How to Sell NSC Membership to Your Boss

As a safety professional you understand the importance of valuing safety in all areas of your organization. However, you may face some difficulty in convincing management to fully back your safety program and creating an ever-important culture of safety. Becoming a National Safety Council member is a worthwhile endeavor and here are some reasons to help you win over those above you who do not yet agree.

Safety Should be Viewed as an Investment and not an Expense

The Liberty Mutual Research Institute for Safety has revealed that there is a $3-$6 savings for every $1 invested in safety. NSC membership has the ability to help lower workers´ compensation costs, insurance premium rates, and indirect costs due to injury reduction. It can also increase your employee´s morale and productivity, actually saving your organization money in the long run.

OSHA Compliance

NSC has multiple ways to help keep your organization in compliance with OSHA and avoid any unnecessary fines. For instance, NSC offers OSHA Compliance Certificate courses. Our monthly OSHA Up-to-Date newsletter provides members with the latest important information. NSC consultants can objectively examine your compliance programs to identify potential problem areas – before OSHA does. Finally, NSC´s professional librarians are available 5 days a week and can help you find information on OSHA regulations.

Discounted Safety Products and Training

NSC members enjoy substantial discounts off a large selection of books, manuals, periodicals, training classes, materials and more. Members also receive a registration discount to NSC´s annual Congress & Expo, rated as one of the top 200 trade shows in the nation and one of the best safety networking events of the year.

A Wealth of Safety and Health Information

As a benefit of membership, NSC members receive a monthly copy of Safety+Health magazine, their choice of either OSHA Up-to-Date or Traffic Safety monthly newsletters, a quarterly copy of Membership Advantage newsletter, Injury Facts - an annual compilation of safety and health statistics, and News Alert – a weekly electronic newsletter bringing you the most current safety and health news.

There is No Excuse Not to be Safe

"Any risk of serious injury or death is unreasonable and unacceptable if that risk could be eliminated or reduced through reasonable accident prevention measures…those which are economically and technologically feasible."1 NSC strives to educate and influence its members to prevent accidental injury and death from occurring. Reacting to hazardous incidents is not a safety program.

Safety Provides a Competitive Edge

As a National Safety Council member, your organization will align itself with the leader in safety and health. Founded in 1913, NSC has grown to more than 48,000 member organizations that have realized the advantages of putting safety first.

The Importance of Off-the-Job Safety

Off-the-job injuries to workers cost the nation at least $193.6 billion in 2004 compared to $142.2 billion for workplace injuries. The average company pays $740 for every employee each year in off-the-job injuries – including costs associated with absenteeism, health care, productivity, and unscheduled work interruptions.

  1. Gallagher, VA. "Motivating Management When Cost-Benefit Analysis Fails."
    Professional Safety. May 1999. V. 44, No. 5, P 45.

Additional sources of information to help you convince management:

Cecich, TF. “Where’s My Return: Many Safety Investments Won’t Show Financial Gain.” Industrial Safety & Hygiene News. Sept. 2005. V. 39, No. 9, Pp. 38, 40.

“CEOs Who ‘Get It.’” Safety & Health. Feb. 2005. V. 171, No. 2, Pp. 25-33.

“CEOs Who ‘Get It.’” Safety & Health. Feb. 2006. V. 173, No. 2, Pp. 23-31.

Gallagher, VA. “Motivating Management When Cost-Benefit Analysis Fails.” Professional Safety. May 1999. V. 44, No. 5, Pp. 42-45.

Hansen, M. “Selling Safety to Management: Are You Committed to Getting Management’s Commitment?” Industrial Safety & Hygiene News. May 1997. V. 31, No. 5, Pp. 22-23.

“The Roi Of Safety -- The Bottom Line On Safety: It Starts At The Top.” Business Week. Sept. 2005. No. 3950.

Find all of these articles in the NSC Member Resource Center & Library collection. Contact the NSC library at 630.775.2199 or email library@nsc.org.


Download the "How to Sell NSC Member Benefits to Your Boss" (pdf)

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