Safety Culture is very important at workplace. Without safety culture accidents increase and safety of employees is at risk. Successful safety culture requires commitment from each and every employee. One should practice safe behavior always.
As an organization effective safety culture should fall into place. It all begins with an organizations commitment towards employee safety. It is very important for management and higher officials to get involved in safety culture and make sure that their team gets involved too.
As the blog headline says that Safety Culture at Workplace is an attitude. Do not implement it as rule rather, it as an Attitude.
Safety Culture decreases accidents. But before understanding safety culture lets us discuss some of the factors that are responsible for accidents at Workplace :
Now, we will discuss three major factors that can play major role in setting up Safety Culture at Workplace.
As an organization effective safety culture should fall into place. It all begins with an organizations commitment towards employee safety. It is very important for management and higher officials to get involved in safety culture and make sure that their team gets involved too.
As the blog headline says that Safety Culture at Workplace is an attitude. Do not implement it as rule rather, it as an Attitude.
Safety Culture decreases accidents. But before understanding safety culture lets us discuss some of the factors that are responsible for accidents at Workplace :
- Improper machinery
- Workplace not designed properly
- Equipment used were not proper
- Machinery was not serviced on time
- Employees were not following the Standard Operating Procedure
- Employee operating lacked required skills
- Employee was under the influence of alcohol
Now, we will discuss three major factors that can play major role in setting up Safety Culture at Workplace.
- Clear Communication
- Training
- Assessment
Communication plays major role. It is important that clear and effective communication is passed. Communication should be clear. It is very important for Employees to understand what safety culture and why is it important. Next important step is training that is another key element in creating safety culture. It is very important to identify the training needs and deliver the same. Training is a way to educate, motivate and ensure safety of employees. Assessments are equally important to know the effectiveness of the training. Never ever be afraid of safety audits. It measures the efficiency of the processes and how well are they implemented?
Another factor that effect the Safety Culture is RIGHT ATTITUDE.
What is Right Attitude?
No matter how much time you invest in making Standard Operating Procedure, imparting training, what matters is are your employees willing to learn and accept new changes. Nothing can be implemented is Employees do not get involved.
Let us do a Case Study.
Scenario 1 : Ramesh is an employee who operates machine at his company. He has been working on it from last 6 months and one day his newly joined supervisor told him that the way he operates the machine, it could lead to accident someday. Therefore, his supervisor organized a training class. But Ramesh did not like as he was working on machine from last six months and the newly appointed supervisor who just came few days back was telling him the right way. In presence of supervisor he followed the operating procedure but in his absence he continued the same way as he used to because it took less time.
Scenario 2 : Suresh who had completed five years in the same company was operating the same machine which Ramesh did. Suresh was doing evening shift when the supervisor told him that the way he operates the machine, it could lead to accident someday. He attended the same training class which Ramesh did. Suresh understood the importance of safety while operating the machine. He followed the operating procedures in absence of supervisor too.
In scenario 1 employee followed right operating procedure only in presence of supervisor. That's because safety was a rule for him rather than attitude. Whereas in Scenario 2 Suresh understood the importance of safety and developed it as an attitude. Safety was in his behavior.
Training can play major role as it is very important to motivate employees in right manner and also it is important to acknowledge the right attitude towards Safety Culture. Identifying the training needs is very crucial. This brings me to a very important point, it is not alone the Supervisor who needs to understand the importance of Safety rather it is very important to build right learning attitude in each and every employee. Because mistake in any safety process by one employee can be dangerous for many.
Another aspect of Safety Culture is revising the policies at regularly or as and when required. In case of accident, it is very important to find below:
- Were procedures in place to deal with accident
- Cause of accident
- Was the employee trained
- Was the employee authorized to use machine
- If there was defect in machine, why was it not serviced on time
Also, it is very important to understand you team. Observe their behavior as it can help to impart right training. Develop a check list and educate your staff. Know you team, their strengths and weaknesses as group as well as an individual. Once safety culture is implemented it is very important that it affects everyone positively.
