Thursday, July 19, 2018

Compulsory Questions For Safety Culture Assessments To Answer

By Daniel Hall


There is no place that is absolutely safe on earth. The potential for danger is always there, regardless of the measures taken. It takes continuous safety culture assessments to make any environment safer than it was yesterday. This is important because a safe place is more productive, healthier and comfortable. Productivity improves because there are fewer accidents, compensation claims and disruption of business. The following areas need more focus to keep any work or living environment safe.

Commitment of the management to keep the place safe comes first during assessment. The aim is to establish where personnel and control of safety is positioned in the organization. Is it at the top or bottom? Positioning determines how fast actions can be taken whenever an issue arises. It also indicates the priorities of organizations. If the environment and people do not feel safe, everything else will stall.

The communication protocol established in an organization determines whether it will be safe or not. Does there exist a two way open communication channel where information can flow from top to bottom and vice versa? What is communicated and how open are people about being safe? How do people discuss the issues and how are their concerns addressed? That chain of activities determines the actions taken and how safe the people will be in case of a disaster.

Whose responsibility is it to keep the workplace safe? This can also be viewed from the angle of involvement of all persons in keeping your environment as safe as possible. It must not be the responsibility of employees. There is need for mutual and collective responsibility. It will be disastrous if employees look upon their bosses while the bosses wait upon employees.

Assessment must determine the type of training provided to workers and the information they have about safety. Workers must be trained on the risks they are exposed to and the best actions or procedures in case of a mishap. How do employees perceive the information that is provided and do they feel that it is sufficient to keep them safe? Do they feel prepared in case something happens?

What is the motivation to keeping the work place safe? Does it appear like a duty for employees at lower levels or has it been given a human face? The best motivation is where the duty to keep the place safe belongs to everyone in an organization. People must also feel that the measures taken and awareness created makes the place good and enjoyable to work.

Is there effort made by an organization to comply with existing laws? These laws are deeply considered and apply to situations uniquely. The organization must show awareness, discipline and commitment to provide a safe place for people, property and surrounding environment. There should be established standard procedures in case of a mishap. You should also provide enough, relevant and updated information to people in the area.

Is there evidence that the organization and its people are learning from previous mishaps? This is the best way to keep the place safe. Issues that were identified as the causes of previous disasters must be isolated and rectified. The aim is to consistently reduce damage. Assessment will be futile if there is no improvement over the years.




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