Posted By AJM
Hi Gordon,

This is a subject I spent a lot of time on at my last company and the best way I found was to set a shift by shift checking system up for both truck and racking which should be happening anyway.

It started with a truck/racking awareness poerpoint training session delivered by me to all drivers which at the end of i used their input for the truck risk assessment. This got them on board straight away and included pics of what could happen with damamged racking etc

This was followed up by a couple of systems the first was that at the start of every shift the supervisor would do a walk round checking all the racking for dints etc and would then sign his check sheet for that shift. We had a national specialist racking company which i can supply personally if required to train the people who were auditing the racking.

Secondly we had as part of the pre start up checks a check sheet for the driver who had to check his truck for paint scrapings and damage etc the truck driver had to sign this at start of the shift.

So obvioulsy any damage to racking or truck were picked up immediately and the previous shift questioned but to be honest these systems stopped the damage rather than report damage that had been done and in my opinion that always has to be better.

Hope this helps, get in touch if you want to know any finer details as i have kept most of my stuff from the training i did etc.

Regards
Alan

Posted By Merv Newman
Gordon,

my reaction to people reporting incidents was to say "thanks, lets go and have a look (or whatever) then I'll buy you a coffee"

And that is not bribery. That is recognition, reinforcement and reward.

Merv (and the "thanks" is more important than the coffee)

Posted By sagalout

As I read your post you are looking for a specific type of damage report and not a wider ranging hazard spotting system? A sort of constant physical conditions monitoring rather than a stand alone prevention scheme? You want it to be as immediate as you can get it but any level of reporting is better than what you have at present? Looking to capture all those eyes for your hazard reduction process? Needs to be as immediate as you can get it but may have to settle for a longer time frame to at least get some reporting?

Here are some things that have worked for me in the past. My comments apply to both schemes for individual hazards or a general hazard reporting scheme. Latterly, I avoided any sort of incentive scheme linked to this sort of activity. The ethos was that working safely is a condition of employment and your reward for supporting this will be a safer workplace and less risk of being injured. (Ooh I can feel the pens trembling already when people read that one!) Reality is that it works as long as the workplace does improve as seen from the shop floor angle.

Do not devise a special form with lots of headings and places for people to sign and date. Keep it simple and have as many opportunities to make the report as you can. Reports may get lost, some may be unreadable, some may be obscene but some will be what you are looking for and they will increase as the scheme is seen to be useful in improving things. Avoid trying to control it too closely in the early stages.

• A pack of “post-its” that can be available on the FLT along with the other papers. No need for headings or names or boxes just as long as they know where to leave them when they go to the office or to book out.
• Look for places to combine with other existing report formats. Is there a form that they use regularly and individually at times during their shift, perhaps inventory or stock forms? If they have to fill out time sheets why not put a space on there for hazard reports? All you need is a space on the form.
• White boards in the warehouse office, on the way to the loos, outside the canteen, by the clocking off board. Although these will inevitably attract the usual graffiti, sometimes it has the message you are looking for, if not wipe it off and ignore it. For goodness sake do not lecture those that have written the graffiti, that’s what they want you to do.
• Gain agreement from line managers or others that may contact the warehouse staff that they will take verbal reports from staff and take the responsibility to raise the post it or put it on the board. For example, employee has to telecall a despatcher about an order that is going to be a bit late and asks for a report to be put on the white board in the office whilst he is on the phone.

In order for such hazard or damage reporting schemes to survive any length of time and have any impact on reducing damage you need:
• Acceptance and full support of line managers that this is as important as anything else that their crew teams do. Taking a moment to write down the damage report is as important as getting the order finished. Making time to collate and manage the reports is part of the managers job.
• Resources to effect any repairs that are clearly required to maintain a safe condition in a time period commensurate with the risk.
• The only feedback that will mean anything on the shop floor is visible evidence that something gets done in a time frame that they understand and accept. Failure in this area is the reason why most of these schemes fail after a relatively short period.
• Regular joint reviews with line managers and shop-floor staff to identify continuing benefits and any improvements to the scheme.

A bit of along post but I hope it stimulates some thoughts for you.

Posted By Jeffrey Watt
Guys

Some great points. Especially the post-its and playing cards. Playing cards had me thinking of Robert Duvall's "Killgore" character with a deck of Aces.

Thanks.

Jeff

I love the smell of safety in the morning, smells like victory.