Your team is divided on safety protocols in fleet operations. How do you ensure everyone prioritizes safety?

Many things can be negotiated across an operation, things can be made to work. When it comes to safety there is one standard and that’s what must be followed. Safety is entirely a non-negotiable.

fostering a unified commitment to safety begins with clear communication and training. Hold regular meetings to discuss the importance of safety and address any concerns or misconceptions. Lead by example and involve the team in developing or refining safety protocols, ensuring everyone feels responsible and invested in the outcome. Reinforce the significance of safety with consistent reminders, rewards for adherence, and strict enforcement of rules. This approach ensures that safety becomes a shared priority across the team.

Making safety and safe behavior important to your associates is all about setting the example you expect them to follow and being authentic in your passion for their well being.

All aspects of the business starts with safety. Safety as everyone's job and we do not conduct business before safety as considered.

1. Open Discussion: Hold a meeting to listen to concerns and perspectives from all team members. 2. Safety Training: Organize comprehensive training sessions to educate everyone on safety protocols and procedures. 3. Clear Communication: Establish a clear, concise safety manual and ensure it's easily accessible. 4. Accountability: Assign safety responsibilities and hold team members accountable. 5. Incident Reporting: Create a system for reporting incidents or near-misses, and use them as learning opportunities. 6. Recognition and Rewards: Incentivize safe behavior with recognition and rewards. 7. Continuous Improvement: Regularly review and update safety protocols to address emerging risks or concerns.

Reviewing the existing safety protocols is definitely one of the first things to do. A safety officer or personnel present during the review will be much more better. All team members should indicate or acknowledge their agreement and understand to the reviewed process.

That there is division means that there is a great issue to be dealt with. Safety starts with individuals and should be a culture that is driven by continuous improvement. In safety nothing is cast in stone. The best approach would be a meeting stop and think session to pick all the issues arising. This process should include top management. For an all inclusive approach all actions should be allocated an owner and a timeline to close. There should also be regular feedback on progress on agreed actions. An all inclusive approach is key rather than a top-down cascade

Setting examples is crucial for prioritizing safety in fleet operations. In my experience, here are some tips to follow: 1. Visible Compliance: Leaders who rigorously follow safety protocols set a clear standard for others. 2. Behavior Modeling: Senior team members who practice safe habits encourage others to do the same. 3. Consistency: Regular adherence to safety measures by leaders underscores their importance. 4. Acknowledgment and Reward: Recognizing and rewarding safe behavior reinforces its value. 5. Open Communication: Leaders discussing safety openly and seeking input foster a culture of shared responsibility. By modeling these practices, leaders embed safety into the team’s daily routine.

One thing I've found helpful is random safety checks on drivers and equipment. This was done daily and I participated myself along with my leadership team. This kept the drivers doing their pre and post trip inspections and when they passed they wire rewarded with a small gift card. Not passing resulted in retraining.

Creating the system for open continuous feedback can create a safe environment for employees to share their safety concerns. Having periodic huddles while at work or having 1 on 1 coaching sessions in regard to safety set the tone for the facility. The more you mention the topic the closer it becomes to the front of peoples thinking processes. If you want your workers to prioritize safety, as a leader you will need to display that safety is in fact your top priority as well

Safety must be a core value guiding every action, from the C-suite to the street. It should be part of daily conversations, emphasizing the importance of understanding real issues and providing actionable solutions. A disciplined approach to safety allows no compromise—if it can't be done safely, it shouldn't be done. This might mean halting operations in severe weather or setting firm compliance standards. Empower everyone to stop unsafe operations, fostering a culture where safety is never compromised. Consistently setting, monitoring, and enforcing expectations builds a true safety culture, making safety the foundation of every operation.