Challenge Accepted! Dan Daniel Associates Raise Safety Awareness with Contests

Safe-working challenges motivate associates like Patricia Becton to learn proper techniques, improve the distribution center’s efficiency and reinforce physical and cognitive fitness.

Leaders at the Dan Daniel Distribution Center have made safety awareness more fun while encouraging a BE FIT lifestyle with challenges that allow associates to demonstrate their knowledge for rewards.

Safe-working challenges motivate associates  to learn proper techniques, improve the distribution center’s efficiency and reinforce physical and cognitive fitness.

The safe-lifting challenge, for example, is simple.

Empty boxes of different sizes and shapes are arranged in a line. Associates take turns lifting each box.

Those who follow Exchange safety guidelines receive safety bucks—“money” when they are seen doing something safely.

Melissa Cooper, loss prevention manager 

Drawing a beat on safety

Safety bucks can be redeemed for items from the safety office’s showcase, which range from basketballs to high-end perfume to mini-coolers to Beats headphones.

“Proper safety reduces accidents and injuries and promotes general health,” said Melissa Cooper, loss prevention manager at Dan Daniel. “We are excited to have an opportunity to celebrate associates in such an engaging way.”

The safe-lifting challenge also highlights the benefits of focusing on holistic well-being, she said.

“You have to be well to be safe,” Cooper said. “We include information about the BE FIT lifestyle in our safety discussions with associates.”

Fostering sense of community

The challenges have boosted morale and fostered a sense of community in the warehouse.

“Many of these associates have been here a long time and never done anything like this,” Cooper said. “They appreciate the chance to show what they know while bonding with their fellow associates.”

So far, Cooper has issued two safe-lifting challenges and plans to offer new challenges every month addressing a different aspect of safety awareness, such as box-cutter techniques and eliminating hazards.

For more information about Exchange accident prevention and training, visit the Loss Prevention portal.