Your team is divided on safety procedures. How do you ensure everyone stays safe in the workplace?

To have a smooth environment one needs to access the risk pertaining to safety of one's being. Risk could be analysed by using HIRA( Hazard Identification Risk and Assessment) and KYT(Kiken Yochi Training). Once it is anlysed there are various methods to Mitigate, Eliminate and Fecilitate. Here catch is, oftenly action taken on safety related issues as reactive approach instead it should have been proactive one. In the landscape of Accident/Incident there is no word called "undo". There are plenty of examples where safety was side lined because of which organisation has to pay hefty amount. There is no subsitute of safety, Infact now a days the jargon is SPQCDM where Safety comes first and foremost.

Everyone stays safe when the communication is both ways, the stakeholders involved should be heard and the safety procedures should be written based on everyone's input, if the input is different then it should be understood how the work is perceived and how it is done, and any gap should be closed.

The factory hummed with activity, but beneath the routine lay unnoticed risks. A safety audit was initiated, not just as a formality, but as a genuine inquiry into the team's practices. Every protocol was scrutinized, and each gap in safety measures was brought to light. Voices from every level of the organization were heard, from the boardroom to the shop floor, ensuring no concern was overlooked. The process revealed not only discrepancies but also differing perceptions of safety. With these insights, a stronger, unified approach to safety emerged, grounded in the shared commitment of the entire team.

Most times, people don't give honest feedback as they felt they might be reprimanded or penalised. So, ensuring there is a safe space for honest feedback, allows them to be candid in their feedback.

Having been on both sides of safety policy enforcement, I’ve seen how crucial it is. Working with world-class companies has shown me that safety truly comes first. The best organizations treat safety policy infractions as more serious than missing production goals or quality issues. It has to be a top-down priority, enforced consistently regardless of rank. The key is fostering a culture where enforcement is seen as a positive act. When someone points out a safety issue, the response should be ‘thank you’ because they’ve helped ensure you make it home safely. Safety isn’t about punishment—it’s about looking out for each other.