A secure work site is a happy work site

No one can dispute the importance of a secure work environment. A secure work site is a happy work site, which typically results in a productive work site.

The inquiry is: How can you implement new safety equipment that employees do not perceive as necessary?

The choice is straightforward regarding regulated items, such as hard hats or safety vests: either wear them or seek alternative employment. Nevertheless, most employees will initially ask, "Why?" when provided with safety equipment that is not explicitly linked to a regulation.

There is a significant number of workers who are experienced and established in their approach to safety, as the industry personnel has an average age of 40.4 years. Proof that the new method is superior to the old method, leadership, and willingness to participate are all necessary for the adoption of new safety apparatus. Start with these five suggestions.

Enhance, not disrupt

An experienced workforce is likely to respond with resistance. Build your strategy around it. The new safety apparatus or process should be presented as a company investment in the enhancement of the work environment, with the safety benefits serving as an additional benefit.

For example, it is becoming increasingly common for employees to conduct training sessions for the expanded team. This is a fantastic concept in terms of encouraging participation. These discussions, held during safety or production meetings, are crucial. Including a distinct work disruption for an employee-led training session may result in resistance rather than adoption.

Create advocates for safety equipment

Before implementing new safety apparatus or mandating new processes, it is beneficial to initiate a pilot program. Request volunteers initially. You may need to strategically designate some influential employees to complete the pilot team. Establish metrics to compare the pilot program's performance to other teams (e.g., efficiency, productivity, and the number of errors) once the program launches.

The establishment of advocates serves two primary purposes. To begin, you have established the foundation for a word-of-mouth campaign. Secondly, you generate a response to the employees who rely on the status quo, which is, "We are content with the current situation."

Another advantage of pilot programs is that they can also determine whether or not new safety apparatus or processes are required. Additionally, workers will appreciate the transparency and seek assurance that construction safety managers are protecting them from unnecessary measures.

Make use of it during training

The training environment is the most conducive to the development of advocates for new safety equipment. When training new or experienced employees, it is crucial to allocate time to persuade them of the benefits of new safety equipment, such as the ability to complete tasks more efficiently or with greater efficiency. This will result in a higher rate of adoption.

First-generation safety equipment may appear to be innovative and advantageous; however, it may necessitate some on-the-job experience to establish a foothold. For example, drones. Initially, the cost of hiring a remote control pilot, videographer, and data specialist to operate them was considered an expensive inconvenience. With intuitive data analytics software and straightforward video capture, they are now user-friendly for anyone to operate. It is not necessarily the case that a few modifications will not translate from disruption to improvement, even if a particular piece of safety equipment isn't the best fit at this moment.

The safety culture of a job site encompasses all of this. The appropriate culture instills an inherent sense of safety without exaggerating it. To ensure the safety of the workforce and prevent disruptions caused by unnecessary safety apparatus and processes, the safety manager is present. Excessive safety or safety without representation can lead to worker frustration. Making safety a hindrance to success is the absolute last thing you want to do.