How Do You Define Production?

If you define production as products or services delivered and do not include safety in that definition, you are creating a dichotomy that will damage both production and safety.  Production that injures those who produce it is most likely not the kind of production your organization wants.  An accident (incident, injury – pick your preferred term) is a defect in your production process just as surely as a quality issue.  If you develop a tolerance for poor quality or poor safety, you have developed a tolerance for poor production.

Organizations who achieve safety excellence do not make this distinction.  They define production as safe and high quality products or services delivered.  They manage safety and quality as a part of production rather than separate priorities.  Workers who compromise any aspect of safety or quality have compromised production.  The old ideas of production at any cost and sacrificing your body for the team are antiquated and counterproductive.  If you still have these dichotomies in your organization, begin to improve by redefining what production is and what you expect from production workers.

-Terry L. Mathis

For more insights, visit www.ProActSafety.com

Terry L. Mathis is the founder and CEO of ProAct Safety, an international safety and performance excellence firm. He is known for his dynamic presentations in the fields of behavioral and cultural safety, leadership, and operational performance, and is a regular speaker at ASSE, NSC, and numerous company and industry conferences. EHS Today listed Terry as a Safety Guru in ‘The 50 People Who Most Influenced EHS in 2010, 2011 and 2012-2013. He has been a frequent contributor to industry magazines for over 15 years and is the coauthor of STEPS to Safety Culture Excellence, 2013, WILEY.