Creating an effective safety program is challenging, but it’s essential for keeping your team safe while they work. OSHA requires all businesses to implement a safety program. However, even the most extensive programs can occasionally miss something or not go far enough in preventing accidents and reducing their frequency. To improve your site’s safety and prevent future accidents, here are three tips to help you get there:
Be Transparent With Your Safety Program
The foundation of any site safety training courses is transparency. When your team members know exactly what’s expected of them, how they’re being evaluated, and the consequences of failing to meet those expectations, they are far more likely to behave safely. This starts with clearly documenting your safety policies and procedures so that all team members know exactly where they stand. This is particularly important in industries with high accident rates and stricter regulatory demands, such as construction or utilities. Make sure your team members understand their obligations as well as their rights. Some businesses also choose to display their OSHA-required poster so that workers know what to do if they see a safety violation. Beyond documentation, you can also be transparent with how your safety program works by holding frequent safety meetings and being transparent about how feedback is collected and used to further the program.
Hold Weekly Safety Meetings
Safety meetings are a staple of many safety programs. These meetings help you ensure that your team members are aware of their responsibilities and have the information they need to meet them. First, choose a meeting time that works for your team and that minimizes distractions. While some businesses choose to hold weekly safety meetings every Friday afternoon, others choose to hold them just once a month. Make sure the time and frequency work best for your team and gives them enough time to implement any changes resulting from the meeting. When you hold safety meetings, be sure to cover the following topics: – What were the major safety issues from the last week? What issues are currently underway? – What are the most important aspects of the job site to focus on this week? What aspects of the job site should team members be particularly careful about? – What new safety policies have been enacted since the last meeting? – What feedback did team members provide, and what was done with it?
Assign a Safety Manager to Actively Enforce Rules
One of the strongest ways to encourage safe behavior is through positive reinforcement. Positive reinforcement is far more effective than negative reinforcement and has been shown to be more effective at creating lasting behavioral change. – When you catch team members behaving safely, thank them and praise them. Find ways to reward safe behavior, whether that’s promoting safe workers, giving them extra time off, or even just letting them know that their efforts have been noticed and appreciated. – Negatively punish unsafe behavior, too. When you catch team members behaving unsafely, hold them accountable and enforce consequences. This sends a clear message that unsafe behavior won’t be tolerated and will help create a culture of safe working.
Conclusion
While a safety program will always be a work in progress, there are plenty of ways to improve it. By being transparent, holding frequent safety meetings, and actively enforcing rules, you can effectively keep your team safe. By doing so, you’ll also help reduce the frequency of accidents and injuries on your job site, which will help you meet deadlines and stay on budget.
Photo by Photo by Field Engineer
