Along with a properly structured safety incentive program a few basic norms must become part of your safety culture to prevent non-reporting or under-reporting of accidents in the workplace and ensure you will achieve your safety goals.

• #1 in deterring employees from hiding accidents is to send and resend a clear message from upper management that 'non-reporting/under-reporting is not tolerated in this workplace'. Put it in writing. Post it on bulletin boards, print it on paychecks. Put the message out there again, and again, and again.

• Include Individual Goals and personal responsibility for each participating employee and you will eliminate the element of peer pressure from other participating employees to hide or disguise an accident - there is no collective reason to 'keep quiet' about accidents.

• An accrual-based program means that any one accident does not carry so much weight that reporting will end any chance that the participating employees will be able to achieve their safety goals and therefore lose any incentive to 'stay the course'.

• Short-term measuring periods, weekly or monthly, are preferred. Employees can get a 'fresh start' almost immediately after an accident with short-term measuring, therefore eliminating the employees' short-sighted reaction to hide or under-report an accident.

• Taking anything away from an employee that they feel they have earned is de-motivating. That we know. Avoid the 'nuclear option' of we had an accident so everyone suffers, everyone loses everything they have gained. It will be fatal to achieving your ultimate safety goals. The safety culture will suffer a quick, measurable decline. Instead, make it a temporary setback. Something to mark, measure, and avoid in the future. Keep the program positive and moving forward towards your safety goals.