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September/October 2009

SAFETY

CREATING A CULTURE OF PREVENTION

All utility departments face budget challenges. Even those involved in public safety need to win and maintain internal support and funding for public outreach initiatives. The real secret ingredient for an enduring and effective safety program is to create a culture of prevention throughout your company.

A culture of prevention recognizes that public safety supports significant outcomes for the business: saving lives, preventing injuries, reducing costs, mitigating litigation, and enhancing the value of the utility’s brand. When considered as part of a company’s overall business strategy, a culture of prevention has the potential for increasing shareholder value.

Successful public safety outreach requires following a specific process, employing utility-specific best practices, and collecting and analyzing metrics.  To put it all together, there are five key ingredients of a successful program:  develop a strategic plan; document what you do; learn from experience and improve your results; share proof of your success with stakeholders; and seek expert guidance.

Read the entire article.
  © 2009 Edison Electric Institute. All rights reserved.