Tips for getting employees more involved in safety
A common challenge for safety professionals is getting employees and supervisors more involved in and more supportive of safety. That was a top issue identified by safety professionals at two recent events hosted by J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc.
Employees may not understand the value of safety, or simply choose not to engage and instead focus on production or other priorities. Perhaps the question should not be, “how do we get everyone to participate?” but rather, “how can we get them to CHOOSE to participate?”
Incentives with purpose
Employers commonly offer incentives for participation in safety activities. A company might hold games, host a pizza party, offer prizes, or use similar methods to get employees more involved.
Those efforts encourage participation, at least for the duration of the event, and may help demonstrate that the company values safety. Unfortunately, some employees participate for the payout, then return to the job without actually increasing their involvement in safety.
These events and activities can be worthwhile by increasing participation and awareness, perhaps even making safety “fun.” However, workers should not participate only for free food or prizes. While you have their attention, consider how to show them the value of safety and how it impacts them personally.
We do this for you
Obviously, employers must comply with OSHA regulations, and injuries take away from profits. An unsafe work environment creates other consequences such as increased turnover, decreased job satisfaction, and decreased productivity. These all cost the employer time and money. But beyond that, you just don’t want anyone getting hurt!
Some employees might express opinions like “the company only cares about money.” While every employer needs to worry about the bottom line, remind workers that safety rules keep them safe. The company might pay the cost of injuries, but workers pay the price — and you don’t want them getting hurt.
Numerous studies show that a majority of employees would choose appreciation over money or prizes. Everyone wants to feel valued. To make people want to support safety, they need to understand how safety benefits them and recognize that the company values them.
If the company only cared about profits and money, it wouldn’t invest so much time and resources on safety training, audits, and enforcement. Let your employees know, “We do this for you!” Show workers how safety benefits them, not just the company’s bottom line.
We need your help
To increase their involvement, employees must actively promote safety. Safety professionals know that a successful program requires active participation. As one step, give workers “to do” items rather than “do not” items. Minor changes in how you express the rules and expectations can increase their “to-do” items. For example:
Instead of saying, “Do not block the exit door,” try saying, “Make sure the exit route is always clear of obstructions.” Get as specific as possible, so instead of saying, “Keep the workplace clean,” try saying, “Immediately clean up any trash or spills that you notice.”
By giving them action items and pointing out that these rules benefit them, you can hopefully encourage them to take a more active role in their own safety. The ultimate goal is getting everyone to continually watch for hazards, support each other, and immediately address or report any problems.
Key to remember: When trying to get employees more involved in safety, think about what would motivate their involvement, and give them action items to increase their participation.
