How to Get Employees to Prioritize Safety
Do your employees expect you or a manager to take care of all the safety details? As the CEO of a small business, you are 100 percent responsible for workplace safety, but safety has to be everyone's priority. Get your employees on board in several ways.
- Make safety part of your employee contract.
New employees should understand from the beginning that they are responsible to follow safety protocols and precautions. This way, everyone is on the same page, understands their role in safety compliance and doesn't feel called out if they fail to follow the safety rules.
- Share safety statistics and facts.
Employees may take safety more seriously when they understand the risks they face. Share injury and illness statistics regularly, and be honest about the risks associated with unsafe practices.
- Offer training.
Unsafe acts of workers cause 88 percent of all accidents. Make sure your employees know how to do their jobs safely, and maintain training records. Offer ongoing training when an employee changes jobs, if you update procedures, as required by law, after an employee's extended leave and as needed.
- Add safety inspections to job descriptions.
Employees who perform safety inspections in their workstations every day are more likely to prioritize safety. Remind your staff that you and all the managers are monitoring employees and safety precautions daily, too.
- Establish a reporting system.
When employees see potential hazards, close calls, injuries or illnesses, they should report them. Be sure everyone knows the procedure for keeping the workplace safe and healthy.
- Inform employees of safety inspections.
You and your safety manger should not be the only people who know the details of safety inspections. Everyone should help to prepare for OSHA inspections and regular inspections you perform.
- Hold employees accountable.
Chances are high that your employees will pay more attention to safety if they know that they're accountable. Set up a rewards system to encourage employees to follow safety precautions, and recognize workers who achieve so many accident-free days on the job. Make safety part of the performance reviews, too. If necessary, discipline employees who behave in a manner that's harmful to themselves or others.
- Take employee feedback seriously.
If your employees share a safety hazard or concern, don't brush it off. Inspect the concern and find a solution no matter what the cost. Your favorable response to complaints shows that you value your employees and encourages ongoing cooperation.
Safety comes first, and your employees can partner with you to create a safe workplace environment. Use these tips and talk to your insurance agent for more information on keeping your business safe for everyone.