Best Practices

Risk Management

BEST PRACTICES for loss control are very important steps to decreasing injury and loss. Only loss control measures that have proven to prevent loss have been included. Best practices are further screened by three criteria that we feel will help to make them effective. The criteria are:

1. Does the Best Practice increase Accountability?

2. Will the Best Practice help to bring about a "safe" cultural change?

3. What is the "sphere of influence": How many people are affected, and how often are they affected?

Start with one or two at a time and increase your best practices over time. Best Practices are suggested because the applicability may vary with the type of work performed and we would like you to pick the items that you feel would be most helpful. If you would like to share a best practice that meets the criteria above, please submit that practice to Risk Management.

1. Regularly Monitor and Talk About Loss Control Performance at Every Level. (Monthly)

o   The Mayor's Cabinet reviews the Divisions.

o    The Division meetings review the Departments.

o    The Departments review the Section's performance.

o    Set performance goals.

(Information is provided by Risk Management.)

2. Review All Accidents For Ways To Prevent Loss.

Use the "Formal Review Process" at the bottom of the Employee Injury Report to raise expectations.

o Ask the question: "How can we prevent a repeat of this accident?"

o Has corrective action been implemented?

o As a manager, "Expect what you inspect."

3. Require All Annual or Long-term Plans to Address Loss Prevention.

4. Include Safety as a Topic on All Performance Appraisals and Reviews. (PARs)

5. Require a Safety Topic for All "Established" Meetings.

	o Set the example at internal meetings. o Cover life-safety issues at external meetings. Exits, First-aid, AED Location.

6. Establish Safety Policies and Standard Operating Procedures.

	o Review existing City Wide Policies with Staff. o Create and document internal policy or SOPs as needed. o Hold all accountable to the policies and procedures. o Share policies and SOPs with contractors and other stake holders.

7. Establish "Safety" as a "Decision Making Value".

	o Encourage employees to think about safety as criteria when making decisions. o Recognize safe decision making.

8. Regularly Inspect the Workplace and Job Sites for Hazards.

	o Inspect for physical hazards that could cause injury. o Inspect for human actions that can cause or prevent injury. o Recognize human actions that prevent injury.

9. Post Warning or Signs for all Known Safety Hazards.

10. Require a Minimum Level of Safety Knowledge for All Managers and Supervisors.

o Recommend the OSHA-30 Hour class as the minimum level of training.

11. Develop a Safety Schematic for the Work Group.

	o Identify all Washington Administrative Codes that apply to your department. o Identify all training and at what interval that it needs to be performed. o Review annually.