When OIC Sandra Czarnecki recently received a cash award for improved safety performance at the Ozark Post Office, she wanted all of the employees to feel recognized.
“The check had my name on it, but I knew that it was the employees’ dedication to safety that had made the difference, “ she said.
So everyone got together and decided to put the money towards purchasing a refrigerator for the break area, with employees covering additional expenses. “Everyone pitched in to make up the difference, just like we do with everything around here: teamwork!” said Czarnecki.
Ozark’s safety record has improved primarily because of Czarnecki’s focus on communication. Every day, employees stop what they are doing and briefly gather to discuss safety concerns. “Repetition is the key,” said Czarnecki. “We go over it every day so that we’ve got it in our minds.”
Postmarks thanks Sandra Czarnecki for sharing this story with us and would like to add a detail that Sandra herself omitted: for each week of accident-free work, Czarnecki has with her own money purchased breakfast for all Ozark staff.
