ABOUT TOPF INITIATIVES
In 1983, Michael Topf observed that conventional safety training and practices were not as effective as companies needed and wanted them to be. Michael saw that, in companies of all sizes and demographics, employees attended training sessions and refresher courses that were quite effective at reducing accidents and injuries in the short term - for a few weeks or months. But after these weeks or months would pass, the accident and injury rates would rebound back to their prior levels, rendering the trainings largely ineffective in the long term.
In response to this, Michael came up with the innovative
idea to look at safety from a human behavior angle, which
led to this pivotal question:
if effectively addressed and managed,
will prevent accidents, injuries, and health/environmental incidents,
both on and off the job?
Topf Initiatives' Holistic, Integrated Approach to Safety, Health, and Environmental Improvement grew out of the answers to this question. This unique approach goes far beyond rudimentary observation/feedback-based behavioral programs, which were (and still are, in many cases) widely in use as safety training programs.
As a result of Topf Initiatives' successful work over the last 25 years, employees at all levels in organizations have become conscious of their own attitudes and behaviors regarding safety. They have been trained and provided with simple, yet highly effective, skills to behave safely and implement strategies that prevent accidents, injuries and health/environmental incidents.
The primary focus of Topf Initiatives' distinctive process is on changing the inherent attitudes, beliefs, and values that employees have about safety by using a holistic approach (holistic is defined as: emphasizing the importance of the whole and the interdependence of its parts; concerned with the whole rather than the analysis of its separate parts). A holistic approach incorporates a variety of behavioral theories and methodologies that reach employees (people) on all levels - physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.
The program creates lasting and fundamental changes in the way people think about safety, by making it a personal issue, both on and off the job. The result is an organization where employees:
- Have heightened safety, health, and environmental awareness;
- Take personal responsibility for the safety, health and well-being of not only themselves, but their co-workers, families, and friends;
- Are motivated by the benefit of complying with PPE and safety, health and environmental procedures for themselves and others;
- Learn to address health and wellness issues for the purpose of moving to the next level of safety, health and well-being, and:
- Develop skills in self-observation, self-management, teamwork and leadership to prevent incidents, both on and off the job.
An added residual benefit of this program is that labor and management leaders become safety coaches (rather than "safety cops") with improved communication and team-building skills. Intervention becomes a constructive, educational interaction, rather than an "offense catching" scenario.
Please continue to browse our site to learn more about how Topf Initiatives can help make your organization safer, more productive, and more successful.
