CIS502 discussion post responses.Disaster RecoveryDisaster rec.docx
Safety Meeting Starters (SMS) April 2013
1. Safety Meeting Starters (SMS)
April 2013
Happy April!
What are the Odds…(Safety blog by Matt Forck, Safestrat)
Next week is the grand finale of NCAA men’s basketball tournament; concluding with the
final four weekend and national championship game on Monday in Atlanta, GA. Chances
are, you are one of the estimated 40 plus million people who filled out a bracket before
all of this basketball madness began. Now that there are only four teams left (Louisville,
Wichita State, Michigan and Syracuse), I get to ask a question; how many of the final
four teams did you guess correctly? And, how close were you to a perfect bracket?
If a friend tells you that he or she had a perfect bracket, they might lie about other things
too! DePaul University mathematics professor Jeff Bergen says the odds of picking a
perfect bracket are staggering. Since each game has two possible outcomes, and there
are 63 games played in this tournament, Dr. Bergen says the odds of picking a perfect
NCAA bracket are 2 to the 63rd power (or 2 times 2 times 2…63 times). The odds, if you
want to know, for guessing a perfect bracket is one in 9,223,372,036,854,775,808. That
is a nine, with 18 numbers behind it, or one in 9.2 quintillion.
On a seemingly unrelated note, on March 23, 2013, tragedy struck the Bresette family,
who were making their way through the Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International
Airport preparing to fly home to Kansas after a family vacation. Heather Bresette, along
with her teen age daughter and three sons were walking through the terminal when a
300 pound flight status board suspended above unexpectedly fell on them. Several
family members sustained injuries, including Heather who suffered a broken pelvis and
two broken ankles…and a broken heart. Her heart was broken because the event took
the life of her ten year old son Luke.
What are the odds of this sign falling? What are the odds that it falls on a Kansas family
as they are walking under it? What are the odds that Luke Bresette is under the sign such
that when it falls, it is fatal? I’m not a mathematician like Jeff Bergan, but I would
forecast the odds of this are greater than one in 9.2 quintillion.
In safety, we can’t deal with odds, or chance, we must deal in fact. The fact is that events
can and will happen. And we, and each of our workers, must be ready. ‘Being ready’
means that we take the appropriate time to plan, wear PPE, communicate with co-
workers, stop when unsure, follow all rules, constantly observe, etc. Things will happen,
but our workers shouldn’t be left to play the odds…they should know outcomes, without
a doubt.
2. SMS-Powerful Information for a RESULTS driven safety culture! 2
Enjoy this month’s issue of Safety Meeting Starters (SMS) - - use it to help your team lower the
odds of an injury by finding timely safety information to help you and your team identify and
control hazards and raise safety awareness. Please share this material with your supervisors,
safety professionals, managers, line workers and others.
Why Wait for Safety Meeting Starters, instead get real time safety information through Matt’s
Twitter feed. Follow Matt in March and receive a code for 50% off any one book in Matt’s
collection (find Matt’s books here http://www.safestrat.com/review-and-order-safety-books/)
and follow Matt on Twitter from this link: https://twitter.com/Safestrat or @safestrat.
Thanks again and pass this along. Remember, no one gets hurt today! God Bless, Matt.
About Matt… Matt Forck is a board-certified Safety Professional (CSP) and former Journey
Lineworker in the hazardous field of electrical line work (JLW). Matt’s recent innovations
include the development of the Safety Committee MAP process, a systematic process for safety
committee success, and the Informal Leader Program aimed at engaging the true safety leaders
within any organization. Matt has published nearly 100 safety articles and written seven books
including his latest release, What Safety Leaders Do. He is a frequent speaker at national and
regional safety conferences and leads corporate sponsored safety, motivational and culture
building keynote presentations. You may contact Matt through his website,
www.safestrat.com. SMS are a FREE monthly newsletter to the safety community.
Matt Forck, CSP, JLW | www.safestrat.com | 573.999.7981
Matt Forck | www.safestrat.com | (573) 999-7981
Safety Strategies…for LIFE!
3. SMS-Powerful Information for a RESULTS driven safety culture! 3
S.A.F.E. (See Accidents Forever Eliminated) at Work
- A Motivational Safety Column!
Everyone Finishes Injury Free
The old saying that two heads are better than one is only half true. Two heads are only better
than one when they are functioning as one, or in other words, acting like a team.
Teamwork is one of the advantages greatly leveraged by the Navy SEALs; SEALs standing for
Sea, Air and Land. The SEALs were organized in 1962. Their mission was to be the best trained
fighting force in the world, and utilize teamwork to move against a target in which a larger force
could not approach undetected. "While it is imperative the student meets the standards set
before him," said Intelligence Specialist 2nd Class Matthew Peterson, SEAL instructor. "We look
for the individual who possesses the ability to perform safely and effectively under stressful
conditions. Ultimately, we are seeking a candidate that we can entrust with the life of a fellow
Frogman."
In order to be called a Navy SEAL, one must complete the 25 week BUD/S (Basic Underwater
Demolition School). The dropout rate of this school can be as high as 70-80%. The training is
divided into three phases. The first eight-week phase is known as the physical conditioning
phase, and places a strong emphasis on running, swimming, navigating the obstacle course and
basic water and lifesaving skills. In this phase of training Sailor’s will take part in "surf
conditioning." An exercise that develops teamwork among the trainees as they lie in a line with
arms connected while the cold California surf washes over them.
Having endured the complexity of The First Phase, trainees move onto their next big obstacle -
diving. Second Phase is seven weeks in length and emphasizes the skills required to be a Naval
Special Warfare combat swimmer. Finally, the 10-week long Third Phase is the last hurdle these
Sailors face before graduation. This land warfare phase turns Sailors into hard core, cutting
edge naval commandos. "Third Phase is comparable to First Phase in that you are often cold,
miserable and tired," said Aircrew Survival Equipmentman 2nd Class Louis G. Fernbough, Third
Phase instructor. "The difference is we now expect you to think and perform mentally under
the same conditions. Mistakes made when working with explosives only happen once."
Jeff Cannon, former Navy SEAL in his book, Leadership Lessons of the Navy SEALs explained it
this way. He said that when he was in BUD/S training, his class had just finished ‘drown proof’
training. That’s when you stay in the water for hours learning not to drown. Finally the
instructor called them to shore, they were exhausted. The instructor said it was ‘dinner time’
but before they ate, they needed to give him five miles on the beach. The only instruction was;
‘you have thirty minutes and everyone finishes on time.” Exhausted, they set out running. Some
did finish within the half hour, others didn’t, the instructor wasn’t happy. As the last of the
trainees crossed the finish line, the instructor said, “You obviously didn’t understand me, I said
Matt Forck | www.safestrat.com | (573) 999-7981
Safety Strategies…for LIFE!
5. SMS-Powerful Information for a RESULTS driven safety culture! 5
How Leaders Lead…
What Safety Leaders Do – - The Insider’s
Handbook for Safety Leadership Tips,
Tactics, Secrets & Ideas
Today there is a procedure for everything that is important.
Yet, more than 99% of groups fail to have a road map for safety
leadership. The reason is that leadership is different. While
most of those other procedures are ‘one size fits all,’ safety
leadership is not. Each team, work group, and company has a
different culture, history, exposures and corporate structure
which means there isn’t a cookie cutter mold to safety
leadership. To be successful, each organization must customize
their program to fit their unique organization. To effectively
‘customize’ your company’s safety leadership program, you first
need access to all of the cutting edge leadership tactics, tips and
secrets – - which is exactly what this book provides! Then, you
can pick the ideas that are right for your group; putting proven
methods to work for you – - to get the results you have always aimed to achieve. 204 pages.
Price $19.95
Use code GHDF4HQD and get $5.00 off per book, no limits!
To learn more and order: https://www.createspace.com/3761883
To Read on Kindle – - http://www.amazon.com/What-Safety-Leaders-Leadership-
ebook/dp/B009DUPELI/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1349029014&sr=1-
2&keywords=what+safety+leaders+do
Matt Forck | www.safestrat.com | (573) 999-7981
Safety Strategies…for LIFE!
6. SMS-Powerful Information for a RESULTS driven safety culture! 6
Safety Tidbits—the most information packed pages in safety!
Quote of the month:
“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.”
–Philo
‘Make you think’ Picture of the Month (source unknown):
Matt Forck | www.safestrat.com | (573) 999-7981
Safety Strategies…for LIFE!
7. SMS-Powerful Information for a RESULTS driven safety culture! 7
News Clips of the Month:
OSHA investigating death of Verizon line worker
March 26, 2013/CHARLESTOWN — Investigators from the Occupational Safety and Health
Administration, Verizon and National Grid were poring over the scene of what first responders
referred to as a terrible accident Monday.
Verizon lineman Charles Austin, 41, of Hopkinton, a father and husband, was electrocuted while
working Saturday morning near a house located off Alton Carolina Road, in a wooded area on
Hill Top Drive, a dirt road, Charlestown Police Chief Jeffrey Allen said Monday. The bucket he
was working in was perched in an area dense with trees, he said.
Charlestown police will be part of the investigation for documentation purposes only because
the accident is being investigated by others and is not considered criminal by his department,
Allen said.
“We can only say that our sympathies are with the family of the Verizon employee, but as the
investigation is still underway, it would not be appropriate for the company to comment,” said
David Graves, spokesman for National Grid.
Roofer hurt in accident still in critical condition
March 18, 2013/ By Jill Harmacinski
LAWRENCE — The condition of a roofer injured in a head-first fall off a ladder Saturday
remained in critical condition last night. Rigoberto Mendez, 18, of Lynn, remained in critical
condition at Beth Israel Deaconness Hospital in Boston, according to a spokesman.
Mendez suffered life threatening injuries when he fell off the ladder at 7 Monmouth St. at 1
p.m. According to a police report, Mendez was carrying materials up a ladder, missed the step
between the second and third floors and fell to the ground, landing directly on his head.
He was initially treated by Patriot Ambulance paramedics and immediately taken by helicopter
to Beth Israel. Mendez is a day laborer and had the least experience of the four co-workers he
was with, officials said.
Matt Forck | www.safestrat.com | (573) 999-7981
Safety Strategies…for LIFE!
8. SMS-Powerful Information for a RESULTS driven safety culture! 8
Safety News from March:
Safety and Management News from Safestrat’s Twitter Feed - - why wait for the end of the
month Safety Meeting Starters when you can get near real time safety updates from my Twitter
feed! Join today; https://twitter.com/Safestrat or @safestrat.
50% off any book for all of Matt's Twitter followers; use this code; 89Z7DV99. Click
here to learn more;http://www.safestrat.com/review-and-order-safety-books/ …
OSHA investigating death of Verizon line worker
http://www.thewesterlysun.com/news/osha-investigating-death-of-verizon-line-
worker/article_f57ef6e8-9618-11e2-b4a4-
0019bb2963f4.html#.UVedJiDHVXY.twitter …
Nothing found in hunt for 83 miners buried in Tibet landslide
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/tibet/9962441/Nothing-found-in-hunt-
for-83-miners-buried-in-Tibet-landslide.html …
Directory of Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation & Prevention Progm: Fire Fighter Fatality
Invest Rept F2012-09 http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/fire/reports/face201209.html …
Businessman’s safety failures led to worker’s injury
http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2013/rnn-ldn-6813.htm?eban=rss …-
Video: Crane FAIL Compilation 2013 - This is why proper training & certification is so
important for crane operators! http://on.fb.me/YmmiMW
Presenting data on slides puts you at an immediate disadvantage
http://s.hbr.org/16kQtWs
Teen shielded sister from falling wall http://hsun.info/106Aad7
ESPN Anchor shares burn injury story, and urges everyone to read grill safety
instructions. http://ar.gy/3qNz
What's actually dangerous? 20 surprising safety statistics - Safety News Alert
http://buff.ly/Yi5yGr
Staffordshire firm fined for explosive reaction after worker suffers burns
http://bit.ly/16jranE
Matt Forck | www.safestrat.com | (573) 999-7981
Safety Strategies…for LIFE!
9. SMS-Powerful Information for a RESULTS driven safety culture! 9
How leaders spend their time tells staff what they value - SmartBlogs http://ow.ly/jsxOn
OSHA fines 'Lone Ranger' producer over crew member's death: Los Angeles Times
reports that State regulators ha... http://bit.ly/1007d2m
Innovation is the work of a team, not a lone hero. http://s.hbr.org/10buHPL
Here’s A Google Perk Any Company Can Imitate: Employee-To-Employee Learning
http://trib.al/SjXLyWx
Man killed in trench collapse identified; Cal-OSHA investigating
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2013/03/man-killed-in-temescal-canyon-trench-
cave-in-identified-cal-osha-investigating-.html …
Officials investigate fatal sign collapse at Alabama airport, take down identical flight
panel: http://apne.ws/ZkdQsV
In search of a better way to measure innovation http://s.hbr.org/10wTMbx
25 Quotes to Inspire You to Become a Better Leader http://lnkd.in/nSkAJh ” I like
number 4. So important to safety!
Ala. airport sign falls on family, killing boy - Yahoo! News http://news.yahoo.com/ala-
airport-sign-falls-family-killing-boy-223646881.html …
Brush manufacturer fined $26,250 after worker injured http://dlvr.it/36S19x
Carpenter fined $4000 over lack of fall protection http://dlvr.it/36SLGv
Worker suffers severe head injury in barn roof fall: Worker suffers severe head injury in
barn roof fall Dat... http://bit.ly/YYGfrN
How to create a culture of organizational wellbeing:
http://businessjournal.gallup.com/content/159080/create-culture-organizational-
wellbeing.aspx?utm_source=twitterbutton&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=sharin
g…
The Dalai Lama's 18 Rules For Successful Living - http://buff.ly/Ix7B1u
One factory got safety certified 3 weeks before a fire that killed hundreds of workers:
http://bit.ly/147vXKJ
OSHA fines Huron County plastics plant $86,000 failing to conduct periodic inspections
& other serious violations http://buff.ly/Yf9wz0
21 Superstar Quotes From The Worlds Top Athletes & Coaches - http://buff.ly/Svml6b
Matt Forck | www.safestrat.com | (573) 999-7981
Safety Strategies…for LIFE!
10. SMS-Powerful Information for a RESULTS driven safety culture! 10
Roofer in critical condition after ladder fall: from http://bit.ly/106zCoo
Learn To Think About Innovation Like A CEO http://trib.al/CHYI0a8
Toddler survives three-story fall, lands on feet http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-
57572269/toddler-survives-three-story-fall-lands-on-feet/?tag=socsh …
The Safety Number http://soa.li/0IZajHP
OSHA Investigating Construction Accident at Nile and Williams | Corpus Christi, TX |
http://KRISTV.com |: http://www.kristv.com/news/osha-investigating-construction-
accident-at-nile-and-williams/#.UUJwMY5sUPE.twitter …
OSHA investigating after body pulled from Savannah River | http://savannahnow.com
http://savannahnow.com/latest-news/2013-03-06/body-pulled-savannah-
river#.UUJwFXwxD3o.twitter …
Lion attack sparks Cal/OSHA investigation
http://abclocal.go.com/kfsn/story?section=news/local&id=9019873 …
The Things You Need To Know About Health and Safety Leadership
http://lnkd.in/N2qSXm
Driving 10 mph faster might save you a few minutes, but it will also increase your crash
risk by as much as 50%.
Matt Forck | www.safestrat.com | (573) 999-7981
Safety Strategies…for LIFE!
11. SMS-Powerful Information for a RESULTS driven safety culture! 11
SAI - - Safety Awareness Items
(ideas to get raise your team’s awareness!
Chair, fold-up Safety Never Sits Down.
Check List Check Lists can be made for any number of on and off
the job activities and exposures. We used to send out
an at home safety checklist which covered all sorts of
items; it was well received.
Cheez-Its Safety It.
Chips, Potato Be a Chip Off the Safety Block.
Chop Sticks New Habits Feel Odd At First or
Try a Safer Way Today.
Christmas Tree Choose an ornament that can be personalized with the
Ornament family’s name.
Cinch Bag Safety is a Cinch if we Follow the Rules.
The Untapped Secret To Selling Safety -And 401½ Tangible Items Guaranteed
To Help Make That Sale! - - How well do you sell safety? The truth is that we
are at the mercy of our ability to sell, no matter how “tight” the presentation.
Regardless of our education or the facts surrounding an issue, we are still in a
position where we have to make the sale in order for a positive change to take
place. And, the better we are at selling, the greater our results. The fact of the
matter is that there are secrets to selling…even selling safety. One such
previously untapped secret is revealed here and your safety results will never
be the same! “Matt’s passion for safety continues to shine through as he
drives to inspire us to be the best we can be” wrote Bill Dampf, safety
professional with three decades of experience. “Through this latest effort, he
provides us with hundreds of ways to promote safety awareness to our
employees. Although keeping our workers safe is always a challenge, this
simple approach to helping us sell safety can be a tool that all of us can use.”
Price: $11.99 - - AND use this discount code to save $2..00 per book,
B9F5UNDN. Order from this link; https://www.createspace.com/3421798.
Matt Forck | www.safestrat.com | (573) 999-7981
Safety Strategies…for LIFE!
12. SMS-Powerful Information for a RESULTS driven safety culture! 12
ISMA-Involved Safety Meeting Activity
Activity: Secret to Success…
Estimated Time: 20 Minutes
Materials Needed: Copies of attached sheet and pen.
Reference materials: See ISMA below:
The ISMA:
Working as individuals or in small groups (two to four in a group) participants will have a copy
give each group a copy of the attached worksheet along with the following explanation:
There are two things that must be in place for success. That is for safety success on a job site or
success as a writer, student, singer, athlete, businessperson etc. One of the two is a good plan
and the second has four letters with the second letter being an “I.” In your groups, you have
three minutes to figure out what this word is.
The Answer: the secret to success is ‘will and a really good plan.’
The Take-a-ways:
We have all seen people that have drive, desire and will yet lack a plan; they end up burned out
and disillusioned. The reverse is true too. We have seen excellent, well thought out plans and
strategies that lack will and desire. These too lead to failure.
We must have both, the intense fire, desire or will to get it done and a great plan. Each day in
safety, we need to re-gear with this ‘will’ and a great plan.
Note: Review the elements of a job briefing to help ensure a great plan.
Want 101 ISMAs? Check out ISMA (Involved Safety Meeting Activities—
101Ways to Get Your People In Involved! at Matt’s website;
http://www.safestrat.com/review-and-order-safety-books/
Matt Forck | www.safestrat.com | (573) 999-7981
Safety Strategies…for LIFE!
13. SMS-Powerful Information for a RESULTS driven safety culture! 13
The Two Elements of Success:
I
&
A Really Good Plan
Want 101 ISMAs?
Check out ISMA (Involved Safety Meeting Activities—101Ways to Get
Your People In Involved! at Matt’s website;
http://www.safestrat.com/review-and-order-safety-books/
Matt Forck | www.safestrat.com | (573) 999-7981
Safety Strategies…for LIFE!
14. SMS-Powerful Information for a RESULTS driven safety culture! 14
SPOT-M –(Safety Picture of the Month)
“Awareness…”
Choose in favor of your safety!
Send me your safety picture…if we use them you get a FREE book! Send to Matt@SafeStrat.com.
Matt Forck | www.safestrat.com | (573) 999-7981
Safety Strategies…for LIFE!
15. SMS-Powerful Information for a RESULTS driven safety culture! 15
Tools for Pros!
Where’s the Beef?
-Safety Lessons Learned from McDonald’s, not from Graduate School!
What is the best burger in the fast food business? Chances are that you didn’t say McDonald’s
yet this one franchise has sold more burgers over the last sixty years than anyone else. When
Ray Kroc stopped selling Dixie cups at the age of 52 and opened the first hamburger joint in Des
Plaines Illinois, he realized something that few others knew then or even grasp now. His secret,
the burger doesn’t make the burger joint. In sales, there are intangibles more important than
the product. In Ray’s case, it’s not about the burger. So, what does this have to do with safety?
Everything actually, we can learn some very important things from the best-selling mediocre
burger ever.
First, success is not about having the best burger. If it were about the best burger, we would
have never heard of Ray Kroc or some clown named Ronald. In safety, the burger is the safety
model or process. Safety professionals invest so much time studying safety models and
systems. Once learned, great investments are made to sell and justify the ‘right’ model to
senior management. When the model is finally in place and we come up short in terms of
safety goals the automatic tendency is to go back and scrutinize the model. What the Golden
Arches teach is that almost any burger (safety model) will do as long as it is executed at a high
level. When goals are not met, it’s much easier to try to build a better burger (safety model)
and much harder to execute well enough to sell a billion mediocre ones. Execution is the key
ingredient missing from unsuccessful burger stands and under-producing safety programs. To
be more exact, in the insightful book, Execution; The Art of Getting Things Done, co-authors
Larry Bossidy and Ram Charan shared this, “Execution is
a discipline and integral to strategy. Execution is the Execution is the key
major job of the business leader. And, it must be a core ingredient missing from
element of an organization’s culture.” unsuccessful burger stands
and under-producing safety
If we squeeze an orange what comes out? We get
programs!
orange juice right? But, the bigger question is why. It is
because that’s what’s in an orange. If we squeeze a McDonald’s restaurant what comes out?
We get consistency, cleanliness, a smiling face and speedy service. Just as it doesn’t matter
which orange we pick up, we still get orange juice, it doesn’t matter which McDonald’s
restaurant we choose from the 119 countries world-wide; we squeeze out the same thing from
each one. The point, one can’t have consistency throughout 30,000 restaurants unless driven
by a clear set of values. Goals, mission statements and “rah-rah” talks might ignite an
organization, but only values sustain. In fact, the great business consultant Ken Blanchard says,
“A culture is a shared system of what is meaningful.” What comes out when your organization
is squeezed? Whatever it is, that’s what’s driving (is meaningful) your organization. Many times
Matt Forck | www.safestrat.com | (573) 999-7981
Safety Strategies…for LIFE!
16. SMS-Powerful Information for a RESULTS driven safety culture! 16
we ‘say’ safety is a value but ‘do’ something else. By the way, a strong value system trumps a
great burger any day…just as the folks at McDonalds.
Next, the best innovations come from listening to and taking action from the ideas of those
who flip burgers. Today, Mark Towers (www.speakoutseminars.com) is a motivational speaker
and author but in the mid-sixties immediately after college he began his career as a High School
teacher in the Iowa public school system. He was not only a young teacher; in a short time he
was a new father to two sons. In order to make ends meet he sought a second job, with none
other than McDonald’s. Much to his dismay on his first night of work, one of his underachieving
students was his supervisor. After a long evening of cleaning and cooking, as Mark was getting
ready to go home, his student/supervisor ask him, “What could we do to make things work
better?” Mark responded, “Why are you asking me, tonight is my first night?” To which the
student responded, “We ask everyone that works here…we want to do it better tomorrow than
we did today.” McDonald’s asks, listens and takes action on the suggestions of its employees.
Another example, the Big Mac sandwich was the brainchild of Jim Delligatti, a franchisee. How
well do we listen to our people about on the job exposures and possible solutions? When was
the last time we really wanted to ‘do it better tomorrow?’ If we decide we do, there is core
group of consultants who have the answers, and they are already on the payroll. Listening to
them is how a mediocre burger makes history, or a workplace becomes safer.
Be consistently consistent. When a mom with two young children has been out shopping and
decides to stop for lunch, where does she go? To a place where she knows the service will be
fast. And, half way through the meal when one of her children has to use the bathroom, she is
confident that it will be clean. When a businessman, who is running late for a meeting, needs a
quick bite to eat, what drive-thru does he choose? One where traffic flow is more efficient that
some major air-traffic control centers. When semi-retired farmers decide to meet at 6:00 am
for coffee, where do they go? The secret that Ray Kroc so masterfully delivered wasn’t food,
but a consistent product over time. McDonald’s is so consistent that hamburgers today are the
exact same quality and size as the first hamburger served six decades ago. What we don’t learn
in graduate school is that consistency builds trust. Trust keeps customers coming back, time
and time again. Over the last several years I have sat in safety meetings with many different
work groups and organizations. One of the top problems within almost every organization is
lack of trust. Most of the time we fail miserably because we are not consistent with the safety
message. We mix messages between safety, production, budgets and quotas. Operations might
‘get it’ but then purchasing buys subpart tools because someone was able to save a few dollars.
Safety might finally seem to be taking hold when a support organization decides not to repair
an identified hazard, instead, issues a memo. And the list can go on and on but the point is that
examples like these are inconsistent with stated safety goals and erodes trust. If we want trust
in safety, it’s only achieved when the entire restaurant is consistently consistent.
Teach happy skills instead of happy meals; teaching the culture over skills. McDonald’s
understands that culture, not product, sells. To that end, it teaches the skills of culture over the
skills of flipping burgers. That is how, despite tremendous turnover, a young work force and
extremely diverse restaurant locations McDonalds can remain consistent to its values and
Matt Forck | www.safestrat.com | (573) 999-7981
Safety Strategies…for LIFE!
17. SMS-Powerful Information for a RESULTS driven safety culture! 17
product. In fact, McDonald’s spends over a billion dollars each year on training. In contrast,
most industries place a high premium on skills. We train and test for skills. We hire technical
knowledge and promote the same. We manage systems instead of people. We think an
organization is the hardware, machines, equipment and material, not the people that run and
maintain these systems. Today the culture piece, the one element that is as powerful a counter
weight to safety, training and skill set in influencing the choices of our people, is left to chance.
Teaching safety culture is left to co-workers, informal leaders and supervisors who possess
technical knowledge but often lack the people skill set and understanding of culture. Leaving
this to chance doesn’t make for a ‘happy meal’ when it comes to worker safety.
If you have been following the news you may have read that McDonald’s is introducing a ‘new
look.’ Over 3,000 restaurants across the United States will be renovated to look and feel more
like a Starbucks Coffee Shop. As McDonald’s tries to grow into new and emerging markets, we
can continue to watch and learn from this leader. Maybe as they are move to the next phase of
their organizational life, we can move to ours. Learning a little safety from the best-selling
mediocre burger joint ever.
Matt Forck is a board-certified Safety Professional (CSP) and former Journey Lineworker in the
hazardous field of electrical line work (JLW). Matt’s recent innovations include the development
of the Safety Committee MAP process, a systematic process for safety committee success, and
the informal leader program aimed at engaging the true safety leaders within any organization.
Matt has published nearly 100 safety articles and written seven books including his latest
release, What Safety Leaders Do. He is a frequent speaker at national and regional safety
conferences and leads corporate sponsored safety, motivational and culture building keynote
presentations. You may contact Matt through his website, www.safestrat.com.
Matt Forck | www.safestrat.com | (573) 999-7981
Safety Strategies…for LIFE!