Any business owner will tell you that one of their top priorities is the safety and well-being of their employees. Employees are the lifeblood of any business and ensuring they are well cared for is paramount to business success.
The concerns for safety will only increase for those companies that have a fleet of vehicles that are operated by their employees. The number of distractions that exist for drivers today are numerous and include phone calls, texting, other drivers, billboards, and road signs. While there are solutions you can deploy to help prevent distracted driving, that is only one part of the equation.
To truly ensure the safety of your employees and the protection of your fleet and brand, organizations must build a culture of safety. With this in mind, here are four ways business leaders can build a culture of safety within their business.
Make It a Priority
The protection and safety of your employees is not an issue of spending. It is an issue of health and investment. Your employees need to know that you are investing in their protection and their health. When you are open with your employees that any fleet management solution implemented is for their own personal benefit, you establish an understanding that they are a top priority. Their perception of safety and distracted driving will shift.
Dispel the “Big Brother” Myth
In a recent conversation with a business owner, he told me the reason he has not deployed a fleet management solution to help end distracted driving was his “employees felt it was big brother watching.”
While this perception is understandable from an employee’s point of view, they also need to understand that this is not the goal or the underlying reason for implementing a solution. It is important to let employees know you trust them. If you didn’t, you would not put them behind the wheel of your vehicle. What you are really wanting to know is that your employees made it to their destination safely. This change in perception will go a long way in having them adopt and buy into this mindset.
Reward Safety
We all like to be recognized and acknowledged. The same goes for your employees and there is perhaps no better way to build your culture of safety than to reward and acknowledge those that are doing it best.
One of the best ways we have seen this take root in our customers is the creation of a contest where the safest drivers are rewarded based on their performance. This not only provides an incentive for your team, but also creates an atmosphere of safety among all of your drivers.
If a reward system is not something that can be created, then share the savings that you will receive with your drivers to reinforce their behavior.
Get Their Input
It is one thing to talk to your drivers about safety while being in an office, it is another thing to be the one behind the wheel and having to navigate all of the challenges that exist.
As you build out your safety policy and strategy, be sure to get the input of your drivers and make them part of the process. Getting their input on what they need, what challenges they face, and what would be helpful to them will allow you to develop the right approach and create ownership among your drivers – as they will have ownership in the process.
The cost to the US economy for unsafe driving is $175 billion annually. Your organization does not have to be part of that statistic as you can build a culture of safety, ensure your employees are protected, and use your savings to help grow your business for the long-term.
