How exactly to Communicate Workplace Safety Messages

Effective communication is vital to get staff and contractors aligned and working towards a confident safety culture.

Yet, just providing training to work safely isn't always enough. How exactly we communicate about safety influences whether people encourage or reject our safety messages.

The primary objective of any safety communication program would be to change behaviour. But so how exactly does a safety or recruiting professional change attitudes towards safety or enhance the way people undertake procedures?

The trick to developing highly successful safety communication programs is by using marketing-based tactics.

Key marketing tactics to consider for marketing safety are:

Plan your safety messages just like a mini advertising campaign -Define your market and work out the very best ways to communicate in their mind. For example: male workers aged 25 - 55 years have a tendency to prefer a more visual communication style.
Consistent, clear messaging (includes branding) - Always promote exactly the same standardized safety message and ensure that all departments are aligned with the message and do not send out conflicting information (eg: safety officer tells people to work safely and cautiously, but production manager pushes for speed).
The results of poor safety - Among they key messages is to get employees to really recognize that poor safety behaviour not merely puts their own health and safety at risk, but additionally the safety of co-workers. Let them know what effect this can have on their personal life and their family.
Multiple message placement - This implies you have a consistent safety message or theme and you repeat it in multiple places.  Additional resources  is just like the glue that holds the tactics together and is vital in successful advertising.

Most safety training programs flunk in terms of frequency of message. Yet, there are numerous simple and cost effective ways to do this.

By getting workers to activate in your safety message in different ways (watching it, hearing it, reading it), supervisors can better ensure that more workers receive the information. Consider including a training video that's supplemented with matching posters, email newsletter campaigns, key rings, employee handbooks and toolbox talks.

Treating safety messages as a mini-marketing campaign will provide better safety performance, communication and camaraderie in the workplace.