How can you provide feedback and recognition for safety standards and best practices?

1 Why feedback and recognition matter

Feedback and recognition are essential tools to reinforce safety behaviors and outcomes. They help your employees understand what they are doing well, what they need to improve, and how they contribute to the overall safety performance of the organization. Feedback and recognition also show your appreciation and respect for your employees, which can boost their morale, engagement, and loyalty.

2 How to give feedback for safety

Feedback for safety should be specific, timely, and constructive. You should give feedback as soon as possible after observing a safety-related behavior or incident, and focus on the facts and the impact of the action. You should also balance positive and negative feedback, and avoid blaming, criticizing, or threatening your employees. Instead, you should use feedback as an opportunity to coach, educate, and support your employees to improve their safety skills and knowledge.

3 How to recognize safety achievements

Recognition for safety should be meaningful, relevant, and consistent. You should recognize safety achievements that align with your safety goals and values, and that demonstrate significant effort, improvement, or excellence. You should also use a variety of recognition methods, such as verbal praise, written appreciation, public acknowledgment, awards, incentives, or celebrations. You should also ensure that recognition is fair, transparent, and frequent, and that it reflects the preferences and needs of your employees.

4 How to solicit feedback from your employees

Feedback is a two-way street, and you should also encourage your employees to share their opinions, suggestions, and concerns about safety. You can solicit feedback from your employees by creating a safe and open environment, where they feel comfortable and confident to speak up. You can also use different channels and formats, such as surveys, interviews, focus groups, meetings, or suggestion boxes. You should also listen actively, acknowledge, and respond to the feedback you receive, and implement changes or improvements based on it.

5 How to involve your employees in safety recognition

Recognition for safety can be more effective and engaging if you involve your employees in the process. You can involve your employees in safety recognition by asking them to nominate or vote for their peers, to share their success stories or best practices, or to participate in recognition events or activities. You can also empower your employees to recognize each other, by providing them with the tools and resources to do so, such as thank-you cards, certificates, or tokens.

6 How to measure and evaluate the impact of feedback and recognition

Feedback and recognition for safety can have positive impacts on your employees' attitudes, behaviors, and performance, but you need to measure and evaluate them to ensure they are working. You can measure and evaluate the impact of feedback and recognition by using different indicators and methods, such as safety audits, inspections, reports, statistics, surveys, interviews, or testimonials. You should also review and adjust your feedback and recognition strategies regularly, based on the results and feedback you obtain.

7 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?