Top 7 Steps to Build an Effective Safety Culture

One of the most important functions of the EH&S group is to help provide guidance in building a strong safety culture in the workplace.  Building a strong safety culture contributes to increased awareness and incident reduction.  

As an EH&S representative over the past several years, I have often come across the common perception that all EH&S does is read regulations and implement those regulations into the workplace.  Although there is some truth in that statement, EH&S’s role in the workplace goes well beyond that. 

OSHA has reported that developing a strong culture of safety has a significant impact on reducing incidents and the development of these cultures should be a top priority for managers and supervisors. 

Organizations that have committed to making safety a top priority, have significantly lowered injury rates, reduced costs associated with injuries and improved employee morale.  This is why building a safety culture has become a common goal with most companies including Tradebe.

Throughout many of Tradebe's "Core Principles” of our Integrated Quality, Safety, Health and Environment Policy there is of course the theme of EHS, or "Environmental, Health, and Safety".   Those core principles provide the foundation to Tradebe’s initiative to build a strong safety culture.  Like most things that are built, it requires having the correct tools in place to have success in building an effective safety culture.

Tradebe's Top 7 Steps to Build an Effective Safety Culture:

1. Safety Observations Cards: 

The entire workforce pursues the identification and remediation of hazards.

2. Stop Work Initiative: 

Employees at all levels are equally comfortable stopping each other when at-risk behavior is observed and recognizing each other when safe behavior is observed.

3. Reporting Near Misses or Incidents Initiative: 

Encouraging the importance of uncovering near misses and incidents and establish accountability for making the changes to the systems and practices to encourage safe behavior. 

4. We are not the EHS Cops: 

Discipline has a place, but most safety issues can be effectively dealt with without discipline. 

5. Good Relationships at all Levels: 

Employees who have good working relationships with management are more likely to speak openly and honestly about what is working, what is not and what still needs to change.

6. Toolbox Talks, Safety Meetings and Safety Integrated into Daily Work:

Safety should be part of every conversation and considered in every decision.

7. Successes are Celebrated Along the Way:

Success should not be focused solely on a company’s safety record, but also in what is being done every day. Celebrating the wins elevates your Safety Culture!