Safety Leadership Training

Safety Leadership Training

"Leadership is the ability of a single individual, through their actions to motivate others to higher levels of achievement!"

“A MANAGER focuses just on getting a task done, a LEADER focuses on getting it done in a way that gives employees a feeling of accomplishment and willingness to follow the leader again.”

Leadership is a job requirement:

• Supervisors have a major influence/impact on;

–      Regulatory compliance,

–      Meeting the safety goals,

–      Injury prevention,

–      Absenteeism,  and

–      Workers’ compensation costs

The Supervisor is:

•      First point of contact: EH&S policies

•      Supervisor direct impacts employee performance: 

–      Enforce compliance with EH&S policies

–      Communicate expectations

–      Set the proper example

–      Follow the policies, procedures & rule

•      MUST have a PROFOUND Knowledge of policies and procedures to prevent serious or life-threatening situations

What do employees want from their jobs?

1. Appreciation
2. Recognition
3. Involvement with the company
4. Comfortable work environment
5. Money

Are You Coaching Safety Behaviors or Just Enforcing the Rules?

If we want to motivate them toward higher levels of commitment to their own safety and the safety of those around them then we have to move beyond compliance-based coaching.  We must change the focus of our coaching from compliance-based behaviors to safety leadership behaviors.

It's mostly about building TRUST

Building employee engagement for a stronger safety culture

Understanding and using safety-leadership styles

Developing our “leadership presence” in safety communication

To build TRUST, you must EARN the employee's RESPECT

• Respect isn’t automatically given to a leader because of authority
• You have to earn respect and confidence of personnel working for you by setting a good example.
• Lead your workers; don’t drive them.
• Always remember, everyone wants to be treated as an individual that has worth.
• Emphasize each person’s importance in getting the job done.

REMEMBER to teach the individual - not to embarrass

• Praise in public
• Reprimand in private

PROMOTE IMPROVED PERFORMANCE

• PROVIDE FEEDBACK TO YOUR PERSONNEL
• TWO TYPES OF FEED BACK ARE? 

POSITIVE AND CONSTRUCTIVE

• REWARD YOUR SAILORS

When employees do not seem to be following directions,

·         perhaps they didn’t understand the directions

·         they may not realize that the supervisor is giving them an order.

**My pet peeve is a supervisor who reprimands or blames an employee for not working safely when the employee did not even get any training on the Job Safety Analysis so the employee would know the safe way to perform the tasks!!!

Or another good one is when you throw all the employees in a hot break room for training on a Friday just an hour before the end of the shift.  How effective do you really think the training will be?  It is the end of a long work week, employees are hot and tired and ready to get home to start their weekends.  They won't be paying much attention.

 

Safety Ambassador Program

What is a Safety Ambassador Program?

Implementing a Safety Ambassador Program will provide our company with a systematic approach to employee involvement in all of our safety activities.

PROGRAM PURPOSE:

The purpose of the Safety Ambassador Program is to facilitate employee involvement in the company's overall Safety System (Safety Management System).  The company recognizes that employee involvement is the key to a strong Safety System.  The company will designate certain employees as Safety Ambassadors who will provide assistance by identifying and eliminating hazards in the work area and to assist in the accident prevention program as part of the *Company* Safety System.

PROCEDURE:

1)      General

a)      Safety information will be supplied on a regular basis.

b)      Safety problems and suggestions should normally be directed to the supervisor.  However, those items which need further consideration may be directed to the Safety Ambassador.

c)       The Safety Ambassador will conduct an Inspection/Observation weekly to identify hazards, with special emphasis on housekeeping and behavioral aspects.  Corrective action will be taken during the I/O.  Supervisors must be notified of findings and sign forms.  Forms must be submitted to the Safety Committee at the monthly committee meetings.

d)      Supervisors are responsible for selection of their Safety Ambassador.  Selection is with the concurrence of the Safety Director.

e)      Safety Ambassadors will serve on a rotation, to allow all employees the opportunity to become involved in our overall Safety Management Process.

2)      Duties and Qualifications of Safety Ambassadors

·         The Supervisors will be responsible for conducting training for the Safety Ambassadors.  This will include compliance issues, inspections/observations, problem solving, ergonomics, maintenance procedures, and behavioral risks. 

·         Safety/Health meetings will be held every month. 

·         The meetings will be held at company on the 4th Wednesday of every month from 12:00- 1:00 pm.

·      The purpose of the safety meetings will be to discuss Safety Goals/Objectives, Inspection/Observation findings, specific safety issues, to analyze accidents and near misses to determine root cause and corrective actions, to discuss safety training schedules and training needs, to discuss pending OSHA regulations/requirements.

·         The objective of a Safety Ambassador is to help identify & eliminate safety issues in the work area.  Ambassador’s activities will focus on housekeeping, employee behavioral aspects, physical conditions, monthly inspections/observations, and departmental safety meetings

·         Must set a high standard of safety by his/her work habits and practices

·         Must be acquainted with personnel and facilities in the areas he/she works

·         Must be physically capable, with a positive attitude to perform required skills

·         Must be alert, dependable and willing to help others

·         Will regularly attend scheduled Safety Ambassador meetings and/or Safety Committee Meetings

·         May bring to the meeting questions, problems, suggestions, new safety ideas/suggestions, etc. that may need the attention of, or will benefit, the entire group

·         Will assist supervisors in detecting unsafe conditions and actions at all times, not just when conducting the weekly I/O and will suggest needed safety improvements

Author:  Deborah Grow, Safety Specialist