7 Core Principles to Maximize Safety Compliance

Sitting your workers in front of another slide presentation can turn class time into nap time. Be sure to liven up your safety training and remember the Three Types of Learning:

• Auditory Learning (hearing)
• Visual Learning (seeing)
• Tactile Learning (touching)

Are your classes getting stale? Try some of these training tips from other safety managers.

ASSE Board Member Carl Heinlein said he doesn’t use the term “Safety Culture” but prefers to talk about “Company Culture” to emphasize that safety should permeate an organization from top to bottom. Ask yourself if you’ve made safety a core value:

• Do your workers know that rule-bending isn’t allowed?
• Do you set a personal example? Workers tend to follow your lead.
• Do you have regular safety meetings to keep safety top-of-mind?

Proper signs and labels serve as important daily reminders for even the most experienced workers.

• Have you looked around your facility to ensure that reminders aren’t getting lost?
• Are there opportunities for reminders that you’re missing?
• Are there places you might add and even rotate free workplace safety posters to keep workers reading fresh advice?

Don’t forget the last line of defense – PPE! New designs and materials are being developed every day. Do your workers need:

• Cool, comfortable gloves for hot environments?
• Gloves for extreme cut hazards?
• Cooling products for the whole body?
• Arm protection for cut hazards?
• Lighter weight gloves that protect like heavyweights?
• Prescription eyewear?
• PPE for extreme environments?
• Hi-Viz gloves, sleeves, or clothing?
• PPE that looks cool enough to wear off the job?

• The most careful worker may get injured in a machine malfunction. In fact, machine entanglements alone account for almost 34,000 workplace injuries each year.
• Is your machine maintenance up to date? Check your schedules for regular cleaning, service, and inspection.
• Make sure your workers are well-trained on lockout/tagout and that you’re using the latest technologies.

• Be sure to train your workers to avoid these common hazards. Messy or crowded work zones lead to unnecessary accidents.
• Do you take regular walks through your facility to make sure spills are cleaned up, pathways are clear of clutter, cords aren’t tangled, and machines are locked and guarded?
• Do you encourage your workers to speak up when they see a problem?

Finally, if you’ve got it all covered, celebrate the achievement and keep it going! Here is a list of ideas to keep workers engaged and make safety compliance fun and easy to remember!