By Chad Engle, Loss Prevention and Safety Specialist
Here at NIRMA there is an excellent line of communication between the claims department and the loss prevention department. When they see a pattern or trend developing, they are quick to reach out and let us know. This is a great benefit for our members as we can go to work on an issue before it has become too big to control.
The last topic of discussion between claims and loss prevention was seat belts. We have discovered that seat belt policies are not as common as they should be, and many counties have employees that choose not to follow them while management looks the other way.
The laws are quite clear on seat belts. Seat belts are required to be worn by the driver and front seat passenger per Nebraska Revised Statute. If you have employees operating a commercial motor vehicle the Department of Transportation requires the use of seat belts as well.
Statistics show that seat belts are the single most effective thing a driver can do to protect themselves in a crash. Being buckled up keeps you inside your vehicle; being ejected from a vehicle is almost always deadly.
Per the Centers for Disease Control, seat belt use reduces serious injuries and deaths by about 50%!
There is no logical argument to justify not using a seat belt. They are fast, free and effective.
Here is what I’m asking of our members. Let your employees know that there is a seat belt policy if there in fact is one. Let them know that it is real, it will be enforced, and it is because we care about them and their families. If your county or agency does not have a seat belt policy, adopt one, now. Let your employees know that you have done so and let them know it will be enforced, because you care about them and their families.
Once the policy is in place, take the time to do some follow-up checks on employees that drive county or agency owned vehicles. If they are spotted wearing their seat belt, shower them with praise, positive reinforcement is incredibly effective. If they are spotted not following the policy, sit them down and counsel them on the policy and why they should be. It is company policy and we care about them.
I think that this is a situation where people behave in a manner that they feel is acceptable to their supervisor. We need to make it clear that it is not acceptable to not wear a seat belt when operating a county or agency vehicle.
