What is a Culture of Safety?

How do you know if you have one and how can you enhance this culture once it has been established?

It is actually much easier to identify an organization that does not exhibit a culture of safety. These are organizations that have recurring injuries and down time along with increasing insurance rates and possible litigation issues. At these facilities, workers don’t feel safe or comfortable with the PPE provided to them and don’t bother to alert someone if gloves, glasses or earplugs fit properly. Management and workers sometimes ignore safety procedures and safety is not looked at as a top priority, nor is it discussed or properly invested in. Workers are not empowered to make a difference and in these cases, the culture of safety is broken or non-existent.

I’m always excited when a new employee starts at Arbill. We plan in advance to welcome the employee and make sure he/she meets with key people and learns the ropes from our experienced staff. It’s also important that all new employees -- in every area of the company --understands from day one that we are a safety company. Nothing is more important than keeping workers safe. 

Do your workers feel they are safe on the job? Do they work without fear of getting hurt and the impact it would have on their family? Do they trust their employer to do everything possible to train and protect them so they can go home safely at the end of the day?

We often talk about the importance and benefits of Building a Culture of Safety in the workplace. When you have achieved this objective, it implies that your employees have taken ownership of their actions and care enough to protect themselves and their coworkers by being safe and following safety guidelines. It also implies that safety is valued, practiced and encouraged at the leadership level, which has an important impact on employees, as well as your bottom line.

There are hundreds of safety slogans and quotes that demonstrate the importance of workplace safety. Often, it’s these sayings that stick in our minds and help us remember to adhere to their messages and use safe workplace practices. These quotes or slogans can be used in memos, displayed on bulletin boards and featured in employee newsletters to help raise awareness in your organization.

What is a Culture of Safety?

How do you know if you have one and how can you enhance this culture once it has been established?

It is actually much easier to identify an organization that does not exhibit a culture of safety. These are organizations that have recurring injuries and down time along with increasing insurance rates and possible litigation issues. At these facilities, workers don’t feel safe or comfortable with the PPE provided to them and don’t bother to alert someone if gloves, glasses or earplugs fit properly. Management and workers sometimes ignore safety procedures and safety is not looked at as a top priority, nor is it discussed or properly invested in. Workers are not empowered to make a difference and in these cases, the culture of safety is broken or non-existent.

I’m always excited when a new employee starts at Arbill. We plan in advance to welcome the employee and make sure he/she meets with key people and learns the ropes from our experienced staff. It’s also important that all new employees -- in every area of the company --understands from day one that we are a safety company. Nothing is more important than keeping workers safe. 

As we start a new year with fresh goals and initiatives created to drive our organizations forward, consider making this the year of keeping workers safe and elevating a culture of safety.