365 Days Without Lost Time Accidents
See how five facilities achieved a year of safety success
Trips, slips and falls can happen to anyone at any time. But last year, five CCA facilities– Bartlett State Jail, Leavenworth Detention Center, McRae Correctional Facility, T. Don Hutto Residential Center and Wheeler Correctional Facility – celebrated 365 lost time accident-free days – an accomplishment that doesn't happen by accident.
Helping employees stay safety-savvy is key to these facilities’ success.
“One of the big things is staff awareness, working with them and explaining the hot safety topics of each month,” says Brian Hill, safety manager at Leavenworth. “Our facility’s team safety review of all the accidents that occur has also been helpful. We find the fundamental things that have gone wrong and we fix them for long-term solutions.”
Additionally, Hill takes advantage of creative opportunities to convey safety information.
“We have an extra computer that's set up with a monitor where employees clock in and out,” he says. “It also shows a PowerPoint presentation that spotlights safety tips.”
With these educational tools in place, employees have taken ownership of facility safety.
“Staff are upping their game by making safety practices part of their daily activities and watching out for each other,” says Hill. “They're setting the bar high, and we want to make it two years accident-free.”
At McRae, staff safety is similarly ingrained in facility culture.
“I put out flyers with safety tidbits,” says James Hill, safety manager at McRae. “Additionally, I encourage staff to feel free to come to the safety team about anything that appears unsafe, regardless of what it is. Questions that some employees may consider trivial are the ones that could keep us out of harm’s way.”
Hill also urges employees to pay attention to detail and act accordingly. “An employee may think that no one will slip on a spot of water on the floor, but it could be mineral oil or another substance,” he says. “Regardless of what it is, it should be cleaned up immediately.”
Furthermore, Hill encourages employees to take time to observe before acting. "My motto is take two minutes to assess any situation,” he says. “Look around before you enter an area and make sure you have the items you need to perform any task.”
Raco Lownes, CCA manager, Worker Safety, says one common denominator among all five facilities is strong commitment and support from facility leadership. “If you don’t have that support, your program won’t be successful because there are so many things that are required for safe operations.”
When implemented, the proper practices help produce a zero accident safety culture.
“The main concept of zero-accident safety culture is that all accidents are preventable," Lownes says. "We just need to pay attention to what we’re doing, use common sense and take time to do things the correct way – the safe way.”
By DeAndra Mack
Sound Out
Linda Sevison at Idaho Correctional Center:
A great accomplishment indeed. After all, accidents are just that--accidents. They aren't planned; they just happen, whether due to circumstances within our control...or not. For a facility to be able to be accident-free for an entire year is very impressive! Congratulations to all for a great record and setting the standard for us to follow.
Daniel Mendoza at Eloy Detention Center:
Great Job Guys! This is a testament to good safe working practice.
marie paz obrador at nevada dept correction:
I'M a registered nurse working at dept corrections in nevada your facility sounds good and interesting. I'm just wondering if I can work there thanks
Barbara Beadle at Red Rock:
I want to congratulate you on your 365 days of accident free. It appears that you have put things in place to have staff be more aware of safety practices and they work as a team. I like the concept of the computer with powerpoint presentation of safety tips.