Improving workplace safety is a continuous task for safety professionals.
OSHA says a “proactive approach to finding and fixing hazards” is a core element of an effective safety and health program.
Activities such as walking jobsites and talking to workers about the tasks they’re performing are an effective way to uncover hazards – if safety conversations are done well.
“The example you set, and the way you talk to workers about safety, has a huge impact on the company’s safety and health program, safety culture, and ability to reduce injury and illness,” the agency says.
Next time the opportunity to have a safety conversation arises, try the “COIN” method:
Connect with the worker – Establish common ground with questions such as, “Can we agree that we both care about safety?” or “My family expects me to work safely so I come home in one piece. Do you have a family?”
Observe – OSHA says to make “specific, accurate descriptions” of the behavior being observed. If a worker isn’t wearing eye protection or didn’t lock out a machine, ask them why after pointing out the unsafe action.
Impact – Explain to the worker the consequences of the unsafe action. For a worker skipping eye protection, you may say, “You could get something in your eye and need to go to the emergency room.” If a machine doesn’t get locked out, emphasize that the machine “could have started and you would have been badly injured.”
Next steps – Working with the employee, create an action plan that will change the unsafe behavior being observed. Maybe it’s a matter of fit or comfort with the provided eye protection. Tell the employee, “We can look at different models that protect your eyes.” For an employee who forgets to lock out a machine, they may need a refresher training course. Whatever the reason, talk to the employee to learn the “why” and then map out next steps.
