COVER STORY
real safety needs of their workforce are, not just what the previous policy looks like.
At its core, safety culture is about performance, and performance depends on people. Workers look to leaders not just for basic training, signage and direction, but for signals: what’s tolerated, what’s encouraged, and what’s rewarded? Credibility is earned when leaders strike the right balance between actions and words, and it’s undermined when they say the right things but fail to follow through.
Winning hearts and minds – and, ultimately, improving your organisation’s safety culture – requires genuine authenticity seen through actions and words. When leaders get this right, people feel safe to speak up, report risks and suggest improvements. And when this is right, everyone benefits.
By implementing these principles, business leaders can create a positive safety culture where employees are actively involved in maintaining a safe and healthy work environment.
IMPROVING SAFETY CULTURE
We know that people are more likely to embrace change when they connect the ‘what’ they do with the ‘why’ they do it. Communicating the ‘why’ behind training allows workers to understand how their actions can impact others, for better or worse.
Be open to, and encourage, observation and feedback. Regular, structured observations of work practices help identify safe and unsafe behaviours – and providing constructive feedback in real time reinforces positive actions and helps correct risky behaviours before they lead to an incident.
Encourage employee engagement and ownership. When employees are involved in identifying hazards and suggesting improvements, they become more committed to maintaining a safe work environment. Workers who understand safety protocols and see the positive impact of their actions are more likely to
take responsibility for their own safety and that of their colleagues.
Don’t be afraid of non-traditional thinking. Incorporating elements of nature, greenery and natural lighting into the workplace has been shown to have a positive impact on employees’ mental and physical wellbeing, creativity and productivity.
“GOOD HSE INVESTMENT NOT ONLY REDUCES RISK, IT ALSO DRIVES PERFORMANCE AND PROFITABILITY.”
By including worker voices, and understanding the challenges faced by individuals and groups, employers can provide workers with the support they need, when they need it, in a format that suits their circumstances (taking into account online, hybrid, in-person and blended interventions).
Through systematic observation, active employee engagement, comprehensive training, and positive reinforcement, organisations can significantly reduce workplace incidents. Embracing behavioural safety is not merely about compliance – it is a strategic investment in creating a safer, more resilient work environment where every employee is empowered to contribute to a culture of safety.
Finally, remember to keep all of this under review. We have seen from the BCI report that, there is a tendency for organisations to prioritise things other than health and safety.
Regular reviews allow you to change your tactics as workplaces change, or as risks change. But the objectives remain the same; protect your people, protect your organisation, protect your profits.
To find out more about British Safety Council’s Audit & Consultancy services, get in touch at the website below.
www.britsafe.org https://bit.ly/3Qb5gn5
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