Ways to recognize and reward safety behaviors

On-the-spot rewards

Hand out gift cards ($10-20) to local coffee shops or restaurants whenever you see employees practicing safe behaviors, such as wearing a helmet on an ATV or a seatbelt on a forklift, using ladders properly, and practicing good housekeeping.

End of year celebrations

Host a year-end celebration to highlight safety progress. If you’ve had injuries, but feel things are progressing in the right direction, acknowledge the improvement. Consider including family members.

Safety "swag"

Build interest in safety efforts by providing company-branded sweatshirts, hats, and jackets that read “I am part of the safety team at Company Name.” Give them to safety committee members, people who participate on hazard walk throughs, and those who provide a safety suggestion or report a hazard.

PPE audits

Conduct periodic safety audits of working crews and provide paid breakfasts to crews that are working with all necessary personal protective equipment.

Department contests

Choose an area of focus each quarter—housekeeping, PPE use, lock-out/tag-out—and provide lunch for each department that meets the preset goal.

Raffle tickets

Hand out raffle tickets to everyone exhibiting safe behaviors, including proper equipment selection, following lockout/tag-out procedures, use of PPE, etc. Hold a drawing each month for prizes. It’s a cost-effective way to get lots of employees involved.

Safety suggestions and hazard reporting

Provide coffee gift cards, “good catch” awards, and/or thank-you notes to any employee who reports a safety hazard. Award larger gift cards to employees who also submit a good solution for improving the hazard. Announce the awards and solutions at staff meetings.

Safety bucks

Each employee gets a base amount of safety bucks at the beginning of the year. They can add to the total by submitting safety suggestions, attending safety training, doing inspections, being on the safety committee, etc. Employees may redeem the bucks for cash or use them to buy branded merchandise, gift cards, catalog merchandise, time off, etc. Make sure the safety bucks expire so the program remains fresh and you can manage the budget.

30 safety behaviors to recognize and reward

1. Participate in a safety inspection. 
2. Conduct an accident analysis.
3. Join your safety committee.
4. Attend a safety committee meeting.
5. Help with a safety committee action item.
6. Get “caught in the act” following safety procedures.
7. Use proper PPE.
8. Write a safety slogan.
9. Report hazards and safety concerns.
10. Correct a hazard.
11. Suggest ways to improve your safety culture.
12. Report an incident or close call.
13. Keep work areas clean, safe, and clutter-free.
14. Conduct a safety observation.
15. Attend a safety training.
16. Take a safety quiz to test what you’ve learned.
17. Join a professional safety organization.
18. Lead a weekly safety talk.
19. Lead a daily stretch/warm-up.
20. Help develop or deliver a safety training.
21. Share safety lessons from home.
22. Seek safety input from peers.
23. Review and revise safety forms.
24. Join an emergency response team
25. Coordinate an emergency drill.
26. Create a safety video.
27. Design a safety poster.
28. Inspect equipment before use.
29. Attend a safety conference.
30. Create or review a Job Hazard Analysis (JHA)/Job Safety Analysis (JSA).

For more on this topic, visit our employee policy page.