The Ingenieur Vol 59 July-Sept 2014 The Ingenieur Vo. 59, July-Sept 2014 | Page 43

Taking a step back, we
realise that we are driving more
accountability and ownership
into all levels of the organisation.
We need to continually engage
the organisation in what safety
has to offer to them. It is not just
about the value it brings to the
organisation.
Engagement
Engagement is the new driver
in improving safety behaviours.
How can we start this process?
Perhaps a redesign of what
works to what works better is
required. Here are some steps
that you can take:
1. Use Key Messaging – try to
restructure the messages
to key points. No one really
wants to read something as
long as this article.
2. Connect at their level – ever
scratched your head reading
a corporate announcement
punctuated with words that
seems too bombastic to
hold any meaning to the
layman?
3. Design Engaging Training
Programmes – it is possible
to design training for working

4.

5.

6.

7.

adults without slides. Activity
based learning coupled with
Key Messaging can drive
home a point more than a
deck of slides.
Use Mental Hooks – what
happens when the safety
person is not around?
How can you embed the
safety
message
into
people’s minds? You can
use everyday items to help
drive a point. Think through
this; try to use a balloon to
drive home the hazards of
overpressure.
Change
your
training
evaluation – the standard
training
feedback
form
does not measure the
effectiveness of a person’s
learning. Try to gain a selfevaluation of the pre and
post training and gauge the
difference.
Create touch points – more
face to face session help!
Social media is great, face
to face is greater!
Make it touch and feel –
imagine receiving an e-gift
on Facebook from your friend
versus a physical gift? Yes,

e-certificates are great to
give instant recognition (and
almost cost nothing). Giving
a real certificate signed by
the leader is better! Think
about it, touch and feel is
very important.
Engagement in safety
(Engagement Safety) is able
to drive a more connected
organisation without creating
a huge burden. It does require
a critical re-look at how the
traditional model is being
deployed. It can be built and
customized in-house.

Summary
Safety is a maturing journey of
an organisation. We create the
environment for a safer lifestyle.
We sell the lifestyle concept to
the organisation. As we mature,
we need to lock up our gains.
We use different wedges at
different levels. The next big
step change to drive safety is
to engage the organisation in a
more meaningful way.

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