In order to be profitable, an auto dealership needs to implement effective safety procedures. This is why KPA encourages clients to maintain a “safety culture.” But what is that, really?
Safety culture = groups that prioritize safety through consistent beliefs and patterns of behavior
An effective safety culture features good communication, consistent activity and training. How does your dealership create a safety culture?
Now I realize that sounds a bit abstract. Here’s a different way to explain it: If you just have a “safety first” banner hanging on the wall, occasional meetings on safety and reactionary lectures when something goes wrong, you don’t have a safety culture. A true safety culture exists when all of a dealership’s employees work as a team to
- Maintain awareness of safety and health issues
- Quickly report any incidents
- Anticipate risks in order to prevent accidents before they occur
How do I know I have a “safety culture” in my dealership?
That’s a good question that will save you a lot of money over the long haul. Here’s a quick checklist of what you’ll find in a dealership with a strong safety culture:
- Safety is top-of-mind for everyone
- Employees at all levels in the dealership feel responsible for safety
- There’s open communication about safety issues
- Safety is valued – employees and management believe it supports profitability and morale
- Efforts to maintain safety are organized and consistent
- Effective programs ensure that everyone “walks the talk”
To learn how to do this, you might also want to check out my recent webinar, “How to Develop a Positive Safety Culture.” Also, remember to call your KPA Environment and Safety engineer if you have questions. If you’re not a client, call 866-356-1735 to find out how we can help.