Region 1 ESC Leverages Employee Perspectives Toward Safer Workplaces

Many school districts rely on a select group of employees to respond when an incident happens. That system works well for addressing accidents after they occur, but it can also mean missing valuable chances to prevent accidents in the first place. When conversations about learning from incidents don’t happen, the opportunity to reduce risk and control related costs can slip by.

At Region One Educational Service Center (ESC), employees wanted to do more than just respond to accidents. They wanted to prevent them. That’s why they created the SMART Committee, which stands for safety, monitoring, accountability, response, and teamwork.

The SMART Committee brings together team members from across the organization. Facilities, operations, security, IT, HR, a substitute teacher coordinator, and a school-based nurse are some of the team members included in the discussions. This variety of perspectives makes it easier to spot risks and come up with creative solutions.

The committee meets once a month, and members work together to:

• Review workplace incidents and near misses.
• Conduct walkthroughs and safety audits.
• Recommend corrective actions and track completion.
• Promote safety awareness campaigns and training.

Of course, employees don’t want to be singled out for suffering workplace injuries. By keeping names confidential during incident reviews, the SMART committee has seen an increase in reports. That means more opportunities to correct root causes and continuously improve.

With the SMART Committee running smoothly, Region One ESC is building on their success. Working with Javier Cano, their regionally based TASB risk solutions consultant, the team launched a pilot program called “Stretch & Flex.” It’s designed to help prevent injuries from overuse or improper lifting and support long-term health for staff.

Fueled by leadership commitment and employee engagement, the SMART Committee is helping embed safety into Region One ESC’s culture. Their work shows that when employees are empowered to participate in safety efforts, organizations shift from reacting to incidents to preventing them. And as Region One continues building on the committee's progress, they’re not just reducing risks. They’re promoting a safer, healthier workplace.