Why Communication is the Key to Safety

Imagine how workplace safety would work without communication. Each worker would do whatever they thought was best. Some would barely get any work done because they would spend 99% of their time in safety protocols. Others would recklessly careen around the facility, sure that nothing bad would happen because they “got this covered.”  

In other words: anarchy, accidents, bankruptcy. 

For that reason, communication is the key to safety. The impact manifests itself in the instructions you give your workers. It also shows its influence in the discussions your employees have with each other, the ways in which they help one another maintain compliance. Communication also contributes to the process you use to devise your safety protocols in the first place.  

Communication, then, acts at every stage of the process. It also ensures that everyone remains on the same page. As a result, facilitating conversations about safety becomes a crucial step to minimizing risk and to maximizing long-term productivity. 

Given its importance, how can you encourage enhanced discussions about safety?

Here are a few ways you can make communication central to your safety efforts:  

Start with Robust Training 

Training is often treated like a chore. Workers roll their eyes and wait until it’s over. Employers rush through it so they can get everyone involved in production as quickly as possible. 

This attitude is counterproductive. Training offers an excellent opportunity to begin substantive discussions about safety. Use these instructional opportunities to set a tone. Don’t hurry through the process. Rather, structure a rigorous training protocol in order to establish a firm basis for further conversations. 

Regularly Reinforce Your Safety Protocols 

Communication about safety shouldn’t represent a one-time event. Instead, it should provide a constant topic of conversation. As such, you should look for ways to keep the discussion going, constantly pushing to reinforce your safety goals. 

How do you do that? Repeat, repeat, repeat. Routinely remind your workers about your safety expectations. Constructively correct any lapses or violations of protocol. By remaining vigilant, you maximize compliance over the long term and minimize the risks of accidents. 

Encourage a Two-Way Street for Communication 

Don’t dictate. Discuss. Safety is important to everyone. Therefore, everyone should be involved in safety conversations.  

Encourage your workers to offer feedback about safety protocols. They have to enact the policies on a day-to-day basis. As a result, they offer an excellent resource of judging effectiveness.  

Your team members can also let you know if additional precautions are needed for certain activities. They can clue you into risks you may not have recognized. In this way, you anticipate problems before they become truly dangerous. 

Deep conversations about safety get easier when you have the right employees. Working with a top recruiting firm, like SmartTalent, allows you to find the conscientious workers you need to maximize compliance. 

Contact SmartTalent today to locate the right workers to implement your goals.