Implementing workplace safety requires more than just ticking off tasks from compliance checklists and running emergency drills. At the core, it involves fostering a workplace culture of commitment to safe practices above all else. While many companies simply train their workers to check things off a list, intentionally cultivating a culture of safety creates a foundation that makes safe practices automatic.
When your team takes on safety as part of their responsibilities, accidents decrease, morale improves, and productivity naturally rises. But how do you create a culture of safety when so many employees struggle to follow even basic rules? It’s actually not that hard when done strategically. Here’s how to make it work.
1. Formally train your team
Formal safety training is the best way to develop a culture that values and prioritizes safety. When following safety protocols is introduced to workers as part of the job, and other employees demonstrate that in action, new workers are quick to adopt safe practices. And it all begins with formal training. For example, construction companies do group OSHA safety training to ensure inspections are passed and teams stay safe on job sites. For example, workers need to know how to safely operate machinery, wear protective equipment, and handle hazardous materials.
Depending on your industry, formal training might require in-person sessions or you may be able to get it all done online. Either way, training sessions should be formal and not just information contained within an employee manual.
2. Safety training should be specific to the job
When employees are given safety procedures and rules that don’t apply to their position or roles, they tend to ignore them. You can’t expect workers to follow safety protocols that don’t apply. This happens often when companies create generic safety manuals and pass them out to every team in every department, or when companies put everyone through the same training. Avoid this mistake at all costs. Once employees start dismissing irrelevant safety protocols, it will be much harder to get them to take applicable safety procedures seriously.
Go through all of your safety manuals and training materials to make sure the procedures and rules are applicable to a department’s work environment. If anything is too generic, revise it to be relevant. Keep in mind that you’ll need to conduct training sessions to get everyone on board when you change protocols or introduce new ones.
3. Bake safety into training
When safety procedures are part of training from the beginning, employees are more likely to take safety seriously because it will become automatic. For example, your trainers should set a good example by not cutting corners and training new hires to develop safe habits.
For safety to become a mindset, an employee needs to see it as a non-negotiable part of their role. For example, training should include not just how to operate a machine, but how to operate it safely, the potential hazards, and what to do in an emergency. All of this should be part of an employee’s training and not something they should have to figure out through trial and error.
4. Implement continued training
Initial training only goes so far. Creating a strong foundation requires a proactive approach with continuous learning, especially in industries with high accident rates (like construction). Ongoing training ensures employees stay current with best practices, have the knowledge required to adapt to new challenges, and reinforce existing safe behaviors. For instance, just adding a new piece of equipment can introduce new risks to a team. Continued training prevents accidents caused by a lack of familiarity or outdated information.
5. Have your managers lead by example
Creating a safety-first mindset is impossible without a strong commitment to safety from leadership. A culture that prioritizes safety needs leaders who set the tone by establishing and embodying safety through their actions and communication. When leaders consistently prioritize safety, it shows employees that their wellbeing is valued and provides an example for them to follow.
But it’s not enough for leaders to simply embody safety protocols. Their commitment to safety must be visible throughout the company. For example, safety should be discussed in meetings and incidents should be analyzed to see what needs to change. Consistency in action and communication demonstrates a level of dedication that will encourage employees to take safety seriously.
Developing a safety-first mindset requires commitment
Developing teams that prioritize safety requires a proactive approach. With comprehensive training, ongoing education, and leading by example, you can transform safety from a regulatory burden into a core organizational value.
