment in Hershey Foods Total Safety Awareness Plan.
Background Information:
Employee safety is a top priority in Hershey Foods facilities since
our employees are our greatest assets. Employees need to understand that
safety is something that they are able to control. However, in the busy
work environment employees do not always focus on safe work practices.
Employees that don't constantly practice or think about their personal
safety are a greater risk for having an accident. Even though each
Hershey Foods facility does have an existing Total Safety Awareness Plan
(TSAP), there is a need to synergize and improve.
Details of the Challenge:
Hershey Foods TSAP is based on methods and techniques to educate and
influence employees to work more safely. It is assumed that visual aids
such as posters are effective, but our safety plan includes other communication
tools such as safety seminars, safety meetings, safety mascots, posters,
banners, videos, reward and recognition plans, etc. In order to continuously
improve TSAP and make it more effective we must find visual aid ways to
communicate that worker safety is the responsibility of each and every
employee. The challenge is: "How can we more effectively make safe working
habits a standard work procedure for our employees?"
An investigation of methods and techniques which have been proven to
be effective in communicating information to employees would be a good
starting point. The visual aid needs to be successful in conveying
the message that "safety must be a personal commitment and is everyone's
responsibility!" Teams are expected to define each element of a safety
visual aid, why it would be used, and why it works. The team should
also address how long each visual aid should be posted before it no longer
effectively conveys the message. How could these program elements
be changed to address visual fatigue? Examples of effective visual
aids are expected.
Expectations:
1. Research and create the most effective ways
to communicate a "Total Safety Awareness Plan" for Hershey Foods facilities
that would include the following:
a. A central theme that "safety must
be a personal commitment and is everyone's responsibility!"
b. Examples and explanations of effective
communication methods and techniques between management and employees.
c. Define what makes an effective visual aid
to convey the safety messages.
d. Identify key elements in an effective safety
awareness plan and provide plenty of examples.
e. Create unique and effective examples of
the visual aids that you decide would be most effective.
2. Submission of posters, banners, mascots,
& other visual aids will be considered an important part of the assignment
and are encouraged, but the overall challenge is more than a simple poster
or banner development contest. The concept of effectively communicating
a "Total Safety Awareness Plan" must be understood and illustrated.
Suggested Approaches to the Challenge.
1. Choose a team of 2-6 students to research
and develop your program as a total team effort with specific assignments
to
each team member and a timetable
for completion of each task.
2. Use your local library and the Internet
to research safety topics for all types of corporate employees and identify
successful
communication techniques.
3. Identify sources of information on employee/worker
safety topics and statistics.
4. Review the list of examples of Hershey Foods
safety topics, but remember that these are only examples and the list is
not
inclusive. A central
theme that "safety must be a personal commitment and is everyone's responsibility!"
5. Find and review government regulations for worker
safety.
6. Develop a "test program" and identify an individual
or individuals to review your plan and make suggestions for
improvements.
7. Finalize your project and submit it in printed
form with the appropriate visual aids as attachments.
8. If your entry is selected as a finalist
you will be contacted and asked to develop a 10-15 minute verbal presentation
to be
presented to the judges
at Hershey Foods Corp.
9. Good luck and thanks for entering the competition!
EXAMPLES OF MANUFACTURING FACILITY WORKER SAFETY TOPICS:
1.
Improper operation of electric forklift trucks.
2.
Not wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) such as: goggles,
gloves, earplugs, etc.
3.
Removing machine guards
4.
Importance of JSA (Job Safety Analysis)
5.
Proper lifting techniques.
6.
Not using lockouts when working on or around electrical equipment
7.
Not following confined space rules and regulations
8.
Chemical safety
9.
Understanding Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)
10.
Forgetting to use handrails while using steps
11.
Utilizing proper signage in work areas (general safety awareness)
12.
Horseplay
EXAMPLES OF CORPORATE WIDE SAFETY TOPICS:
1.
Slips, Trips & Falls
2.
Fire/Tornado Evacuation Plans & drills
3.
Safety Recognition/Incentive Programs
4.
Confined Space Program/Training
5.
MSDS Management Software
6.
Fire Prevention Plans
7.
Laboratory Safety
8.
Respirator Safety Program
9.
Contractor Safety
Please send any comments, additions, or suggestions about
this web site to
Dr. Dan Holt.
Copyright: All rights reserved. Let's Get
Real, Inc. grants permission to distribute paper copies of this document
for educational or advocacy purposes, provided that no fee is charged (not
even to cover costs).
This document may be linked to your site.