3 Simple questions can prevent an accident

Workplace safety has evolved in the grain handling industry. That's today's message in National Grain and Feed Association's (NGFA) Harvest Safety Week. The theme for the year is, "Safety as value in the workplace."

A video released by NGFA highlights safety efforts being undertaken by several association members, including Reginald Williamson, senior regional safety manger for Bunge. He says things have definitely changed over his 36 years on the job.

• READ MORE: Harvest Safety Week focuses on workplace culture

"I've seen us come from a 'get it done' type approach to actually understanding the work now and involving our organization in training," he says. "We make sure that all levels of the organization are engaged in our safety focus. Our culture has changed dramatically."

One shift being seen across companies is that employees at all levels are being instructed they not only have the right but the obligation to stop and report unsafe work they witness or are asked to perform.

• READ MORE: Armed advocate for farm safety

Brad Cottrill, director of northern operations for Bartlett Grain Co., says his workers use the Savage Hazard and Analysis Prevention System (SHAPS), created by Bartlett's parent company, logistics company Savage. 

The system involves asking three questions throughout the day, specifically before starting a task:

1. What am I doing?
2. What could go wrong?
3. How can I prevent those things from happening?
   

While support from management is important when it comes to safety in the workplace, the workers themselves have to be on board for any plan to be effective.

"The first step in reassessment of safety culture is to take time and listen to your people. They're the pulse of the organization," Williamson says. "Don't push safety from the top down, bring it from the grass roots up."

Learn more about NGFA Harvest Safety Week and access additional resources here.