By Diana Scheddin
In the year 2000, 106,000 people suffered injuries on the job that required time off, one person died each week as a result of injuries, and there were three amputations every working day, according to Brian Hagan, director of Dynatec.
Hagan points out there are four essential laws of teamwork and explains how companies can create effective teams, which can reduce the risk of injury in the workplace.
The Law of the Niche refers to Charlie Plum who had served time in Vietnam. His plane was shot down on May 19, 1967, and his survival is accrediated to the teammate who packed his parachute.
“If we do not make sure that people are doing their job we could have a problem,” Hagan says. “You must know your team, you must know the situation, and you must know the players (be aware of who is capable of doing specific jobs).”
This law allows workers to find their niche in safety.
The Law of Mount Everst lets workers evaluate their team, and make changes when necessary.
Between 1920 and 1952 seven major expeditions to the mountain failed.
The main problem was the teams themselves.
“Sometimes one person can make a winning team a losing team,” says Hagan.
Team members may have to be changed in order to create a more productive work environment.
Hagan also points out the Law of the Chain. He uses the Exxon Valdez oil spill in 1989 as an example of a corporation that had its chain broken. Ultimately the spill occured because the captain was not doing his job properly.
“The strength of the team is affected by its weakest link,” says Hagan.
Therefore it is important that the strong and weak members of a company can work together. If this is not possible, some members may have to be replaced.
The Law of Communication is also important, he notes.
Continental Airlines is one company that has changed its communication practices to create a better company.
In 1994 Gordon Bethune took over the airline that was ranked worst among the top 10 in the United States.
The company had a huge bureaucracy of rules and morale was at an ultime low.
To improve the situation, executive offices were opened to all employees and the lines of communication were much improved.
Today the airline is ranked among the best in the industry.
A successful company should have three modes of communication, says Hagan.
* Communication from leader to teamate; one must be consistant, clear and courteous
* Communication from teamates to leader; be direct and honest with your leader, be supportive, and stay current
* Communication between the team and the public; it should be receptive, responsive and realistic.
If organizations have proper functioning teams, a safe environment may be achieved, he says.
