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Testimonials
Irwin Research and Development, Inc.
releases report on year-long SafeStart Study.
In July of 2000, with the help of the State of Washington Department of Labor and Industries WISHA Grant Program, Irwin Research and Development, Inc. launched a year-long study into TWL Knowledge Group's SafeStart program. This in-depth evaluation was designed to determine whether or not the SafeStart program would increase workers' awareness of at risk habits and behaviors - subsequently decreasing the number of accidents. The study was kick-started with the implementation of a 22-question survey.
The conclusion of the study reveals a good balance of both qualitative and quantitative data.
View Research Results
Introduced in November, 1998, this advanced safety awareness program has reduced incidents in some of the harshest environments by as much as 80%. Read what some of our customers are saying about this exceptional program:
Over the last ten years I have investigated several “behavior-based” safety programs, all of which had several shortcomings. I have more than ten years of experience in safety management and SafeStart was the first system that caught my attention and really made something “click” inside my head.
The process, as I like to refer to it, makes common sense common. For a municipality with a peak employment of nearly 1,000 doing jobs that vary greatly (fire, police, electric distribution, water production, wastewater treatment, inspection services, parks and recreation, etc.), we needed something that would be universal and easy to implement. SafeStart offered that. We needed something that could be easily understood by people with a variety of educational backgrounds and cultures. SafeStart offered that. We needed something that offered a universal message that was simple to recite. SafeStart offered that. We needed something with a proven track record in actual use. SafeStart offered that. Finally, we needed something that we could work into our budget (we don’t have big budgets like some federal government departments do). SafeStart offered that, too.
One of the other behavior-based safety programs may work for other industries, but for a municipality, I think SafeStart is the answer.
Patrick Janis
Risk Manager/Safety Coordinator
City of College Station
Before they read a meter or handle a collection, Field Revenue Services employees will do a quick self-evaluation as part of the newly implemented SafeStart program. Using SafeStart, personnel will question whether they are: rushing, fatigued, frustrated or complacent. AEP’s research supports the programs premise that most near misses and accidents can be traced to these four problem areas of attitude and resulting behavior.
This program is attractive to us because our people often work alone, making peer observations difficult. We hope that the new self-observations will augment our tailgate safety huddles and regular safety meetings to keep safety on top in people’s minds.
Lead Safety Coordinator
Field Revenue Services
American Electric Power (AEP)
One of the difficulties with safety training is, if you tell employees something today, how do you get them to remember it tomorrow, next week or next month. SafeStart provides tools and concepts, which apply to employee’s lives 24 hours a day. Therefore, it has more meaning and value to them and is more likely to be remembered.
I think the value of SafeStart can best be described by a comment made by one of our employees who had averaged 2 injuries, requiring medical attention, per year for the last four years. During the third session the employee made the comment, “now I understand why I get hurt so much”. Since April of 2000 this employee has not had an injury, even a minor one. In fact, the entire department has gone six months without a recordable accident.
SafeStart helps employees identify unsafe situations and behaviors and gives them the tools to correct bad habits.
Bill High
Safety Manager
Leatherman Tool Group, Inc.
In terms of the program content, participants felt that the training will help them be more safety conscious not only on-the-job, but off-the-job as well. The presentation was found to be easy to follow with helpful videos and, while everyone does not like to read, most felt the workbooks covered the material well.
In 2001 we look forward to continuing to use SafeStart as a primary safety initiative with our workforce. We hope that positive results will continue and that we can make our workplace and our workforce safer.
Robert A. Yocum
Training Coordinator
ITW Drawform
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