How do you gather input on safety during change?

1 Identify the scope and impact of change

The first step to gather input on safety during change is to define what kind of change you are dealing with, and how it will affect your operations, processes, and people. For example, is it a minor change, such as a new equipment or procedure, or a major change, such as a merger, relocation, or restructuring? How will the change affect the roles, responsibilities, and skills of your workers? How will the change affect the hazards, risks, and controls in your workplace? By identifying the scope and impact of change, you can determine who needs to be consulted, and what kind of information and feedback you need to collect.

2 Engage your workers and stakeholders

The next step is to engage your workers and stakeholders in the change process, and solicit their input on safety. Workers and stakeholders are those who are directly or indirectly affected by the change, such as employees, contractors, customers, suppliers, regulators, unions, and community groups. You can use various methods to engage them, such as surveys, interviews, focus groups, workshops, meetings, or committees. The key is to communicate the purpose and benefits of the change, listen to their concerns and suggestions, and involve them in the decision-making and problem-solving. By engaging your workers and stakeholders, you can gain valuable insights, ideas, and support for the change, and also identify and address any potential safety issues or gaps.

3 Use a safety management system

A safety management system (SMS) is a framework of policies, procedures, and practices that help you manage safety in your workplace. A SMS can help you gather input on safety during change, by providing you with tools and processes to assess, monitor, and improve your safety performance. For example, you can use a SMS to conduct risk assessments, hazard identification, incident reporting, audits, inspections, or training. A SMS can also help you establish safety objectives, targets, and indicators, and measure and evaluate your progress and outcomes. By using a SMS, you can ensure that safety is integrated into every aspect of your change process, and that you comply with the relevant laws and standards.

4 Implement and review the change

The final step is to implement and review the change, and use the input on safety that you have gathered to inform your actions and adjustments. You should communicate the change plan and expectations to your workers and stakeholders, and provide them with the necessary resources, training, and support. You should also monitor and control the change process, and identify and manage any risks or issues that arise. You should review the change results and outcomes, and compare them with your safety objectives and targets. You should also seek feedback from your workers and stakeholders, and recognize and reward their contributions. By implementing and reviewing the change, you can ensure that the change is successful and sustainable, and that it enhances your safety performance and culture.

5 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?