How To Go About Ensuring Workplace Safety

Workplace Safety

What exactly does it mean to keep your workers safe? Here is a breakdown of safety leadership for you to understand better. 

The challenges of a safety leader are plentiful. Not only do you have to worry about the safety of your people but also the various safety challenges that you might face. But did you know that your people could also be another set of human challenges?

No fret, here are a few tips we have for you. 

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Safety is your priority

As the saying goes, “safety first”. More important than anything else, you have to make sure that you have clearly stated and reinforced the idea that safety is very important to you. Take it as a personal value, one that ranks number one on your board. In order to excel or gain respect as a safety leader, you have to demonstrate your trustworthiness. If not, no one would enjoy listening to you blabber on about safety. If you do what you preach, then people will value you and your advice. Remember, you are the one giving out the instructions, if you yourself do not follow it, then why should anyone else?

Distinct expectations

In order to get your fellow workmates to cooperate, there has to be a clear set of expectations. It has to be stated in black and white what can be done, if there is no understanding, how can the job be done. Additionally, connections should be made. Demonstrate to the workers, executives, and even your own team how their contributions benefit the overall picture and how it keeps everyone safe. This would make them understand better and feel more inclined to listen to your safety regulations. 

Always give the instructions in person

When all your workmates are able to see the bigger picture and that you are someone who truly believes in the safety of all, they would be more inclined to listen to you. In order to bring across the message of the bigger picture to them, it has to be done in real life. 

Before you speak to them, however, there should be proper planning first. This is to ensure that nothing goes haywire. You should have a well thought out approach to your issues. Afterwhich, you should then present your idea and plan for your workmates. Slowly talk them through your plan and logic in order to allow them to visualize your bigger picture. Demonstrate how your plan works towards addressing many real problems and not small minor ones like injury rate. 

Do not be afraid of speaking to them in real life, no one has anything against you. If you come down to the field and clearly speak to them and demonstrate, they will be better able to understand your point of view. It gives off the feeling that you are giving constructive ideas from the ground and not from somewhere above them. 

Other than safety leaders, there are also environmental, health, and safety (EHS) professionals. To be an EHS professional, you should have these three skills:

Ability to manage without authority

This skill is rather intangible. You have to be able to connect with your fellow workmates on a personal level that makes them inclined to listen to you without being asked. This is when you have garnered enough trust in them. This is a very vital skill that can help you secure a leadership position. 

Written communications

Not everything is about ‘the talk’. You also have to be able to effectively communicate in other ways such as the written form. Be it in the form of a presentation or a manual of safety regulation, the ability to write in a manner that is clear and succinct is valuable. It ensures that everyone is on the same page and knows exactly what is going on. 

Ability to speak in layman’s terms

When speaking to a group of people who know nothing about your field, it is good to be able to translate the technical terms into more understandable and easier ways so that they can follow through with you. This ability would make people look up to you as you would be the person to turn to whenever discussion or conversation matters have to be discussed. 

Securing Hazards

With all this in mind, how then should a safety leader ensure that the workplace is safe?

When you have a safe environment, employees are more likely to be more productive. It becomes a more conducive space. Though it might not be possible that you keep the place a hundred percent safe with zero injuries or illnesses, you can do your job well and keep them to a minimum. 

In order to maintain the safety of the environment, as a safety leader, it is your responsibility to be able to identify and control all workplace hazards. To do so, set out safety measures and strategies such as sending your workers for training, automation safety tasks, and conducting periodic checks and inspections. All this is done with the goal of keeping the place as safe as possible. 360 Training offers a variety of training courses which can help boost overall safety in the workplace.

Be clear during all checks and procedures and ensure that your teammates understand why this is necessary and is done. Safety leadership also makes your business compliant with the health and safety laws put in place. In doing so, if there is a random check by authorities, your company will be ready. Not to mention, the cost of being sued for not complying with the regulations can be extremely costly. It would also destroy your company’s image, turning customers away from you. 

Conclusion

Remember, safety is your priority. It is your goal, it is your personal value. In order to do well in this position, you must also be a good leader who has clear and distinct goals and does what he preaches. This would make your teammates have more trust in you, and be more willing to listen to your instructions. It is not just about the paperwork. Remember, ensuring the safety of your people means that they can go back to their families safe and sound.