ANSWER THESE 5 QUESTIONS TO ACHIEVE A STRONG SAFETY CULTURE

Successful Safety Professionals don’t have better answers; they ask better questions. But too often, I have seen safety people miss out on new opportunities, fail to respond to employee concerns, or pursue the wrong strategy. All because they didn’t ask practical questions.?

I developed these five questions that you can work to achieve a strong safety culture if asked to the right people or groups.

WHAT ARE WE GOOD AT?

Every company, like every individual, has unique strengths and capabilities that reduce risk. The answer to this question can help set up a strategic plan that will help achieve a strong safety culture.?

It’s not arrogant to think there is something your company does better. It’s part of executing an accurate strategic plan that comprehensively addresses all risks based on operations. Accurate answers to this question will help define practical strategies that give your organization a competitive edge.?

WHAT DO WE NEED TO CHANGE, AND WHAT DON’T WE DO THAT WE SHOULD??

Many companies create internal challenges that come down to not fully understanding the risk created by the operational tasks– the things we are doing that create injuries and support unsafe behaviors. So instead of spending energy on things we’ve done in the past, or we hear other companies doing, we can evaluate and analyze actions and situations and replace them through the development and implementation of changes and processes that address the unsafe behaviors. We then can replace them with actions that propel the safety culture forward. This question helps safety leaders identify the at-risk behaviors and risks and focus their resources more effectively.?

WHAT DO OUR WORKERS WANT US TO DO??

We all know that emotion plays a prominent role in safety.?“We would have the best job if it weren’t for people,”?I say this all the time, but as safety professionals, we exist to help people go home every day. So we need to engage our workforce in the suggestions and feedback in everything we do when creating programs, policies, or procedures. Look, most of us don’t have a shiny new car because of how fast it goes. Instead, we buy it because it makes us feel confident. When we understand the needs and expectations of our workforce, we can do a better job of creating things that people buy into and meet their emotional needs.?

WHAT ARE PEOPLE PASSIONATE ABOUT IN YOUR SAFETY PROGRAM??

Passion is contagious. The reason companies invest in safety is to create a loyal workforce who can relate to the actions and activities to prevent them from getting injured. Suppose leaders are genuinely passionate about the safety of their workers. In that case, they will create enthusiastic workers committed to doing the right thing and ensuring their friends, family, and colleagues remain safe. When you know what people are genuinely passionate about safety, you can use them to support and market the company safety program.?

WHAT DOES THE WORKFORCE NEED US TO DO??

While we all know that pay and benefits factor into maintaining a consistent workforce, I believe companies must factor in how workers feel their leaders respect them and ensure their safety and provide a convenient place to work.??

WAYS TO START ASKING GREAT QUESTIONS:?

Questions open the doors that otherwise remain locked. - Questions are the most effective means of influencing people.?

• Questions cultivate humility.?
• Questions help you engage others in conversation.?
• Questions allow you to build better ideas.?
• Questions give you a different perspective.?
• Questions challenge people and improve difficult times.

Some questions to consider.

• At your next team meeting, ask the attendees what your company does better than any organization in the world to create a strong safety culture. Can anything be identified??
• When you are in the work area, ask your workforce the same question. Are the answers different than your team’s answer??
• Randomly ask workers and leaders what the company needs to stop doing. Then, ask them what the one thing is the company could do that would create a more robust safety culture. Do the answers surprise you??
• Get to know industry leaders and ask what they do to achieve a strong safety culture. Then, what can you do with that advice??

By asking good questions, you create the foundation for successful collaboration with the workforce and organizational leadership by building ideas, identifying areas of improvement, understanding the risks associated with the processes and activities, and creating a strong safety culture.