ABSTRACT
It is always interesting that while working with employers as well as safety and health professionals, there is such an investment of time and effort in developing a safety and health initiative. At times, the cost is sizable. However, in motivating employees, the employer is looking for a quick x. Seldom do employers take time to plan, apply principles of human behavior, or invest reasonable amounts of money to motivate employees to work in a safe manner. This seems even odder when one considers that all workplaces are made up of employees and the safety and health effort is aimed at these individuals (see Figure 5.1). Many times employer and others say, “What can we give them?” Often, when given a reward or incentive, employees do not even understand why they are receiving it. What most employers and others are asking is, “What is the quick x?” They think that they can easily address such a complex subject as human behavior by throwing some money at it or giving employees a trinket. Much more effort should be invested in getting safety than usually occurs.
