Target Safety: Programs Focused on Preventing Specific Injuries (Best Practice)

The focus of a target safety program can vary. They can be focused on preventing causes of injuries, such as struck-by injuries or trench cave-in accidents. Others might be focused on preventing injuries to the back, eyes, hands, or feet. Clearly, the focus can be quite diverse and is largely determined by the nature of the specific hazards that appear to be plaguing a particular project. It was the objective of this research effort to examine various target programs and identify some common elements that existed among them that led to their effective development and implementation. If a consistent pattern could be identified, a model or template by which other target safety programs could be developed and implemented. 

After studying 10 case studies from 10 different and widely-varied projects, it was determined that newly created, successful target safety programs did follow a recurring and relatively consistent pattern in their evolution from development to implementation. Target safety programs can and should be employed to help projects, regardless of the type of work being performed or company size, to achieve zero injuries.