Obtaining Top Management Buy-In

Continue building buy-in for the needed changes by building an alliance or partnership between management, the union (if one exists). 

To get where you want to go, you must know where you are starting from. A variety of self-audit mechanisms can be employed to compare your site processes with other recognized models of excellence such as VPP sites. Visiting other sites to gain firsthand information is also invaluable [7]. 

Establish a steering committee comprised of management, employees, union, and the safety staff. The purpose of this group is to facilitate, support, and direct the change processes. This will provide overall guidance and direction and avoid duplication of efforts. To be effective, the group must have the authority to get things done [7]. 

Develop the organization s safety vision, key policies, goals, measures, and strategic and operational plans to provide guidance and serve as a check. These are used to ask yourself if the decision you are about to make supports or detracts from your intended safety improvement process. 

Align the organization by establishing a shared vision of safety goals and objectives versus production. Top management must be willing to 

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