Washington — A new challenge from OSHA encourages peer-to-peer recognition of safe work practices.
Part of the annual Safe + Sound campaign promoted by OSHA, NIOSH, the National Safety Council and other safety organizations, the Safety Shout-Out Challenge is a way to “provide immediate recognition, make workers more aware of their daily safety actions,” and help “reinforce teamwork and collaboration,” OSHA says.
Peer-to-peer recognition also can foster informal safety conversations and learning between workers, the agency adds.
Printable shout-out cards are available via OSHA’s Safe + Sound webpage. Employers can distribute them and ask employees to highlight co-workers’ safe work in areas including:
- Reporting a near miss, close call or potential hazard
- Improving safety and health practices
- Conducting thorough safety inspections
- Modeling safe work practices
- Helping others work safely
- Completing nonmandatory training
OSHA asks participants to highlight their recognitions on social media using the hashtags #SafetyShoutOut and #SafeAndSoundAtWork. Anyone who completes the challenge can download a virtual challenge coin.
