Steering team, safety

A Safety Steering Team plays a critical role in developing a Total Safety Culture, providing policy-making, oversight, and general support. All this is simply more than any one person can handle. At the start, there are at least two frmctions this team serves. 

Content function groups typically produce better ideas, and more creative problem solutions tiian individuals working alone. 

Process/wncfion-group-based solutions or decisions lead to more commitment and enthusiastic involvement than individual solutions or decisions handed down. 

Before creating a Safety Steering Team, it is important to look at the existing committee structure in your organization. You do not want to duplicate the efforts of tire safety department or some other relevant standing committee. For example, a current employee team might be able to take on the responsibility of coordinating efforts to achieve a Total Safety Culture. 

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Safety Steering Team - oversees the effort of all other teams listed here. 

Overseeing and reviewing safety programs and processes (a safety steering team). 

Did it do any good " This is the central question the Safety Steering Team must be prepared to answer about any intervention. Chapter 18 offered guidelines for evaluating impact. At the start of an evaluation process, these questions need to be answered. 

Safety contact subteam Designate or select a safety contact from each department or work cell. They can function as a subteam of the steering team. Their activities could include departmental safety audits and safety communication. Figure 9.1 gives you a broader overview of a safety contact s possible contributions. This is yet another way... 

Injuries should be investigated as soon as practical after they have occurred. Injuries that are minor in nature should be investigated by the supervisor. In some warehouses, employees from the safety committee or safety steering committee may assist in the process. Where serious injuries or incidents occur, a management and employee team approach should be used. This process may help uncover more facts, and a variety of appropriate solutions can be achieved by the group. 

The first step towards safety for the individual healthcare professional is to appreciate the ubiquity and multiple sources of error and hazard and then consider how it applies in one s own environment. Which are the most dangerous processes on the ward Which are most prone to error and failure When is the system at its most vulnerable When are errors most likely to occur What are the principal forms of harm that may afflict patients in this environment Really grappling with this requires openness about error and a willingness to discuss the hazards and dangers of the environment, as a team is much more likely to be able to monitor and prevent error than an individual. Anyone at any level can foster openness about error and hazard. A nurse running a ward can make it clear that it is acceptable to discuss the possibility of error can constantly reinforce the possibilities for error, the need for anticipation and cross-checking. The most junior nurse can steer a new doctor away from a hazardous situation. All of this is critical safety conscious behaviour. 

Steering committee Same as design team Conduct and publish statistical analysis of observation data Problem solve and ensure maintenance of behavioral safety process Set improvement goals Develop and carry out action plans... 

After implementing the basic elements of the behavioral safety process, the design team may need to schedule additional steering committee presentations to seek approval and support for various special programs (described in Chapter 23). 

Is being an observer voluntary For most organizations that implement behavioral safety, participation as an observer is voluntary for employees, but this is a decision that should be made by the design team. In some organizations, conducting observations is voluntary for employees but is required of managers, supervisors, and steering committee members. 

Steering committee members How to implement and maintain the behavioral safety process How to use the guidelines provided by the design team to Refine observation checklists Conduct the area kickoff meeting Initiate observations and provide feedback Train others to conduct observations and provide feedback Initiate a recognition program in support of the process. How to evaluate and problem solve the process... 

The implementation of a behavioral safety process usually will be the responsibility of your steering committee. The implementation process outlined in Table 14.1 provides the team with the opportunity to change the checklist to meet particular needs of each area or site. Such additional input will not be necessary if your design team and safety team are the same group. 

Your design team planned the behavioral safety process and will become the steering committee and take responsibility for implementation. 

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