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Communicating for Safety Success
March 23, 2006
Presented byCatherine Hebb BA, BPR, APR
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Today’s PresentationQuick quizGuiding principles The five C’s for effective communicationThe importance of teamworkSafety culture awareness testWrap up
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A quiz to get things started
Accidents are often the result of improperemployee behaviour.
True or False
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False
Employee behaviour may be the cause you can see, but employee behaviour is usually determined by the importance management places on a safe and healthy workplace.
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The best way to find out about hazards inyour workplace is:
a. conduct walk-about inspectionsb. read safety reports closelyc. encourage employees to discuss their
safety concerns
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C
Your employees know where the hazards are. They can describe dangerous jobs and close calls they have experienced. BUT if they feel discussion is not accepted, they may withhold information to protect themselves or colleagues.
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Safety improvements are most likely toresult from:
a. a detailed accident report/investigationb. establishing the cause and determining
where the blame sitsc. communicating with employees to
determine hazards and embark oncontinuous improvement
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C
While we need to do accident inspections, this is a time when employees may keep quiet to protect themselves or a colleague. This is the most difficult time to look for ways to improve. Ongoing communication is your best bet.
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You’re a supervisor. You warn an employeeabout a hazard and the employee still getshurt by the hazard. It is the employee’sfault.
True or False
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False
… and here’s why ...
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People retain how much of what you say?
a. 10%b. 20%c. 30%d. 50%e. 70%f. 90%
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People retain how much of what they read?
a. 10%b. 20%c. 30%d. 50%e. 70%f. 90%
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If you explain something to an employeeand draw a picture to go with it, how muchwill he retain?
a. 10%b. 20%c. 30%d. 50%e. 70%f. 90%
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If a person does something and explains toyou how he did it, how much will he retain?
a. 10%b. 20%c. 30%d. 50%e. 70%f. 90%
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Guiding Principles
1. Effective communication increases motivation
People need to feel connected.
People need to feel important – by taking the time to tell me something, it shows you value me.
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2. The more levels communication goes through, the more distorted it becomes.
People put their own interpretation on it.
People may have their own agendas.
People are pressed for time and may give half the message unintentionally.
Guiding Principles cont’d
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3. Communication that appeals to feelings and attitudes is more motivational than that which appeals to only logic.
People are motivated based on emotional impact
How will it make me feel? How will it impact my life? How will it make things better?
Guiding Principles cont’d
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4. The sooner and more often people put an idea into action, the better it is retained.
“Just in time” communication.
Repetition repetition repetition repetition.
Don’t just tell me, let me try it.
Guiding Principles cont’d
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The 5 C’s for Effective Safety Communication
ClearConsistentCompelling CollaborativeCultural
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1st C: Clear
Communication Channel
Sender Encode Message Decode Receiver
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1st C: Clear
Communication is simply what we do to give and get understanding.
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“The ordinary human being would like to receivesimple and intelligent instruction in what he isexpected to do, how it can be done and whatconstitutes a job well done.”
Lawrence Appley, Former PresidentAmerican Management Association
1st C: Clear
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Tips for Clear Communication
When using an acronym, spell it out the first time every time, even if they know what it means
Stay away from jargon
1st C: Clear
win-winsynergistic
outside the box thinking
on the same page
boundarylessness
world-class
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Use percentages and numbers when necessary
Tell a story and make a point
No big words – use vs. utilize
1st C: ClearTips for Clear Communication
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Be specific …
1st C: ClearTips for Clear Communication
Good job, Jerry Good job tying the top of the ladder, Jerry. It will help make sure you don’t fall.
Be sure to use the forms.
Use the check list every time. It will allow you to set up the site so it’s safe for everyone.
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between all departmentscoordinatedplanned communicationsvisual presence around the work placenot just a memo
2nd C: Consistent
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safety and communications are not stand alone functions
they require the attention and input of everyone in the organization
2nd C: Consistent
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3rd C: Compelling
Action
Desire
Interest
Awareness
I work safely. I’d like to sit on the OHS Committee.
I want to work safely.
What does this mean for me?
We have a safety program.
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4th C: Collaborative
“one” is too small a number to achieve greatness
collaborate for better ways to do things
get employees involved in evaluating current state and setting clear objectives
get employees involved as safety ambassadors
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Building effective teams
Some assembly required ...
have broad representation from all levels, all locationshave a catalyst who will “make it happen”all members have a place where they add the most value
4th C: Collaborative
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Building effective teams cont
Once you’re underway ...
establish team charterset guidelines for team dynamicsallow the team to define the visionset up a scoreboard so the team knows where they stand
4th C: Collaborative
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Building effective teams cont
As you progress ...
celebrate success, even if it’s small celebrate failure, if we learned something from itcommunicate progress with rest of organizationonly make promises you can keep
4th C: Collaborative
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5th C: Cultural
Safety … walk it, talk it, live it, breathe it
Become part of how we do business –weaves through everything we do in our organizations
Takes a few years to change a culture
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Safety culture awareness test
Are new employees thoroughly oriented regarding safety practices and policies?
5th C: Cultural
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Safety culture awareness test
Do people have the tools and equipment they need to perform up to safety standards?
5th C: Cultural
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Safety culture awareness test
Do people have the time they need to do their jobs safely?
5th C: Cultural
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Safety culture awareness test
Is safety built into your performance management and development system?
5th C: Cultural
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Safety culture awareness test
Are employees encouraged to discuss safety concerns?
Are those concerns heard openly, without judgment?
5th C: Cultural
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Safety culture awareness test
Does management demonstrate the same level of safety as expected from the front line employees?
5th C: Cultural
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Measuring Safety Success
Test communication materials with employeesWhat is the frequency of information distributed?What are your employees saying (informal and formal feedback)
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Measuring Safety Success
How many people are involved in your safety program?How may people are attending and participating in safety meetings?Is there a decrease in the number of identified hazards, near misses and incidents? (compare to targets)
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Forrest H. KirkpatrickAmerican educator and community leader
And the best of all the preachers are the men who live their creeds.For to see the good in action is what everybody needs.
The eye’s a better student and more willing than the ear.Fine counsel is confusing, but example’s always clear.
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For I may not understand you and the high advice you give.But there’s no misunderstanding how you act and how you live.
And the lectures you deliver may be very wise and true.But I’d rather get my lesson by observing what you do.
I can soon learn how to do it if you let me see it done.I can watch your hands in action, but your tongue too fast may run.
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Conclusion
Safety communication leadership
is in your head (what you think)
in your heart (what you believe) and
in your hands (what you do).
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Thank you ...and have a safe day!