4 Factors That Make or Break Safety Culture
June 19, 2024
4 Factors That Make or Break Safety Culture
Having a culture that emphasizes safety is critical for industrial companies. Workplace safety is something that should never be compromised, but sometimes there are aspects of a company culture that contribute to an unsafe work environment. There are some obvious things, such as not meeting OSHA safety standards, that can have a major impact — but lesser known factors might include lack of training, leadership, collaboration, and industrial safety solutions. Understanding which areas in your company make or break a safety culture is imperative to creating the most efficient and safe work environment possible.
Training
Training is a major part of industrial workplace safety. Without proper training, employees won’t know how to use machines properly or employ the correct safety practices. When an organization is trying to create a culture surrounding safety in the workplace, training is one of the first steps. But it doesn’t just end with learning how to properly operate a machine.
Organizations should regularly hold training workshops to keep up with changes in the industry or new equipment additions. Safety procedures and proper communication are other essential subjects. The key to effective training is to make it enjoyable and engaging for employees in order to ensure they are absorbing the correct information. Through proper training, your organization can work toward building a company culture around safety.
Leadership
Having high-quality leadership is one of the most important aspects of creating a safety culture within your organization. Not only do leaders set an example for employees, but they should also be responsible for effectively communicating with other leaders and teams throughout your organization. Without proper communication, important information can get lost or miscommunicated altogether, making it hard to support a safety culture.
There are certain attributes that successful leaders should possess. Arguably one of the most important skills is learning to lead by example. If your leaders aren’t practicing safety habits within the workplace, then they are showing everyone else it’s okay to follow suit. Leaders should always prioritize safety and follow OSHA rules and regulations to set a good example. Practicing what you preach is a powerful way to earn the loyalty and respect of your team, and slowly you’ll see their actions mimic that of your leaders.
Collaboration
In order to break unsafe habits within your organization’s workplace, collaboration between teams and managers is crucial. Collaborating within your team—or with a group of people with different areas of expertise—to reach a common goal is a great way to create a safety culture within your organization. Collaborating means more than simply cooperating with other teams and departments; it also provides unique perspectives from various people that have the potential to show significant improvements in the safety culture of your organization.
If your collaboration is lacking, there are a few ways to improve the skill and begin to see changes. First, you need to start with a common goal such as cultivating a safety culture within your workplace. Begin to share information and ideas that might contribute to achieving the goal—and encourage all employees and managers to participate. Through collaboration, you will start to see your safety culture thrive and grow.
Equipment
Last but certainly not least, in order to emphasize safety in your workplace, you need to be using the proper safety equipment and maintaining it, as well. Your first step to see where you stand in this aspect of your workplace is to conduct a thorough machine guarding assessment. With this type of evaluation, you’ll be able to see how well your machines are protected—and if they are compliant on OSHA and ANSI standards for safety.
Having well-operating machines that are properly safeguarded will significantly contribute to your safety culture. Don’t let citations or fines get in the way of a more productive, safer workplace. By utilizing the proper safety equipment, you can avoid downtime, prevent injury, and improve productivity, all while enhancing the safety culture throughout your organization.
Create a Safety-First Culture with Solutions from Stronghold Safety Engineering
Creating a company culture surrounding safety requires dedication and patience. There are many aspects that will impact your ability to effectively build up a safety culture within your organization. At Stronghold Safety, we are passionate about safety and helping you create a culture that emphasizes its importance. From regular machine safeguarding assessments to helping you implement customized safety solutions, we will be your full-service machine safety partner. If you’re ready to shift your company culture to one that truly embraces the value of safety, contact us today!