Help Employees Conform with Safety Rules
03/05/07
Getting employees to obey safety rules can be frustrating, unless you understand why they don’t obey them to start with. Follow these four simple lessons to successfully raise awareness about safety in your company.
Lesson #1: Start with Supervisors
Employees will generally do what they think is important to their boss. Focus your attention on changing the behaviors of line managers instead of just the employees on the line, and results will follow. For example, if your line managers do not consistently use safety glasses or other preventative equipment, it’s doubtful your employees will, either.
Lesson #2: Reinforce Behavior
Good habits stem from consistently reinforced behavior. Once they are firmly established, they are hard to break, paying long-term dividends. Changing habits can start with understanding why individual employees are reluctant to change, and addressing issues one at a time. For example, if you have an employee who consistently fails to utilize proper safety measures, address the issue each and every day until good practices become a habit for the employee.
Lesson #3: Make Standards Known
Company policy should be made clear from the beginning, and can be aided with handouts, banners or other postings that spell out your standing in no uncertain terms. And, it’s never too late to start. Hand out policy reminders at the door to workers on Monday morning, and then again to those who don’t show improvement throughout the week.
Lesson #4: Make Expectations Clear, and Praise Conformance
Employees will meet expectations if they are made clear and have a rational explanation behind them. Reinforcing good behavior with recognition creates good safety habits. For example, saying “thank you” or “nice job” when you see someone following a good safety practice can pay off in spades.
Put these four simple lessons into practice, and not only will you find your employees more willing to follow safety standards, but you’ll also sleep better at night!
June 2005