How to Encourage a Culture of Safety in Your Business

For many workplaces, safety is absolutely critical. A safe environment is not only more productive; it’s also less likely to expose a business to legal and reputational risk.

In order to make a workplace truly safe, however, we need to think about how we might cultivate a culture that continually seeks out and eliminates risk. So, in practical terms, how can this be done?

Leadership and management commitment

When it comes to safety, it’s a good idea to lead by example. If senior members of the team are perceived to be acting in a way contrary to the expressed values of the company, then everyone else might stop taking those values seriously – if they did to begin with.

Clear leadership here means not only allocating resources to the right places, and setting the required tone; it also means demonstrating what the right behaviour looks like.

Engaging employees and creating shared ownership

If your safety culture is imposed on your workforce from above, then they might be more likely to resist and reject it. By involving everyone in the formation of policy, being receptive to feedback, and creating the right incentive structure, you can create the impression that the entire workforce is in it together.

The provision of the right PPE, like construction safety trainers, can also make a big difference here – it will empower employees, as well as make them aware of their obligations. In some cases, the provision of PPE might be a legal requirement, too.

Processes, training and continuous improvement

Effective safety culture involves a continuous process of improvement. Employees should be given clear procedures to follow, but there should also be a feedback loop via which those procedures can be iteratively improved upon. When someone spots something wrong with a procedure, they should be empowered to speak up and put it right.

Risk assessments should be performed at regular intervals – or in the aftermath of an accident or other failure. Training should be provided at regular intervals, too – and as part of an onboarding process for new hires.

Measurement, transparency and reinforcing safety behaviours

In order to improve your performance, you’ll need to think about how you’re measuring it. Certain indicators, like the frequencies of incidents and near-misses, are worth tracking. Metrics can be included in internal reports, and, in some cases more visibly.

The ‘days since last accident’ sign can be a powerful, visible reminder of the progress made by a company, and it can also offer an incentive to members of the team. After all, we’re more likely to be vigilant when we know that other people are being vigilant – and no one wants to be the person who breaks a long winning streak and lets down the entire team.