When the Cake Doesn’t Rise

by Laura Metrick
Sr. Manager, Assets Protection
Denny's

They say cooking is an art, but baking is a science. Everyone has their own take on recipes – for example, spaghetti sauce. Some people add mushrooms, others add sausage. It just depends on the cook. Baking is different. If you don’t follow the recipe, the cake won’t rise. When it comes to safety, following a process is the same thing.

In most businesses there are policies and procedures in place to encourage safety in the workplace. For instance, one of the most common and expensive of all injuries is strains and sprains caused by improper lifting. It doesn’t matter if you’re a retailer, a restaurateur, or a bus company, your employees will be lifting something and how they lift is the key. Too often employees ignore the steps for proper lifting (the recipe directions).

Recipe

     • Size-up the object/package
     • Place feet shoulder distance apart
     • Bend at the knees
     • Lift with the legs
     • Hold object close to the body
     • Walk in a forward direction
     • Do not twist the body

Leave out even one step, and it instead becomes a recipe for disaster.

Policies and procedures have been carefully crafted and conveyed to employees when they first begin a job. So managers wonder, if employees have been properly trained, then why are accidents happening...what went wrong?

Its human nature to think that our way is the best way. It seems intuitive to know how to lift something up. It’s also human nature to try and save steps. But just like the cake recipe, if you leave out one simple step, the cake won't rise - employees will fail.

So how do managers and supervisors ensure that employees follow the correct procedures? Well, there's a recipe for that, too. For managers, the recipe that enhances safety has three steps:

     • Remind
     • Review
     • Reinforce

Managers need to constantly remind employees not to cut corners. Employee meetings are a good time for this. Procedures need to be reviewed on an on-going basis. This can be done verbally in meetings and visually through the use of work-place posters. Lastly, the policies and procedures need to be reinforced on a continual basis. For example, when an employee is observed lifting something incorrectly, they should be immediately stopped and reminded of the correct method. And just as importantly, if an employee is observed following the procedure for correct lifting, managers should take the time to praise them. Positive reinforcement is kind of like the icing on the cake!

When the baker follows the recipe, the cake will rise. When employees and managers follow the recipe, accidents are reduced. And that's a recipe for success!