Book It to Safety
Houston Public Library
Innovation Synopsis
The City of Houston challenges all 26 departments annually to prioritize safe work practices and reduce injury rates. The Houston Public Library (HPL), with 43 locations and 476 staff, has steadily reduced incident rates from 35 to 8 per year over the past 15 years. To maintain safety awareness, HPL adopted the city's "Zero is Possible" (ZIP) initiative in a fun and engaging way. This program emphasizes a culture of safety, continuous improvement, and the belief that all incidents are preventable. By fostering a zero-incident mindset, we aim to create a safer, more secure environment for everyone who uses and works in our facilities.
The HPL Safety Committee introduced "Zippy the Zebra" as the mascot for the 2023-2024 campaign. Zippy serves as a daily reminder for staff to practice safe work habits, making safety an integral and enjoyable part of the workplace culture.
Challenge/Opportunity
Creating a safe work environment with strong policies boosts morale and reduces injuries, particularly as libraries face increased security incidents and workplace accidents. HPL's "Book It to Safety" campaign aligns with the City of Houston's "Zero is Possible" (ZIP) initiative by introducing a fun, library-specific safety campaign. Each HPL location received a Zippy the Zebra safety mascot, from Build-A-Bear, dressed in an HPL-branded jersey, to be displayed as a visual reminder for staff to "Book It to Safety"! Zippy has kept safety at the forefront of staff's minds throughout the year and helped prevent the campaign from losing momentum amidst busy library operations.
Key Elements of Innovation
The "Book It to Safety" campaign and Zippy engages staff with safety awards and challenges, keeping safety practices prominent. The goals are to continuously reduce annual accident rates, increase awareness of safety through training and effective team communication, and of course have some fun! Key elements include:
- Theme Contest: Groups create safety campaigns featuring Zippy through videos, displays, or presentations. Winners receive a certificate and a free lunch.
- Caught Being Safe: Managers nominate staff caught practicing noteworthy safety acts. Winners receive a certificate and a gift card.
- Safe Workers of the Year: Managers nominate staff for commendable safety practices benefiting HPL. Two staff members are chosen annually, receiving a certificate and a gift card.
- Tell Zippy: Staff email safety suggestions to Zippy at zippy@houstontx.gov.
Achieved Outcomes
- Zippy the Zebra is featured on the staff intranet, newsletters, posters, and emails, both in photographs and as a cartoon.
- The "Book It to Safety" initiative maintained the number of accidents at 8 for the year, with a 71% reduction in accident severity.
- The theme contest received 10 entries, judged by City of Houston’s HR Risk Management. HPL’s SPACES division won with a video of Zippy working safely.
- Eight staff members were recognized through "Caught Being Safe," and two were named "Safe Workers of the Year."
- Gwen Walter, HPL’s Safety Officer, received the City of Houston’s first-ever Safety Spotlight Award in February 2024, against all other City departments, for her work on "Book It to Safety."
- HPL’s "Book It to Safety" model has been shared with other City departments, inspiring them to create personalized safety programs.
