Jeff Perkins, the Town of Mount Pleasant’s risk and safety program manager, Sarah Mittermeier, Mount Pleasant’s public services deputy director, along with other leaders have taken steps to improve the safety culture in their town government.
Noticing the gradual increase in workplace injuries, the team implemented meaningful measures that will ultimately create safer work environments, with the goal of making safety be a part of everyday for employees.
As a key step to help leaders understand safety, the town worked with an outside vendor to host a two-day Occupational Safety and Health Administration 10-hour general industry course. The training covered OSHA standards related to hazard communication, exits, electrical safety, personal protective equipment, walking working surfaces, industrial hygiene, bloodborne pathogens, fall protection and accident investigation. Twenty-five leaders received their OSHA 10-hour certification.
Another initiative of the town’s safety team has been the implementation of an accident investigation committee. The development of the committee involved, forming the group of individuals, creating a standard operating procedure and setting the goals and objectives for the committee. Taking a close look at accidents that happen can help find root causes and determine corrective actions to alleviate the same type of loss in the future. The accident investigation committee will soon hold their first meeting.
Perkins said that his goal is “to create a culture where employees feel comfortable talking about safety and seeing the importance of speaking up if they notice an unsafe condition.”
He also noted that since placing more focus on safety, he realizes that employees and leaders have expressed their readiness to pursue improved employee safety, and their appreciation for the town making it a priority.