How can you make safety a core value in your company?

1 Define your safety vision

The first step to making safety a core value is to define your safety vision. Your safety vision is a clear and concise statement that describes what safety means to your company, why it is important, and what you want to achieve. Your safety vision should align with your company's mission, values, and goals, and reflect your expectations and standards for safety performance. Your safety vision should also be communicated and displayed throughout your company, so that everyone knows and understands it.

2 Lead by example

The second step to making safety a core value is to lead by example. As a leader, you have a critical role in influencing the safety culture and behavior of your employees. You need to demonstrate your commitment to safety by following the safety rules, policies, and procedures yourself, and by holding yourself and others accountable for safety. You also need to show your support and recognition for safety initiatives, achievements, and improvements, and provide feedback and coaching to help your employees improve their safety skills and knowledge.

3 Communicate and collaborate

The third step to making safety a core value is to communicate and collaborate. Communication and collaboration are essential for creating a positive and proactive safety culture, where everyone feels involved, informed, and empowered to contribute to safety. You need to communicate and collaborate with your employees on safety issues, such as hazards, risks, controls, incidents, and best practices, and encourage them to share their ideas, concerns, and feedback. You also need to communicate and collaborate with other stakeholders, such as customers, suppliers, regulators, and industry peers, to learn from their experiences, expectations, and standards.

4 Educate and train

The fourth step to making safety a core value is to educate and train. Education and training are vital for developing and maintaining the safety competence and confidence of your employees. You need to educate and train your employees on the safety rules, policies, and procedures that apply to their work, and on the safety vision, values, and goals of your company. You also need to educate and train your employees on how to identify, assess, and control hazards, how to report and investigate incidents, and how to prevent and respond to emergencies.

5 Measure and improve

The fifth step to making safety a core value is to measure and improve. Measurement and improvement are crucial for evaluating and enhancing the safety performance and culture of your company. You need to measure and improve your safety outcomes, such as injury rates, incident frequency, and severity, and customer satisfaction. You also need to measure and improve your safety processes, such as risk management, incident management, and emergency management. You also need to measure and improve your safety culture, such as safety attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors, and safety climate, such as safety leadership, communication, and engagement.

6 Celebrate and sustain

The sixth and final step to making safety a core value is to celebrate and sustain. Celebration and sustainability are important for maintaining and reinforcing the safety commitment and motivation of your employees. You need to celebrate and sustain your safety achievements, such as reaching safety milestones, targets, and awards, and recognize and reward your employees for their safety contributions, efforts, and improvements. You also need to celebrate and sustain your safety culture, such as by sharing safety stories, testimonials, and feedback, and by reviewing and updating your safety vision, values, and goals.