3 Ways to Promote Safety Within Your Logistics Company in the USA
Logistics professionals know that a main function of their job is to find ways to attempt to control that which is out of their control. While that sounds like an oxymoron, for these individuals it is their everyday reality. With on the road transport being a huge factor within this industry, both managers and drivers need to have a firm grasp on safety practices internally since they have no control over elements like weather, road conditions, and the other motorists on the road.
Lean on Technology
Collision avoidance systems are part of the next wave in safety technology. The use of this type of software can upgrade your overall fleet management systems while also placing a high priority on safety. A key word to recognize is avoidance, not to be confused with elimination. There will likely never be a way to prevent collisions in total, however the benefit of collision avoidance systems is that you and your team will learn ways to decrease their occurrences. Being vigilant about having upgraded technology in your vehicles and equipment in general is a positive stride towards overall safety measures. Your fleet does not have to be brand new to be running at an optimum level of safety, but finding ways to bridge the gap between the old and the new keeps machines running smooth and employees safe and protected.
Implement Ongoing Training
Businesses with high employee retention levels credit ongoing training as the catalyst for their success. As a business owner within the logistics industry, you already know that intense hands-on training is one of the biggest tools you can use to promote safety, but what you may not realize is that this is something that needs to happen consistently, not only once. Your road team should be trained both at the point of hire as well as receive maintenance training efforts throughout the duration of their employment.
In addition to technology, literature that they can have on hand to reference important safety protocol can help mitigate safety issues that go beyond the road, like equipment malfunction. Reiterating what might be considered common knowledge is a way to keep your drivers sharp especially if their routes are long distance. It can be too easy to forget about common distracted driving causes when you have been cruising for an extended amount of time, intermittent safety check-ins help prevent your drivers from working on auto pilot.
Encourage Reporting
One element of your training should include the process for reporting a safety issue as well as the circumstances that dictate what is defined as a safety issue. Being clear and up front with your team regarding the importance of always reporting incidents sets the tone for them to be able to do so and encourages them to be transparent. If the current atmosphere is one of very few reports, be prepared for an uptick in reported incidents once this new policy is put into practice. This spike in information is a great tool for management to gain visibility into the minds of their staff and learn their habits, and communication styles as they relate to important subject matter.