Some of you are scratching your heads trying to figure out how to further streamline your company to better compete in today’s economy. Well not really some of you; I really mean all of us. These changes we are making today will bear fruit at different times. Some labor related changes are immediately seen on the balance sheet. Some changes take longer to have an effect.

Your insurance cost is one of those expenses that you can change/lower. This won’t make any noticeable difference on your P&L sheet tomorrow, but in time it will have a huge influence on the health of your company. How do you do this? You work more safely. You work on the real safety program, the one you live.

Your real, every day safety program will have a big influence on your company. When the top level of a company structure sees the light and realizes that cutting those corners and trying to save a nickel today is costing dollars tomorrow, then change is on the way.

It is as simple as making sure the head of your favorite hammer is secure to the handle, that there are a spare pair of safety glasses in the cab of the truck, the safety strap on the reducer is in good shape and the outrigger pad retainer functions properly preventing them from falling off when driving. Little things often times turn in to a big deal when not taken care of.

When everyone in the company is on the same page and looking out for themselves as well as the other guy you are going to be a safer company. When you pull into the yard and see a problem with the truck next to yours, act. If it is something that you can fix in just a bit, please do so. If it is a problem that needs more attention than you can give it let someone know about it – write it down. Give the responsible person the note; it is not meddling, it is helping the common cause. There is very little cost involved with the accident that didn’t happen.

Every single operator out there has an idea about how to make some part of your job easier and safer. You have not said anything about it for fear of your pals making fun of you or thinking that it is a bad idea. If it prevents just one accident, it was a very good idea, tell someone.

When everyone from the owner to the guy that sweeps the shop is actively thinking about accident prevention there will be fewer accidents. No one is too important or unimportant in this effort.

Pick up that loose bag of prime on your pump deck, don’t step on it. Take an extra second to make sure the dunnage is secure before you hop in the cab. Throw some floor dry or sand on that oily spot on the shop floor. Button up the back end on your pump before you drive away. Change that leaky elbow. Get in the right hand lane when you have a chance, don’t wait till the last second. Check your directions before you leave the yard. Put the keys to your pump in your pocket and make sure the accumulator dumped before you bar that chunk out from under your valve. Do a real tire check. Walk the site before you pull in. Look up as well as down.

Think about what it is that you are going to do and the effect it will have. Don’t hurt anyone today – that includes you. Don’t worry about the insurance cost; worry about the human cost. The insurance cost will adjust to your real safety program, the one you live not the one in the company SOP book.