How to Improve Safety Culture at Workplaces Prone to Hazards
Written By: Jeff Kirschner, General Manager
Based on the number of worker fatalities, forestry, construction, mining, quarrying, and oil wells are among the most hazardous work environments in Canada.
Are you responsible for the safety of employees in any of these industries?
If so, this article will explore how you can improve the safety culture at your workplace to help prevent unnecessary injuries, disabilities, and deaths.
What is Safety Culture?
Workplace safety culture refers to the collective attitudes, beliefs, values, and behaviours of employees and management regarding safety in the workplace.
So, what does that look like in practice?
A positive workplace safety culture is characterized by a proactive approach to safety, where potential hazards are identified and mitigated before accidents happen.
One key way to tell if your safety culture is positive is if management participates in safety meetings and allocates necessary resources for safety improvements. Also, employees who work in a positive workplace safety culture will communicate openly about safety concerns.
Conversely, a poor safety culture is marked by a reactive approach. Health and safety issues are only addressed after accidents happen, and management shows little interest in safety, focusing solely on productivity. This often leads to workers feeling like their input is ignored and results in poor communication about health and safety procedures.
If your workplace safety culture leans more negative, keep on reading.
Why is a Positive Safety Culture Important?
In 2021, the Government of Canada reported 36,736 workplace injuries, including 16,342 disabling injuries and 44 fatal injuries.
When employees are injured on the job, it not only results in high medical costs, potential legal liabilities, decreased morale, and productivity disruptions but it can also severely impact the lives of those injured and their families for years to come.
The physical and emotional toll on injured workers can lead to long-term health issues, loss of income, and the inability to perform daily activities, affecting their quality of life.
Your organization’s safety culture can directly impact safety outcomes at your workplace, resulting in fewer safety incidents and liabilities.
The Key Elements of a Strong Safety Culture
A strong workplace safety culture can be summed up by four key elements:
- Leadership commitment: Leaders demonstrate a genuine commitment to safety by prioritizing it in all aspects of operations.
- Clear policies and procedures: There are comprehensive safety policies and procedures that are consistently enforced and easy for employees to understand and follow.
- Employee engagement: Employees are clearly engaged in health and safety management and demonstrate commitment to complying with safety initiatives.
- Accountability: Everyone at all levels of the organization is held responsible for adhering to safety policies.
Helpful Tips for Improving Your Workplace Safety Culture
If your culture doesn’t meet the mark in any of the four areas listed above, here are some of the ways you can start improving it.
1. Demonstrate Commitment to Health and Safety from the Top Down
When employees see that their managers are taking safety seriously, they are much more likely to follow suit.
Leaders can demonstrate a commitment to health and safety by consistently adhering to safety protocols, wearing personal protective equipment (PPE), and allocating necessary resources to maintain a safe work environment.
2. Establish Clear Safety Goals
Setting clear and achievable workplace safety goals is essential for promoting a safe and healthy work environment. Here are some example goals that your organization may wish to strive for:
- Zero workplace injuries within a particular time period
- 100% PPE usage among employees
- 100% completion of annual safety training programs
3. Maintain Proactive Communication
A proactive approach to communicating safety issues and updates is key to keeping employees safe and preventing injuries on the job.
Safety should be discussed regularly, both in team meetings and through internal communication channels like company newsletters.
4. Reward Employees Who Report Safety Hazards
There are a number of reasons why employees may avoid reporting safety hazards:
- They fear negative consequences from supervisors and peers
- They believe that no meaningful action will come from their report
- They feel too busy or overwhelmed to take the time to report the issue
- Colleagues peer pressure them to avoid reporting the issue to prevent extra work
With so many barriers and fears around safety issue reporting, it’s crucial for organizations to create a supportive environment that encourages and rewards employees for their proactive safety efforts.
5. Keep Everyone Well-Informed About Safety Initiatives
Keeping all employees up-to-date on safety initiatives helps to ensure that everyone is aware of the protocols and practices that keep them safe. Here are a few suggestions for how you can ensure your employees stay informed:
- Hold regular safety meetings
- Use clear and consistent messaging
- Put up signage around the workplace to reinforce messaging
- Distribute regular safety bulletins
6. Evaluate Safety Performance on a Regular Basis
The best way to assess your safety culture and find opportunities for improvement is to conduct regular safety evaluations.
Here’s how you can conduct a safety evaluation for your workplace:
- Conduct a site walkthrough to inspect the workplace for potential hazards
- Examine incident reports, near-miss reports, and injury logs
- Interview employees to gather their insights and concerns about workplace safety
7. Invest in Quality Workplace Safety Training
Prioritizing quality workplace safety training is essential for creating a safe work environment, especially in high-risk industries. Comprehensive training programs equip employees with the knowledge and skills to recognize and mitigate potential hazards, ensuring they can perform their tasks safely.
Additionally, investing in these training programs demonstrates a company’s commitment to the well-being of its employees, fostering trust and a strong safety culture.
Find Quality Workplace Safety Courses for Your Employees
At Trojan Safety, we’ve been in the industrial safety business for 20+ years. We genuinely care about helping others and ensuring that workers across the country can work safely and confidently, even in high-risk industries.
We’re proud to offer over ten different online, in-house, and on-site safety programs to help organizations like yours empower employees with critical safety knowledge.
Browse our selection of industrial safety courses below and book a course today:
