Problem
We Just Want To Make The Company Safe
A company's two founding shareholders are having a big problem. Ever since the company (Trains Are Awesome - "TAA") was founded five years ago, the company has tried to compete with large railroad companies in the business of transporting individuals and cargo by rail. However, the company has been plagued by a series of employee injuries. On several occasions, the individuals doing repair work on sections of track have been struck by trains because they did not see or hear the trains coming. Other employees in the maintenance department have been hurt using various tools, apparently because they did not understand how to use those tools. On several occasions, conductors did not pay proper attention to the tracks in front of them as the conductors operated TAA trains, and as a result, struck objects and/or people due to such inattention.
As if all that is not bad enough, one of the company officers was recently shot and killed at his personal residence by a disgruntled ex-employee. The officer's widow is suing the company for negligence, alleging that her husband asked the two founders for protection, but they told him they thought he was overreacting.
You have been hired by TAA as an independent HR consultant. When you meet with the founders, one of them tells you, "We just want to make the company safe. We're obviously doing something wrong, but neither of us really knows much about the dangers and issues the employees face in the field, because we've never had their jobs. We're both desk guys with MBA's, not railroaders." You ask what safety management policies or programs have been initiated in the past. Both founders tell you they figured OSHA would provide "those things" if they were really needed. When you ask about safety inspections, you get the same response - they figured OSHA inspections were all the company needed. Finally, you ask if either of them are familiar with the safety management policies and programs instituted by UPS. Both respond that they are not.
One of the founders looks at you and says, "Look, we know we need help. We're willing to get some good safety policies and programs in place, but we don't know what to do. That's why we hired you."
What types of safety management ideas/policies/programs would you recommend to TAA? Be sure to integrate this week's readings into your writing.