Workers will defeat even the fanciest safety barriers if they do not respect them. Creating a culture empowered to support and actually place value in protective measures above mere “mandatory compliance” training means garnering leadership commitment & psychological ownership.
Start with the ‘Why’
Compliance is much more likely from workers who know what the actual effect of lifting a barrier will be. Present data relating to accidents, incidents or near misses during training and case studies. Put in the emotion ‒ speak about how an injury doesn’t just mean some lost productivity, it means a family loses their loved one. Simply put, employees cannot comply with what they interpret as threats; however when barriers are perceived to be lending protection (rather than inhibiting freedom), safety and compliance can increase exponentially.
Lead by Example
What will make or break a safety culture is if management has credibility. The supervisors who ignore all the barriers or tell workers, “Just get it done,” counter everything a safety message stands for. When leaders lead by example, they need to consistently follow protocols, even when times are tight. For Workplace Safety Barriers, contact https://www.emtek.co.uk/safety-barriers/workplace-safety
Involve Workers in Solutions
Employees can always point out the barriers that actually cause operational issues. Involve them in safety planning so common-sense solutions can be found that uphold the protection while at the same time streamline workflow. The real benefit is when workers are involved in the design of a safety system, because then they have ownership.
Recognise and Reward
Celebrate safety compliance as fervently as production achievements. Award employees who inform managers about barrier malfunction, propose solutions or assistance of colleagues in relation to adherence. Typically, positive reinforcement builds new habits better and faster than punishment by itself.
Make Training Ongoing
one-off safety sessions do not change culture. But repeated refreshers, toolbox talks and scenario-based discussions strengthen the muscle of safety awareness. Deal with complacency before it results in an accident.
