Workplace Safety - Its All About Attitude

So much of workplace safety is about attitude. You can do hours of training and certification, but if your employees don't have the right attitude it all goes to waste. Fortunately, much of your employees attitude is affected by how you manage.

First of all, managers need to be positive. Focus on praising good safety behavior whenever you see it. Both on an individual level and on a site or group wide level. This praise should be done on in a public way way as much as possible. Conversely, if you see bad safety behavior it needs to be addressed immediately. Usually, the best way to address bad safety behavior is with a private conversation with the employee. If the behavior continues, it should progress to a notation in their file and other disciplinary steps.

Another great way to promote positive safety actions is through group wide statistics. This can be done through company wide safety contests. This puts all the employees in a team. You will find that they will start reminding each other positive safety behaviors making your job much easier. Also, if an employee gets injured in an accident they will feel like they are letting the team down. Display the statistics in a public place where everyone can keep track and display posters reminding employees of the safety behaviors wherever feasible.

As a manager you can affect safety attitudes. Your positive feedback and constructive criticism combined with a safety contest system will positively affect your employees. The workplace will be safer and more productive.