In order to foster a safe and secure work environment, it is essential to develop strong safety habits. Here are eight key habits that can help organizations build an effective safety culture. By implementing these habits, companies can reduce accidents, protect their employees, and enhance productivity. From promoting open communication to providing regular safety training, these habits can make a significant difference in creating a culture where safety is a top priority.
1) Stop Making Safety a Priority.
Safety is a crucial aspect of any workplace or activity, but it shouldn’t be treated as just another item on a to-do list. Rather, safety should be ingrained as a core value within an organization or individual. By prioritizing safety, we risk treating it as a checkbox item that can be overlooked or rushed through. On the other hand, by making safety a value, we create a culture of mindfulness and accountability, where each person takes responsibility for their own safety and that of others. Let’s shift our mindset from simply prioritizing safety to valuing it as an integral part of our daily lives.
2) Make it Safe to Raise Concerns.
Provide a safe and confidential platform for employees to raise concerns without fear of retaliation. We understand the importance of creating a culture of trust and transparency, which is why this system allows for anonymous reporting and secure communication between employees and management. By implementing this solution, organizations can demonstrate their commitment to fostering a safe and respectful workplace for all employees.
3) Make Safety a Responsibility of Operations.
The importance of safety cannot be overstated, and it is essential to create a culture that prioritizes it. By making safety a responsibility of operations, you can establish a safety culture that empowers everyone to take ownership of their own safety and that of their colleagues. This approach enables you to focus on leading indicators, identify potential risks, and take proactive measures to prevent incidents from happening. Implementing safety habits in your operations can help you achieve this goal. These habits are designed to instill a safety-first mindset, cultivate a culture of accountability, and promote continuous improvement. By making safety a priority, you can create a safer work environment, reduce incidents, and improve overall performance.
4) Focus Left of Zero.
Just culture is an essential component of any safety management system. By tracking and trending information from the field, we can identify potential accidents before they occur. When the first four habits are implemented together, we can proactively mitigate risks and prevent accidents. With our expertise in safety management, we can help you establish a just culture and enhance safety in your organization. Contact us today to learn more.
5) Stop Managing People.
This habit focuses on leadership principles that are essential in creating a culture that is sustainable in every environment. The only constant in life is that things will change. Be prepared to lead your team no matter what comes your way.
6) Stop Trying to Fix the Worker and Fix the Work.
Are you tired of constantly trying to motivate and improve your employees, only to see little to no results? It’s time to shift your focus from fixing the worker to fixing the work. In today’s fast-paced and ever-changing work environment, it’s crucial to provide employees with the tools and resources they need to be successful. By taking a revolutionary approach to employee productivity, you can create a work environment that fosters growth, creativity, and innovation. Instead of blaming your employees for underperformance, take a hard look at your company’s systems and processes. Are they outdated? Inefficient? Inflexible? By fixing the work, you can empower your employees to reach their full potential and achieve greater success. Join the movement and start fixing the work today!
7) Find the STCKY (stuff that can kill you) and Stop the SIF (serious injuries and fatalities).
Ensuring safety at work is crucial to prevent serious injuries and fatalities. The STCKY is an initiative that aims to raise awareness about potential hazards in the workplace. By identifying and eliminating STCKY items, we can create a safer work environment for everyone. This initiative focuses on preventing SIF by identifying and mitigating potential hazards. By increasing STCKY awareness and implementing safety measures, we can help keep our workers safe and reduce the number of workplace injuries and fatalities.
8) Stop Trying to Influence Everyone.
It’s natural to want to be liked and respected by everyone around you, but trying to influence everyone can actually have the opposite effect. When you try to please everyone, you dilute your message and make it less impactful. Instead, focus on your core values and the audience that resonates with them. By speaking authentically to this group, you’ll build a stronger connection and be more likely to inspire action. Remember, it’s better to have a small group of passionate supporters than a large group of lukewarm followers. Don’t waste your energy trying to influence everyone – target those who matter most to your cause.
All safety programs should be built on the principles of human performance. Use these five principles designed by safety expert and author, Todd Conklin:
• Error is normal. Even the best people make mistakes.
• Blame fixes nothing.
• Learning and improving are vital. Learning is deliberate.
• How you respond to failure matters. How leaders act and respond counts.
• Context influences behavior. Systems drive outcomes.
You can select as many or as few principles as you’d like. It all depends on your organization and what it is you are trying to accomplish.
Also, consider the following:
• Workers aren’t the problem; workers are the problem solvers.
• Safety doesn’t prevent bad things from happening; rather, safety ensures good things happen while workers perform tasks in complex and adaptive work environments.
• Safety is not defined by the absence of incidents but by the presence of capacity.