To mark National Safe Work Month in October, we spoke with Lisa Blaikie, Winc’s Head of Health, Safety, & Wellbeing. She shares her insights and the top seven ways to make National Safe Work Month a priority in your workplace so that you can ‘know safety, work safely.’
1. Ensure visual communications are updated
“This month is ideal for reinforcing messaging and raising awareness about workplace safety issues that your organisation recognises as critical. Posters frequently become wallpaper, so think of all the other communication channels you can use to get your message across. If posters are what works best in your workplace, take the opportunity to update the design, and don’t forget about your message boards to support the need for safety training,” advises Lisa.
2. Review training policies and procedures
“The best way to ensure the safety of your employees is to have them complete comprehensive safety training on a regular basis. It’s important that people recognise and incorporate a strong safety culture into their daily workplace lives this October, and beyond,” says Lisa. “Good safety means that no one is hurt and that everyone returns home safely at the end of the day.”
3. Acknowledge your workers
According to Lisa, recognising achievements is essential to building a strong safety workplace culture. “Keep employees motivated and updated on progress by sharing and celebrating improvement milestones. Safety may not always be top-of-mind, so this is an excellent opportunity to highlight how management has collaborated with workers to make safety a top priority in the workplace. For instance, my team regularly reports on TRIFR (total recordable injury frequency rate) and recognise team members who are leading by example. It’s a great opportunity to motivate workers to report potential safety issues and take immediate steps to resolve them,” suggests Lisa.
4. Hold regular consultation sessions
“Maintain an open line of communication within your organisation. Whether it’s a company town hall or a morning tea, senior leadership must communicate with employees about priority areas and what can be done to improve workplace safety.
“Safe Work Australia, the organisers of National Safe Work Month, are encourging workplaces to Host SafeTea events. The idea is to grab a cuppa, gather the team and have an important conversation about workplace wellbeing and safety. We are hosting these events at Winc and are encouraging our customers to do the same,” says Lisa.
5. Address psychological safety
“Safe Work Month is an opportune moment to talk about the importance of psychological safety at work. Being healthy and safe means being free from injury, both physical and psychological. Facilitate open conversations and promote positive discussions. Gather feedback on how messages are communicated and implemented during these sessions to help foster a safer and more inclusive environment,” recommends Lisa.
6. Conduct safety checks
“Walkarounds and inspections should be performed to safeguard all employees. Injuries occur when the wrong tools and equipment are used for a job, so use this month to ensure that everyone has what they need,” says Lisa. “Get your safety leaders out on the floor. Take the first step, then continue throughout the workplace. Ensure that your safety leaders re-engage and reinforce the messaging.”
7. Make safety fun
“Since safety can be an uninspired subject matter in general, one way to help incorporate safety into company culture is to make learning about safety fun. Make your posters engaging and interesting. Don’t be afraid to experiment with bright colours. Plan events this October and encourage your people to wear brightly coloured, fluorescent outfits to celebrate,” suggests Lisa. “Everyone wants to be safe, so let’s make it fun.”
To help you ensure your employees stay safe today and every day, browse our wide range of safety products online.
