Milton CAT partnered with All Star Incentive Marketing to develop a comprehensive safety recognition/rewards program. With the help of All Star’s agency-caliber marketing team, the fully customized program was branded “Safety Above All” and designed with the following key components & structure:

Custom Award Site – A fully customized program website was created that serves as the primary communications vehicle for both safety-sensitive workers and managers alike. The responsive design structure of the award site allows it to work seamlessly on all hardware, from desktop to tablet or mobile devise, no special app is needed.

Above & Beyond Recognition: Recognizing and rewarding star safety performers is crucial. Designated managers and safety staff are provided with a monthly giving point bank that allows them to deliver recognition for “Above & Beyond” behaviors such as: making a safety suggestion, reporting a near miss or hazardous condition, joining a safety committee, implementing a suggestion or eliminating a safety hazard, etc.

Consistent Safety Performer Recognition: Part of the program was designed to recognize all workers for consistently demonstrating safe work practices through related to their on-the-job behaviors, proper use of PPE, completion of training, and compliance with all safety policies. Bonus points are also available to those that take a monthly safety pledge to help “…make Milton CAT the safest company it can be.”

Safety Training Reinforcement: Consistent training reinforcement is accomplished through the use of monthly quizzes on topics chosen by the Milton CAT safety team. Each month a quiz is posted that reinforces previous trainings and rewards workers for demonstrating their knowledge on areas related to working in elevated spaces, basic rigging, START – safety leadership, hands-on forklift operator training, active shooter training, EPG electrical, on-site extinguisher safety training, etc. In addition, bonus points are available to employees that complete periodic surveys where they can both rate the dealership’s safety performance and make safety improvement suggestions in the areas of PPE and additional training.

Program Materials: The program was communicated to managers through conference, email communications, and printed manager letters. Managers then launched the program to their locations by handing each participant a personalized letter that explained how the program works and how to log onto the Safety Above All Award site. Managers also handed each participant a mini award catalog and launch gift branded with both the Milton CAT logo and program name. Finally posters were hung on the wall in high traffic areas around the work locations.

Award Catalog: Embedded in the Safety Above All program site is a vast award catalog where participants can redeem the points they have earned for an endless selection of brand name merchandise, event tickets, and travel awards. Those that redeem have the option to submit pictures of themselves and the awards they have earned as part of the fun “My Award” component of the program and the images of happy employees displaying their awards are posted on a social wall within the award site.

Additional Recognition: Using the social wall and graphic areas throughout the program site additional recognition is consistently given to individuals, managers and locations that excel within the program. Participants can also earn safety badges that display on the award site and in their account histories, reminding them of their special accomplishments. Email and SMS messaging further reinforce all aspects of the program and provide full-circle recognition for Milton CAT’s star safety performers.

Through the first 9 months of the program, Safety Above All has helped Milton CAT achieve remarkable results:

High Engagement Levels: Approximately 75% of participants log into the safety platform each month, with 500-600 responding each month to safety quizzes and the safety pledge. The initial launch survey alone had 550 respondents and the results of that survey, and the safety suggestions it garnered, formed the basis of the company’s safety plan going forward.

Positive Employee Recognition: Managers and safety personnel began awarding participants that demonstrate Above & Beyond safety behavior right away and the frequency of that recognition has grown each month as managers become more accustomed to recognizing star performers. To date, hundreds of recognitions for going Above & Beyond have been awarded to safety rock stars. The program’s structured approach to safety recognition has led to improved morale, increased safety awareness, and a stronger sense of community for both employees and managers alike.

RIF Rate Reduction: Remarkably, the Recordable Injury Frequency Rate (RIF) dropped by about 40% in just the first 6 months of the program, and for the first time in its history, the dealership recorded two consecutive quarters of meeting their lofty safety goals. The safety improvements have made it easier for the company to land new business and retain existing customers that require the company to prove it takes safety seriously.