Animal Services Safety Team: Empowering Employees to Address Safety Concerns

About the Program

Category: Risk and Emergency Management (Best in Category)

Year: 2018

In 2017, the Wake County Animal Center (WCAC) launched an employee-led safety team to deliver consistent evaluation of work environments and provide employees with a framework for addressing safety concerns. The safety team includes staff from each area of the animal center, including the front desk team, kennel team, veterinary team, animal control team and receiving team. Wake County’s Safety Coordinator attends team meetings and provides subject matter expertise, and management frequently attends to keep abreast of safety concerns. Since inception, the team created and implemented a safety checklist used for monthly employee-led facility inspections. The team has addressed 28 safety concerns and has identified 29 general building issues in need of repair. In 2017, the OSHA Days Away Restricted or Transferred score, which reflects employee work related accidents, went from 5.61 to zero. The safety chairperson developed a Wake County Animal Center Employee Safety Orientation that specifically trains newly hired staff. Key employees also attended First Aid and CPR/AED certification to ensure proper training for medical incidents and emergencies. This program demonstrates how launching an employee-driven safety team can engage front-line staff and create a safer, healthier environment for everyone who works or visits a county facility.