Communication: The Key to Workplace Safety
Communication in any circumstance is vital to a thriving workplace environment – every successful company results from good communication among its team members. Regardless of the position that one may hold, communication significantly impacts workplace development and safety. This is especially true in industrial environments where a lack of communication can cause worker injuries, equipment issues and factory shutdowns.
Communication extends beyond simply talking to someone, especially in the instance of staying safe. While not everyone is innately a good or effective communicator, the skill of communication can be exercised. Good communication processes are the starting point for improving productivity and employee engagement, and when paired with current technology, can reduce workplace injuries, increase efficiency and productivity and better connect team members.
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Communication and safety culture
Safety culture describes common organisational values aimed at mitigating risks. This occurs when most people in a company highly value maintaining a safe workplace – from senior management to temporary workers. Poor work safety culture and communication have been responsible for large-scale health and safety accidents and emphasise safer processes. Ineffective management decisions disregard the need to establish communication channels with employees or dismiss employee feedback.
Improving health and safety communication processes such as the recording of vital information, channels used, or employee feedback methods can increase your company’s safety culture. Steps that you can implement towards this are:
- Safety first – safety requires different levels of time and resources. Ensure that safety protocols are effected and do not solely exist on paper.
- Use the correct channel – optimising communication in the workplace includes using the best method to ensure that a task is carried out in the correct timeframe and to the highest possible standard.
- Measure performance and effectiveness – evaluating the success of communication is as important as administering it. Employers should assess how often safety checks are conducted and safety meetings attended.
Safety communications should always begin at the top level and permeate all areas of an organisation. Communication channels that consider employees and individual feedback will lead to valuable communication between employers and their workforce.
