How Safety Culture Can Be Improved?
Creating a good health and safety culture is crucial for a company, who want to protect it's employees, reduce risk of accidents and improve business performance. A positive health and safety culture depends upon the mutual beliefs, values and behaviours of employees of the company. In this blog we are going to discuss how health and safety can be improved in a company. So let's get into it.
What is Health and Safety Culture?
I have discussed health and safety culture thoroughly in a post Read : [What is Health and Safety Culture? | Positive | Negative | ]
Health and Safety culture is shared values, beliefs, attitudes and behaviours of the employees and the management of company related to health and safety. In simple words, health and safety culture means that How we think and behave when it comes to safety and well-being of employees of the company.
A positive health and safety culture values safety and well-being of employees.
On the other hand, a negative health and safety culture can leads to
- Accidents and injuries
- Absenteeism and turnover
- Damage to equipment and property
- Legal and financial consequences
Key Elements of a Positive Health and Safety Culture are:
1. Commitment of leadership towards Health and Safety:
Visible and active support from top management.
2. Employee involvement in important decisions:
Encouraging employee participation in safety decisions.
3. Safety policies and procedures:
Clearly defined and communicated safety protocols.
4. Training and development:
Regular training and education on safety topics.
5. Incident reporting and investigation:
Encouraging reporting and thorough investigation of incidents.
6. Risk assessment and management:
Identifying and controlling hazards.
7. Continuous improvement:
Regularly reviewing and updating safety processes.
8. Communication:
Open and transparent communication about safety.
9. Accountability:
Holding employees and management accountable for safety performance.
10. Recognition and rewards:
Recognising and rewarding safe behaviour and safety achievements
How Health and Safety Culture can be Improved?
Health and safety culture can be improved in a company by following bellow mentioned tips:
Tip No 1: By the Commitment of Management To Health and Safety (Lead By Example):
When management is committed to health and safety it means that they are prioritising safety and well-being of employees. A management with commitment is a fact behind the success of a company. When the leadership (Manager, Supervisor etc) of the company is committed, it sets a example for other employees of the company and they start fostering a culture of transparency, accountability and continuous improvement. This commitment of management is evidence that when management prioritises safety, allocates necessary resources of health and safety, and holds themselves and others accountable for safety performance.When the management prioritises health and safety, it sends a clear message that the well-being of employees is valued to them. This will encourage employees to report unsafe actions and conditions, incidents, near-misses etc to without any fear.
Moreover, management commitment will robust the implementation of health and safety policy, procedures and training programs, which will help a lot in identifying and mitigating the risks. And the negative health and safety culture will be turned into Positive health and safety culture.
Tip No 2: By Visible Leadership:
Visible leadership refers to the involvement and commitment of company leaders (such as manager/supervisor etc) in management in promotion of health and safety in the workplace. By being visible leaders, managers and supervisors can create a positive safety culture, build trust with employees, and boost continuous improvement in health and safety performance.
Leaders are responsible of leading and driving workforce of the company. Workforce often see leaders what they are doing and they do the same actions. If management behave safely and follow health and safety rules it influences the behaviours of workforce positively and they also start performing safe actions. Management should take part in day to day safety programs so that they can convey a message of their active participation in the promotion of employee's well-being. Taking part in daily safety meetings and audits is important for creating a positive health and safety culture.
Moreover, management should promote safety efforts positively to promote a safe working environment. They should also enforce safety rules on their employees to improve compliance which is very important in the creation of a positive health and safety culture.
Tip No 3: By Setting Clear Goals for Safety Achievements:
Setting Safety Goals is a vital step for the transformation of negative health and safety culture into positive health and safety culture. It provides a clear guide and direction for the performance of safety. This will help to focus and concentrate on continuous improvements in health and safety matters. When a company sets clear goals of health and safety, then tracking safety progress, prioritising initiatives, and effective allocation of resources become easier for it.
Regular achievements of safety goals and targets leads to continuous safety improvement and these achievements can influence the behaviours positively resulting in a best health and safety culture. By setting and working towards safety goals and targets, company can create a road map for improving health and safety culture, driving continuous enhancement and promoting a safety-first approach that benefits everyone in the workplace in the shape of a good health and safety culture.
Tip 4: By Establishing Open Communication Channels:
A clear and open communication channel between the management and employees is a sign of good health and safety culture. If a company want to promote positive health and safety culture then they have to foster adequate communication channel in their company. An open communication channel enables free flow of information, ideas and concerns between the employees and management. This open communication fosters trust, encourages employee participation, and ensures that safety issues are reported and addressed properly in the company. Through open communication channels, employees feel empowered to speak up about hazards, near misses, and incidents, and provide suggestions for improvement. Supervisors and management can provide clear guidance, feedback, and recognition, promoting a sense of shared responsibility and accountability for safety.
By establishing clear communication, company ensures that everyone has adequate knowledge and skills for performing their jobs safely. This is because everyone will share safety knowledge such as safety information, best practices, safe working procedures and training's. By encouraging open communication company fosters a working environment where safety is the top priority of everyone.
Tip 5: By Providing Regular Safety Training's And Refresher Courses.
Managing the competence level of every employee in a company is a great responsibility of company They are responsible of setting adequate competence criteria and providing necessary training's to the their employees so that they can perform tasks safely. Provision of training to employees is a important aspect of a positive health and safety culture. It gives employees sufficient knowledge, skills and ability for doing their job safely. These training sessions educate employees about hazard identification, risk assessment and control measures, which enables them to make effective decisions and take proactive steps to prevent accidents. Another benefit of regular training is that employees stay up-to-date with changing regulations, technologies, and procedures, reducing the risk of complacency and errors.
By providing regular safety training and refresher courses, company demonstrates his commitment and will of creating a work environment where well-being of employees is valued.
Tip No 6: By providing adequate resources:
Providing adequate resources is essential for achieving positive health and safety culture. Adequate resources for health and safety allows management to implement and maintain effective health and safety management system in the company. Adequate resources includes personal Protective Equipment's (PPE's), safety technologies (Gas Testers etc) as well as sufficient allocation of budget for safety training, hiring of professionals, internal audits and accident/incident investigation. When company provide adequate resources, they demonstrate a commitment to safety, empowering employees to work safely and take proactive steps to prevent accidents. Adequate resources also facilitate hazard identification and risk assessment, allowing company to implement controls and mitigation to minimise or eliminate safety risks.
Moreover, Provision of adequate resources fosters a culture of accountability where employees will not feel any fear in reporting hazards, incidents and near-misses because they know that their employers will take immediate action on their report and will resolve their issues. This will create a environment where safety is prioritised and employees can work safely, resulting in significant improvement in safety culture.
Tip No 7: By Implementing a Reporting System of Incidents and Near-misses:
Reporting incidents and near-misses is a very essential step for creating a positive health and safety culture. There must be an efficient way to report incidents and near-misses without any difficulty. An effective reporting system enable company's management to identify the hazards and mitigate the risks before they cause harm. This system will encourage employees to report near-misses and unsafe conditions without fear of reprisal resulting in building of mutual trust. Clear reporting of hazards and unsafe actions can help management in investigating the accidents by identifying root causes to avoid re-occurrence. By analysing incident and near-miss data, company can identify trends and patterns, enabling them to target specific areas for improvement. The reporting system also demonstrates that company values employees safety and well-being, encouraging employee's participation and engagement in safety initiatives.
Moreover, it provides a platform for employees to share their experiences and learn from mistakes, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and accountability. By implementing a reporting system, company can create a safety-first approach, where incidents and near-misses are seen as opportunities for growth and improvement, leading to a significant enhancement of health and safety culture.
Tip No 8: By Rewarding Safe Behaviours:
Recognising safe practices and rewarding safe behaviours is the most efficient way to improve health and safety culture in a company. This action recognises the contribution of employees in creation of safe working environment and encourages them to prioritise safety. By recognising and rewarding safe behaviours, company promotes safety habits and motivates employees to continue adopting safe behaviour.
Rewards could be simple. These can be an extra salary, bonuses, trophy's, medals or even a pencil and can be given for actions like reporting near-misses, suggesting safety improvements, or demonstrating consistent safe behaviour. Rewarding safe behaviours sends a clear message that safety is important and that the employees commitment to safety is valued and appreciated by the company.
Moreover, rewarding safe behaviours creates a positive safety culture loop, where employees are motivated to work safely, report incidents, and participate in safety initiatives, leading to a continuous improvement in health and safety culture. By rewarding safe behaviours, company can create a safety-first approach, where employees feel valued, engaged, and empowered to take ownership of their safety and the safety of others.
Tip No 9: By Reviewing Safety Policies and Procedures:
Health and Safety documentations are very important and useful in case of managing health and safety properly in the company. It is important to make sure that the documentations are effective, adequate, relevant, suitable and sufficient. Reviewing health and safety documentation is an effective key element of a positive health and safety culture. it ensures that the company's safety management system remains relevant, effective, and aligned with industry best practices. Reviewing safety policies and procedures helps company to assess its suitability, identify areas for improvement, and update according to the changes in regulations, technologies, or processes.
Moreover, regular reviews demonstrate company's commitment to continuous improvement by reinforcing safety-first approach and encouraging employee engagement and ownership in the safety management process which is ultimately leading to a positive and robust health and safety culture.
Tip No 10: By Involving Employees in Decision Making:
Employees are very precious assets of any company. Their well-being should be an important consideration for any company who want to be successful. Employees are those who are directly effected by the outcomes of a negative health and safety culture. The more they know about the severity and mitigation of risks, no one else can know. This is why the involvement of employees is considered as a most important aspect of a positive health and safety culture. It encourages and empowers them to take the ownership of their safety and the safety of others. By involving employees in decision-making process, company uses their collective knowledge, skills and experiences which helps management in identifying hazards and mitigating risks by implementing effective control measures. Employee involvement fosters a sense of responsibility and accountability, encouraging them to take an active role in safety initiatives and promoting a culture of collaboration and trust.
Moreover, by involving employees in safety decision making, company demonstrate that their employees are valued and respected to them, leading to increased employee engagement, motivation, and commitment to safety which results in a significant improvement in health and safety culture.
Tip No 11: By Prioritising Health And Safety on Objective Like Production:
The most effective tip I'm going to share is prioritising health and safety on other objectives. It is the most crucial step in the improvement of health and safety culture. It sends a clear message that the employee's safety is the top priority of company. By prioritising health and safety, company observes that the safe operations are more considerable then production and creation of a safe working environment is crucial for efficiency and overall business success. This approach also encourages a risk-management mindset to employees, where hazards are identified and controlled before they cause harm to them.
Moreover, prioritising health and safety fosters a culture of accountability, where leaders and managers of the company are held responsible for safety performance, and where safety metrics are used to measure success. By prioritising health and safety over production, company creates a safety-first approach, where employees are empowered to stop work when unsafe conditions exist, and where safety is seen as an investment, rather than a cost.
Tip No 12: By Implementing Adequate Safe Systems of Work (SSW):
Safe System of Work is a crucial component of a positive health and safety culture. Safe System of Work is a process that ensures that the all tasks in the workplace are performed safe and efficiently. Safe System of Work involves identifying hazards, assessing risks, and implementing controls to minimise or eliminate harm.By having adequate SSW in place, company's can create a culture of consistency and standardisation, where employees know exactly what is expected of them and can perform tasks with confidence. SSW also promotes a culture of continuous improvement, where employees are encouraged to suggest improvements and identify areas for refinement.
Moreover, SSW demonstrates a commitment to employee well-being, showing that the company values their safety and health. When employees see that their employer has taken the time to develop and implement comprehensive SSW, they are more likely to take ownership of their safety and the safety of others. This returns in, fosters a culture of accountability, trust, and cooperation, leading to a significant improvement in health and safety culture.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, improving safety culture requires a multifaceted approach that encompasses leadership commitment, employee engagement, and a range of practical strategies. By prioritising safety, encouraging employee involvement, and implementing robust safety policies and procedures, company can create a culture of safety excellence. Additionally, fostering open communication, providing training and education, and encouraging continuous improvement can help to sustain a positive safety culture over time. By recognising and rewarding safe behaviour, conducting regular audits and assessments, and leveraging technology and data to drive safety decision-making, company can further enhance their safety culture. Ultimately, a strong safety culture is a journey, not a destination, and requires ongoing effort and commitment from all levels of the company. By working together, we can create a workplace culture that values safety above all else, and where everyone goes home safe and healthy at the end of every day.
[Declaimer/Note: You can use this knowledge of how health and safety culture can be improved in your NEBOSH IGC exam, but make sure that you apply this knowledge in your scenario. Do not just copy and paste in your exam.]
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Regards: Rehan Waseem
