Using the Safety Pyramid to Measure What Matters

In today’s fast-changing work environments, keeping employees safe is a top priority. There are many ways to improve safety, but the Safety Pyramid is a clear and practical framework that stands out. This concept not only categorizes different types of incidents based on their severity and frequency but also offers a strategic roadmap for organizations aiming to minimize risks and protect their workforce.

By focusing on the foundational elements at the bottom of the pyramid and understanding the intricate relationship between leading and lagging indicators, companies can initiate a culture change towards safety that not only prevents serious injuries and fatalities but fosters a proactive safety mindset among employees.

What is the Safety Pyramid?

The Safety Pyramid is a framework used to help improve workplace safety by organizing incidents based on how often they happen and how serious they are.

Unsafe behaviors and hazards at the bottom of the pyramid are common but less severe. If not fixed, they can lead to more serious incidents.
As you move up the pyramid, the next level includes of near-misses, situations where an incident could have occurred but didn’t, followed by medical-only incidents that require treatment but do not result in time off work.
Lost-time injuries, where employees have to take time off to recover, are next, indicating a more serious incident.
Finally, at the top of the pyramid are the most severe but least frequent incidents, serious injuries, and fatalities.

The Safety Pyramid illustrates the idea that by focusing on and reducing the frequency of incidents at the base, organizations can ultimately decrease the occurrence of more severe incidents at the top.

At the bottom of the safety pyramid, you will find your leading indicators.

At the top of the pyramid, you have your lagging indicators.

And the very top of the pyramid is your most severe.

So for every one serious injury or fatality, there are likely ten lost-time injuries.
And for ten lost time injuries, there are a hundred medical-only incidents.
And for every hundred of those, there are a thousand near-misses.
And for every thousand near-misses, there are ten thousand unsafe behaviors and hazards.

Focus on the Bottom of the Safety Pyramid for Long Term Success

By tracking the leading indicators located at the bottom of the safety pyramid, we can achieve positive results that impact the top of the pyramid. Understanding our near misses, unsafe behaviors, and hazards is important, as they help us mitigate risks at the top of the safety pyramid. Taking proactive measures to enforce change is our core objective, as it leads to the elimination of serious injuries, fatalities, and lost-time incidents.

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Examples of Bottom of the Safety Pyramid Metrics to Track

Organizations can prevent accidents by focusing on the bottom of the Safety Pyramid. This involves addressing unsafe behaviors and hazards early on. By doing so, the chance of serious incidents happening at the top is reduced.

Here’s how one KPA client did it.

The organization went on a culture change journey in 2013 and realized they were only measuring lagging indicators.

They started measuring leading indicators such as near-miss reporting and safety meetings to impact their lagging indicators positively.

The organization involved the whole team in reporting near misses, and this had a positive impact on lagging indicators.

They found that focusing on leading indicators helped improve their lagging indicators.

The organization realized the importance of both leading and lagging indicators, and they need to work together. The chart from 2019 shows the correlation between capturing leading indicators and the reduction of lagging indicators.

How to Get Started Using the Safety Pyramid to Measure What Matters.

How can a company get started if they are not doing anything today or if there are no specific measurements besides regulatory reporting? Here are four steps to get you off on the right foot.

Step 1: Get Leadership Involved

It’s important to involve leadership in goal-setting, not just getting their approval. They should be an active part of the process because many actions will need to be taken and their support is vital. Simply signing off on something is not enough.

Step 2: Understand Your Data Gaps and Make a Plan to Fill Them.

It’s important to identify what data is available to report on and what data is missing.

First, take a step back and evaluate your organization to determine which metrics you want to measure based on your current baseline. Next, start identifying any data gaps and processes needed to fill them in (which can be a challenging task.)

Many companies have lagging indicators that they report to government agencies, such as TRIR, DART, LPR, and workers’ compensation dollars. That may be all you have, which is fine. But, what metrics are missing? What do you need to measure that you’re not currently measuring? Is it risk assessments, behaviors that need to be incentivized, participation, or a culture change regarding safety? Or do you need to increase reporting across the board?

Step 3. Engage Your Front-Line Workers

One of the major issues new KPA customers face is that employees do not trust their reporting system and feel their concerns aren’t being addressed.

Employees were hesitant to report incidents on paper, as they often didn’t reach the appropriate departments or supervisors.

New customers often come to KPA because they need a digital tool that can help employees report incidents quickly and easily. That’s where KPA Flex’s mobile app comes in and allows employees to report incidents instantly, no matter where they are.

After introducing the mobile app, one KPA client’s reporting numbers skyrocketed from 23 to over 6,000. This was a clear indication that employees preferred the convenience of using their phones to report incidents.

Step 4. Make the Most of Your Data

The first step in making the most of the data collected is to share it with all stakeholders in the organization, not just the executive team. This ensures that everyone is aware of the relevant information and can learn from it. Consider sharing the data through weekly, quarterly, and annual reports and training sessions.

To reinforce positive behavior, many KPA clients have recognition programs for employees who excel in areas such as submitting the most safety concerns and corrective actions. Consider recognizing employees who have potentially saved a life through near misses. You can also submit your employees for national awards or give out company awards at annual trainings.

Some KPA clients also incorporate safety performance into employee evaluations, making it an integral part of the performance review process. It’s a great opportunity if you notice a trend of poor safety performance in a particular location, to have conversations with the employees involved to hold them accountable and address the issue.

Overall, there are many ways to use the data we collect, but the focus should be on making it relevant to everyone in the organization and holding people accountable for their actions.

Monitoring Safety Program KPIs is easier with solid EHS software in your team’s hands.

KPA simplifies data visualization and reporting, giving users easy access to actionable insights into their EHS program performance. Your data is presented in real-time, so no delay or extra steps are required to access the information. The dashboards are configured based on features tailored to your business’s unique requirements, giving you the power to make informed decisions that impact workplace safety.

Let KPA show you how to take a data-driven approach to safety.