Original Date: 07/21/2003
Revision Date: 01/18/2007

Electric Boat Corporation, Quonset Point Facility developed and implemented a comprehensive industrial safety program that actively involves all employees. The program educates employees on all aspects of safety and empowers them to create and maintain a safe work environment. Injury rates have been reduced by 86% since the program’s implementation.

Electric Boat Corporation, Quonset Point Facility’s (EBQP’s) Industrial Safety Program is more than a managed system of safety policies, procedures, and training. The Comprehensive Industrial Safety Program is a proactive approach to safety that strives to involve every member of EBQP’s workforce. The program was developed to minimize hazards in the workplace, reduce accidents resulting in lower employee injury rate, reduce Workers’ Compensation claims, and help employees quickly identify and correct unsafe conditions that may occur in their work environment. Key to the success of the program is EBQP management’s commitment to safety.

In conjunction with its policies and procedures, EBQP conducts training to help employees improve their work practices and enhance performance. Other resources available to employees include Safety Advisors who provide guidance on safety matters; Shipyard Standard Procedures which provide direction to complete tasks in a safe manner; and Standard Procedures to handle hazardous situations, perform audits, and inform employees of the latest Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations. Safety Manuals are also available and accessible by all departments electronically through Lotus Notes. The company uses OSHA training sessions to educate employees on OSHA requirements to assist them in identifying possible safety concerns and what they mean to EBQP.

The Safety Matrix is another tool which plays a role in EBQP’s safety program. A checklist is used to identify the most frequent types of safety violations within the facility. This information is used weekly by a team leader who is selected by the area supervisor. The team leader conducts a safety audit of his/her work area, and promotes the active participation of all team members in the safety, health, and welfare of co-workers. Another component of EBQP’s safety program is the Weekly Supervisor Safety Forum which is designed to facilitate open and honest communication between supervisors and the Safety Department. Meeting topics often include a review of all reported injuries, accidents, and near misses, an exchange of lessons learned, safety recommendations, and the presentation of general awareness information. Supervisors are encouraged to bring back questions and concerns from team members and communicate the information to team members.

To further strengthen the program, EBQP conducts weekly safety audits during which photographs are taken of unsafe conditions or noteworthy safety compliance. This information is shared at the Weekly Supervisors Forum and necessary stand-down meetings. Since communication is critical to the success of the safety program, safety issues are communicated to all work areas through several means including Weekly Information Bulletin, Target Vision, Centerline, All Team Notices, and Lotus Notes.

By continuously educating employees on all aspects of safety and empowering them to participate in the creation and maintenance of a safe working environment, injury rates have been reduced by 86% since implementation of the program in 1988 (see Figure 3-1), proving EBQP’s success with its Comprehensive Industrial Safety Program.

For more information see the Point of Contact for this survey.