28 ways to create a safety buzz in your workplace
Communication is key to inspiring a health and safety culture. "But don't just share information with people," says Janet Bewers, a WSPS business developer. "Engage and inspire them."
During a highly rated session at WSPS' 2015 Partners in Prevention Health & Safety Conference & Trade Show, Bewers delivered a constant stream of inventive and thought-provoking suggestions. "You're the change agent. "Bedazzle. Go a little bit crazy." What follows is a sampling of Bewers' suggestions.
Prepare your message
- Know your audience. What combination of these motivators will work best: moral, legal, financial, other, psychosocial, competitive?
- Speak their language. Avoid getting fancy-pantsy with language. Your message will get through if your niece or nephew in Grade 6 says, "Yeah, I get it.".
- Keep the message simple. Fewer words and more photos, illustrations and pictograms. Example: show me what PPE I'm supposed to wear, don't just tell me. Easy, done. Is it expensive? No.
- Be positive. Avoid focusing on negative consequences.
- Repeat everything seven times. Communicate a message seven times in multiple ways so that people fully absorb it.
- Measure effectiveness. Are people really getting it?
- Do things in groups of three, like Martha Stewart. She's the queen of simple, clear procedures.
- Use colour to engage visual learners.
- Use faces. Whether it's a first aid person, joint health and safety committee member or employee of the month, people love seeing faces.
- Use family portraits on anything you think will compel behaviour change, because it's tough to ignore them.
Communicate through multiple media
- Make your safety board a must-see. I've got a short attention span. If it's not shiny, pretty and well lit, I'm bored to tears. I've seen safety boards that look like an art gallery: posters, visuals, comics... Yes, it may take up a whole wall, but so what?
- Create beautiful posters, banners and slogans. Have a different theme or topic every month that makes people want to look at your safety wall of awesome.
- Convert your internal hub or support site into a health and safety network. Update it regularly with compelling content.
- Use social media. If you're not reaching Gen Xers, Gen Yers, and Millennials through social media, you're not engaging them.
- Install an electronic health and safety message board in the entrance, elevator lobby, or lunchroom.*
- Brand health and safety with a visual identity.*
Make your points in unexpected places
- Format your health and safety policy in a 28 point font, laminate it, and place it in the lobby as a beacon of hope for all who enter. Why not? Who said you couldn't?
- Post safety messages in washroom stalls, and above urinals and soap dispensers. If they get graffitied, make them more interesting.
- Bring in someone from a different division or organization to repeat your messaging. Afterward, people will tell you, "That Jennifer, she's got some great ideas."
Create unique campaigns
- Launch a button program with simple infographics encouraging desired behaviours. People will collect them.
- Start a rubber bracelet program. It creates an inclusive environment that people want to be part of.
- Offer safety decals to everyone.
- Stamp pay slips with safety messages. Everyone looks at their slip.
- Add inspiring safety signatures to your emails.
- Hold an in-house health and safety conference, with presentations on health and safety priorities, initiatives, safety milestones, etc.*
- Use fun and games to test learners' understanding and retention. For example, create your own versions of:
- Chutes and Ladders
- Discovery Education Puzzle Maker
- Jeopardy
- Family Feud
- PPE fashion shows
- Deal or No Deal
- Wheel of Misfortune/Fortune
- "CSI" Incident Investigation role playing
- Mock trials - Come to WSPS' Partners in Prevention Health & Safety Conference & Trade show to see how works
- Spot the Hazard
- Racetrack - every department is a horse the most health and safety resolved at the end of the week moves their horse ahead. Greatest distance covered wins.
Reinforce safe behaviour
- Hand out badgessaying "You're an exemplary employee" or "Someone cares about you at home."
- Write a personal note. Handwritten letters stop people in their tracks.
How WSPS can help
Download and display these resources from our website:
- 6 motor vehicle safety posters
- 6 occupational disease posters
- individual posters on GHS, heat stress, protecting aging workers, and supervisor competencies
- pictograms for the greenhouse, hospitality, restaurant, and retail sectors
Build WSPS videos into your safety presentations and talks.
Speak with a consultant on creating an effective communications program. Contact WSPS Customer Care: 905-614-1400; customercare@wsps.ca.
* Tips shared by people attending the session.