6 Ways to Boost Employee Safety Motivation & Ignite Company-Wide Safety Compliance
It’s natural for people to push back against decisions or directions they don’t understand or were not involved in.
“I’ve done it this way for 10 years and nothing bad has ever happened!”
“I’m not an idiot. I know how to be safe!”
“I have too much to do and need to work faster or my boss will yell at me!”
Leaders all throughout an organization have probably heard employees make these comments or something similar.
You have the authority and critical responsibility to protect employees from safety hazards.
However, you are just a single person in an organization of many.
Thousands, perhaps millions, of decisions and activities happen as employees go about their work-day.
So how can one person ensure all employees are making safe choices in their daily work-flows?
► Scale your influence by building a high-performing and thoughtful organization that operates safely, every minute of every day, through the buy-in, understanding, and participation of the entire organization.
This is much easier said than done as people are people, and we don’t always make the best choices.
Do you eat a healthy diet each day? We sure don’t.
► Earn your organization’s commitment and compliance to accelerate your safety program by overcoming these common psychological challenges…
Redirect Fear and Resistance Through Trust
Fear is a powerful psychological barrier that can impede employee safety efforts. Employees may fear repercussions for reporting safety concerns, reluctance to admit mistakes, or resistance to change established routines.
► Recognize and address these fears by fostering a culture of trust and psychological safety. Encourage open communication, assure confidentiality for safety reports, and emphasize the importance of learning from mistakes rather than assigning blame.
Overcome Complacency Through Persistent Reinforcement
Employees may become complacent when safety protocols become routine or when they perceive the likelihood of accidents as low.
► Combat complacency by regularly reinforcing the importance of safety, providing ongoing training and reminders, and promoting a proactive approach to hazard identification and risk mitigation.
Reframe Perceived Inconvenience With Engagement
Employees may resist safety efforts if they perceive safety protocols as inconvenient or burdensome.
► Address these perceptions by emphasizing the long-term benefits of safety measures and providing support to alleviate any practical challenges (like providing PPE). This includes engaging employees in the development of safety protocols to ensure they are feasible and realistic within the context of their work responsibilities.
Mitigate Cognitive Biases With Humility
Cognitive biases, such as overconfidence or confirmation bias, can hinder employee safety efforts by leading to errors in judgment and decision-making.
► Be aware of these biases and implement strategies to mitigate their impact. Encourage employees to approach safety decisions with humility and an openness to new information. Provide training on recognizing and overcoming cognitive biases to enhance decision-making effectiveness and promote a culture of critical thinking.
Foster a Sense of Ownership Through Empowerment
A lack of ownership can prevent employees from fully engaging in safety efforts.
► Empower employees by fostering a sense of ownership in safety initiatives. Involve employees in the development of safety policies and procedures, solicit their input on safety improvements, and recognize their contributions to creating a safer work environment. By fostering a sense of ownership, safety managers can cultivate a culture where employees take pride in prioritizing safety.
Cultivate Collaboration and Build Your “Safety Team”
Collaboration is key to overcoming psychological barriers and fostering a united front in employee safety efforts.
► Collaborate with other stakeholders, such as supervisors, HR professionals, and frontline employees, to leverage diverse perspectives and resources. Establish cross-functional safety teams, hold regular safety meetings, and encourage interdepartmental cooperation to break down silos and promote a holistic approach to safety management.
Next Steps to Drive Your Safety Momentum:
► Learn more about Behavior Based Safety in this free download.
► Signup for our next employee safety webinar for in-depth learning!
► Reach out to us! Safety is an on-going process requiring a diverse skill-set and our professionals can help.
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