The refrigerated trucking industry understands that health and safety in the workplace benefits everyone. A safe work environment means that companies can operate effectively and successfully while increasing worker performance and morale, and reducing operational costs.

Business use a number of methods for promoting accident prevention, the most typical of which are holding safety training sessions and distributing safety information.

What I have seen over the years is an increase in the use of visual reinforcement to drive home high-impact safety messages. Companies are installing signs with safety messages at the entrance and exits of facilities, and using safety bulletin boards with posters and material.

Some fleets place safety decals inside and outside their trucks to enhance safety awareness and to remind drivers to follow certain safety procedures.

Just last week I came across a very clever - and effective - safety decal while passing a rig on an Interstate. The decal, placed right above the driver’s door handle, read: “Safety starts here.”

I know of a carrier that places photographs of trucks that have been involved in an accident on a bulletin board in the driver’s room. Above the pictures is the headline: “How much did this cost the company?” The answer is hidden under a flap. The idea is for a driver to try and guess the dollar amount, and then check to see the actual amount.

That’s a great idea. Very few drivers actually know how much damage can be caused to a vehicle.

An even more effective way to help prevent accidents is what another major fleet does. It puts wrecked vehicles on display behind a large sign that reads: “Don’t let this happen to you.”

As you might imagine, this display gets everybody’s attention. The intent is to let drivers see firsthand the consequences of their risk taking.

Using visuals helps communicate safety ideas and concept. The fleets with the best safety records incorporate this into their ongoing safety training.