Builders Mutual Gives 5 Tips to Make Safety Talks Effective

Cultivating a culture of safety takes preparation, work, and careful attention to detail. To do it successfully, safety talks need to be something that’s discussed openly and consistently.

Thankfully, safety talks are a tool that every crew has in their back pocket. And when done right, they not only maximize your crew’s wellbeing –– they can also positively contribute to productivity. The question is: How can you make sure your safety talks are effective? Joseph Blatter, a Senior Risk Management Consultant at Builders Mutual, walks us through his suggestions for making the most out of every moment you have to talk about safety:

1. Be proactive with Your Safety Talks

Ideally, safety talks should focus on being proactive, not reactive. Of course, when accidents happen on the job-site, you’ll want to address what happened, why it happened, and how the team can help keep it from happening again. But preventing accidents from happening in the first place is the #1 goal.

To get ahead of incidents, hold any safety talks at the start of the week. When you host safety talks on a Monday or Tuesday, you’re more likely to have an attentive audience that’s able to remember the information being presented. Alternatively, when safety talks are held at the end of the week, crews often forget what they’ve learned come Monday morning.

Being upfront with pertinent safety considerations first thing in the week can help improve efforts around PPE standards, fall prevention, and other common safety concerns. It’s also smart to initiate a safety talk anytime there’s new equipment, tools, chemicals, or procedures being introduced to a job-site. 

2. Make It practical

Passing on general safety knowledge is helpful, but to ensure that your time is used wisely, it’s imperative to tailor each safety talk to the job at hand. As soon as you talk about something that’s not relevant to workers, you lose your audience. To prevent any disconnect, try to put yourself in the shoes (or boots) of employees before you get on the job-site. Doing ample research will allow you to hone in on safety tips and tactics that are going to impact crews as soon as they leave your safety talk and get to work.

Additionally, it’s critical to host your safety talk in as quiet of a location as possible so important details are heard instead of lost to typical beeps, horns, equipment sounds, and nearby traffic. 

3. Keep Safety Talks Positive

While safety talks have serious undertones, they can still be positive. If safety concerns have recently surfaced on site, try to avoid making contractors feel called out. Instead, use your talk as a chance to remind them that preventing accidents is in everyone’s best interest, and demonstrate correct procedures. When appropriate, it can also be helpful to incorporate humor, as laughter is a great tool for memory.

4. Make It Interactive

The more employees participate in a safety meeting or training, the more information they are able to retain and apply on the job. Some easily applicable ideas for creating an engaging safety presentation include:

• Live demonstrations – Getting up close and personal with elements of the job-site can be a powerful way to drive safety procedures home. Have equipment on hand and invite workers to help you identify what’s wrong with it, showcase how to use it properly, etc. Beyond offering a hands-on learning experience, demonstrations are also an effective way to overcome any language barriers.
• Incorporating prizes – Encourage workers to answer questions, participate in demonstrations, and more by enticing them with rewards. Just a few $5 gift cards can help hold their attention and motivate participation. 
• Safety events – Some safety talks have a tight timeline, but when you have more time it can be worthwhile to offer lunch, during or afterwards. When time and budget allow, companies may choose to host a yearly “Safety Day,” which can provide extended time to cover more in-depth topics and allow for more presenters.

5. Be Thorough in Your Safety Talks

Safety requires ongoing observation and education. After each safety talk, it’s imperative to follow up. Make an effort to regularly check in with employees, privately, to get feedback on your safety talks. This will help you understand what’s working and what can be improved. 

To ensure a safety talk was genuinely productive, send a supervisor out to evaluate. Sending a supervisor out a day or so after any critical talk will allow you to gauge your crew’s understanding and absorption of the presentation so you can ensure that the message is taken to heart.

If you’re not sure where to start with developing a safety talk, Builders Mutual is here to help. Policyholders can find safety resources, such as Toolbox Talks and bulletins on our website. If you need more guidance, you can also call on our team to hold a meeting and be another trusted voice for safety at your company.

Contact your Builders Mutual Risk Management Consultant today and set up a free consultation to get ahead of job-site risks.