How can you make your safety management system more accessible and inclusive?

2 Provide multiple formats and channels

Another way to make your SMS more accessible and inclusive is to provide multiple formats and channels for your safety information and training. Some workers may have different learning styles, preferences, or needs that affect how they access and process information. For example, some workers may prefer visual, auditory, or tactile formats, while others may need large print, braille, or sign language. Some workers may have limited access to technology, internet, or literacy skills, while others may face language or cultural barriers. To accommodate these diverse needs, you should provide your safety information and training in various formats and channels, such as print, digital, audio, video, or interactive. You should also use plain and simple language, and provide translations or interpretations if needed.

3 Involve workers in safety decisions

A third way to make your SMS more accessible and inclusive is to involve workers in safety decisions and activities. Workers are the ones who face the safety risks and hazards in their daily work, and they have valuable insights and feedback that can improve your SMS. By involving workers in safety decisions and activities, you can increase their awareness, engagement, and ownership of safety issues. You can also ensure that your SMS reflects the needs and perspectives of your diverse workforce. You can involve workers in safety decisions and activities by conducting surveys, interviews, focus groups, or workshops, by creating safety committees or teams, by soliciting suggestions or ideas, or by providing recognition or rewards.

4 Promote a positive safety culture

A fourth way to make your SMS more accessible and inclusive is to promote a positive safety culture in your organization. A positive safety culture is one where safety is valued, prioritized, and practiced by everyone at all levels. It is also one where workers feel respected, supported, and empowered to speak up and act on safety issues. A positive safety culture can enhance your SMS by fostering trust, communication, collaboration, and learning among your workers. It can also reduce fear, blame, or discrimination that may hinder your SMS. You can promote a positive safety culture by setting clear and realistic safety goals and expectations, by providing adequate resources and training, by encouraging reporting and feedback, by celebrating successes and learning from failures, and by modeling and rewarding safe behaviors and attitudes.

5 Monitor and evaluate your SMS

A fifth way to make your SMS more accessible and inclusive is to monitor and evaluate your SMS regularly. Monitoring and evaluating your SMS can help you identify and address any gaps, issues, or opportunities for improvement. It can also help you measure and demonstrate your safety performance and progress. You can monitor and evaluate your SMS by collecting and analyzing data on safety indicators, such as incidents, injuries, near misses, hazards, audits, inspections, or compliance. You can also use qualitative methods, such as observations, interviews, surveys, or feedback, to capture the experiences and opinions of your workers. You should use both quantitative and qualitative methods to get a comprehensive and balanced view of your SMS.

6 Adapt and improve your SMS

A sixth and final way to make your SMS more accessible and inclusive is to adapt and improve your SMS based on your monitoring and evaluation results. Your SMS should not be static or rigid, but dynamic and flexible. It should be able to respond to changing conditions, needs, or expectations in your work environment and workforce. You should use your monitoring and evaluation results to identify and prioritize areas for improvement, to develop and implement action plans, to communicate and consult with your workers and stakeholders, and to review and update your SMS policies, procedures, tools, and activities. You should also seek and apply best practices, innovations, or lessons learned from other organizations or sources.