How to Create a Safety Culture that Intertwines with Operations in the Workplace

At Evotix, we’re not too hot on the term “safety culture.” We believe safety should be seamlessly embedded into an organization's overall operations, becoming second nature to everyone involved. By creating a culture where effective operations and safety are interchangeable, you can ensure safety is embedded in every facet of your organization. In this post, we’ll outline how to cultivate a dynamic safety culture that synergizes with your overall operations.

What Exactly is Safety Culture?

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), safety culture encompasses "shared beliefs, practices and attitudes that exist within an establishment, creating an atmosphere that shapes our behavior." Building any culture, safety or otherwise, takes time. Organizations must reshape entrenched practices and beliefs that employees were accustomed to.

At Evotix, we prefer the term "safe operations" rather than "safety culture." By emphasizing the symbiotic relationship between safety and efficiency, you can create a culture change that ensures safety becomes an enduring principle, integrated into efficiency, productivity and success.

The Significance of Safe Operations

Establishing a culture that prioritizes safe operations in the workplace holds numerous benefits. Firstly, employees working for an organization that places safety at the forefront experience heightened psychological well-being. Feeling valued and cared for, they contribute more productively than those lacking such well-being.

Moreover, fostering a culture of safe operations enhances teamwork and creates a collective commitment to ensuring everyone leaves work safely each day. This camaraderie is instrumental in boosting worker productivity and opening lines of communication on all safety-related matters.

Lastly, a culture that prioritizes safe operations improves overall operational efficiency. By implementing clear safety regulations, guidelines and risk assessment and reporting mechanisms, you can minimize the time and productivity lost to incidents, accidents and employee absences. This ensures operations proceed smoothly and aids in meeting targets, ultimately increasing profitability.

How to Establish Safe Operations in Your Workplace

There are numerous effective ways to embed safety into your overall work culture, transforming operations for the betterment of your people and your company. Here are some strategies to consider:

Safety must come from the top

One of the most effective ways to weave safety into your organization’s day-to-day activities is by demonstrating your commitment to safety as a leader. For starters, you should develop and implement robust safety policies and procedures that align with the standards and regulations within your industry – whether you’re in construction, logistics or manufacturing. Ensure these documents are readily accessible to employees and regularly review and update them as required. Meet with senior managers to ensure these safety protocols are clearly communicated and consistently enforced, via daily briefings, safety posters and regular speaker announcements in workplaces where appropriate.

As a leader, you need to see yourself as a role model for safety. That means adhering to safety procedures and holding yourself accountable when needed. By consistently prioritizing safety and demonstrating safe behaviors, you’ll reinforce the importance of safety throughout your organization.

Encouraging employee involvement in all things safety

Another way to ensure safety trickles into all aspects of operations is by encouraging employees to actively participate in safety. Create safety committees comprised of staff from different departments and encourage them to provide their input in safety-related decisions.

You should also establish clear channels of communication for hazard reporting, as well as incident and near-miss reporting. Health and safety software provides a clear path to creating a readily accessible, easy-to-use reporting mechanism for employees. By creating open dialogue around safety-related matters, you help employees feel comfortable sharing their observations, suggestions and feedback. This also fosters a sense of ownership and responsibility for safety across the board.

Providing training and opportunities for learning

Offer thorough safety training to all employees, including new hires and existing staff. Ensure they understand safety procedures, hazards relevant to their roles and effective risk mitigation techniques.

Implement ongoing education and refresher training to keep safety practices up to date. You can do this by leveraging health and safety software, which offers a centralized hub with quizzes, resources and instructional videos accessible on the go.

Rewarding good behavior and providing feedback

It’s important to recognize and reward employees for their commitment to safety. Establish safety performance metrics and incorporate them into performance evaluations and incentive programs. Publicly acknowledge individuals and teams who demonstrate outstanding safety practices and contribute to maintaining a safe work environment.

We also recommend providing constructive feedback to employees on their safety performance. Ensure you regularly review progress to address any non-compliance promptly and implement corrective actions where appropriate. Consistency in enforcing safety rules and holding individuals accountable will help keep safety at the forefront of everyone’s mind.

Strive for continuous improvement

One of the most important things to keep in mind is that, as an organization, you’ll never ‘complete’ safety. The most powerful move you can make to keep safety a priority is encouraging a culture of continuous improvement. Regularly conduct safety audits, inspections and incident investigations to identify areas for improvement. Actively seek feedback from employees and implement changes based on lessons learned.

Remember, creating a safety culture that invigorates your workplace goes beyond superficial compliance. It involves integrating safety seamlessly into all aspects of your organization's operations. By embracing safety as a fundamental element of efficiency, productivity and employee well-being, you can forge a vibrant safety culture that drives continuous improvement and success.

Want to learn more about how to prioritize safety in your organization? Read our insightful blog on The Difference Between Reactive and Proactive Health & Safety Management.