How to Prevent Costly Missteps and Build a Program That Actually Works
Safety incentive programs can drive lasting culture change—when done right. But when they’re poorly designed or executed, they can backfire: discouraging transparency, frustrating employees, and wasting budget.
Here are 7 of the most common mistakes safety managers and HR teams make when running safety rewards programs—and how to avoid them.
✅ 1. Rewarding Outcomes Instead of Behaviors
What goes wrong:
Tying rewards solely to “zero accidents” may seem intuitive, but it can encourage underreporting of incidents and near-misses.
Why it matters:
According to OSHA, incentive programs that penalize injury reporting can violate whistleblower protections and ultimately compromise safety data integrity.
What to do instead:
Reward leading indicators like:
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Attending safety trainings
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Submitting hazard reports
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Consistently using PPE
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Participating in safety committees
🛠️ Pro Tip: Recognize behavior in real time. Use spot rewards like branded tape measures or safety gear.
✅ 2. Offering Boring or Irrelevant Rewards
What goes wrong:
Gift cards and generic rewards may not resonate with your workforce—or worse, they may be forgotten or unused.
Why it matters:
Branded merchandise has staying power and reinforces your safety values every time it's worn or used.
What to do instead:
Offer practical, high-utility items like:
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Safety jackets, eyewear, or reflective vests with your logo
📊 A 2023 ASI study found that 85% of recipients remember the advertiser who gave them a promotional product, and 58% keep the item for more than two years.
✅ 3. Inconsistent Program Messaging
What goes wrong:
Employees don’t understand how the program works, how to earn rewards, or when incentives are distributed.
Why it matters:
Unclear rules create confusion and erode trust in the program.
What to do instead:
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Publish a simple rule sheet or poster
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Announce key milestones in safety meetings
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Use visuals like charts or digital leaderboards to track progress
✅ 4. Ignoring Middle Managers
What goes wrong:
If supervisors and foremen don’t promote the program, employees won’t buy in either.
Why it matters:
According to EHS Today, programs with strong middle management involvement see significantly higher participation rates.
What to do instead:
Train team leads to:
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Reinforce safe behavior
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Distribute rewards promptly
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Model safety engagement themselves
✅ 5. Forgetting to Refresh the Program
What goes wrong:
The program starts strong—but then reward options go stale or goals never evolve.
Why it matters:
Engagement naturally fades over time unless the program is refreshed.
What to do instead:
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Introduce quarterly challenges
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Rotate reward tiers
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Add seasonal items (e.g., branded jackets in winter)
✅ 6. Failing to Involve Employees in Program Design
What goes wrong:
Programs are created top-down, without input from the people it’s supposed to motivate.
Why it matters:
Employees know best what motivates them. Involving them boosts participation and credibility.
What to do instead:
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Run a short survey asking about preferred rewards
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Host a safety committee brainstorming session
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Let teams vote on next quarter’s incentive items
✅ 7. No Way to Measure Success
What goes wrong:
You don’t track whether the program is working—or worse, leadership sees it as a sunk cost.
Why it matters:
If you can’t show ROI, your budget is always at risk.
What to do instead:
Track KPIs such as:
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Incident rate trends
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Near-miss reporting frequency
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Training participation
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PPE compliance
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Employee feedback
Tie cost savings to reduced injuries, insurance premiums, and lost time. Share your findings in quarterly reviews.
Final Thoughts
Avoiding these common pitfalls can be the difference between a token safety initiative and a game-changing program. With the right incentives, clear communication, and consistent leadership support, your program can create a culture of accountability and pride in safety.
Looking for safety rewards that actually motivate your team?
At Safety Incentives Plus, we specialize in high-impact branded merchandise—everything from custom tape measures and PPE to jackets, coolers, and tech gifts. Let us help you build a program your employees will value and remember.
👉 Visit Safety Incentives Plus »
Sources:
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OSHA: Incentive Programs and Whistleblower Protections
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ASI Central: 2023 Ad Impressions Study
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EHS Today: “Best Practices for Safety Incentive Programs”
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National Safety Council (NSC): Employee Safety Reports