Effective safety Communication is the key to organizational success in achieving a healthy, safe and productive workplace. It is necessary to ensure roles and responsibilities are understood; to warn about hazards; to avoid unsafe practices; to develop emergency response and particularly to learn about the concerns, issues and hazards that workers come across.
In spite of continuous efforts to reduce the number of work-related accidents, every year thousands of workers die and millions of workers suffer occupational injuries and illnesses at their workplaces. It has been recognized that workplace with open communication and frequent interactions between employees and supervisors are important organizational elements, which distinguish companies with low accident rates from those with high accident rates. Organizations with open communication system shows that they are willing to accept feedback and questions from anyone, respond to the issues raised by workers so that the workplace can be made safer for everyone.
On-the-job communication helps employees to know what’s going on all around them and also let others know and understand the hazards, risks and the related safety information.
Training
The important step in on-the-job communication is training. Employers must organize training effectively communicating all necessary information so that workers are equipped with the knowledge required to accurately and safely perform the tasks assigned. Organizations should ensure training are effectively conducted by keeping lines of communication open among workers throughout the organizations, including how safety data and information is shared between workers and management which provides a better means to identify risks and develops an approach to implement methods to prevent injuries and illness.
During training, workers must be made aware of all possible risks and hazards involved in the task and how to communicate and report it to the management as Communicating problems can be difficult for many employees, especially if they are caused by their mistake.
Ensure effective communication of safety and health information to prevent employee injuries and illness.
Effective safety communication can be ensured by the following methods:
1. Interactive - It is two-way, when we speak about safety and listen to worker’s concerns and suggestions as well.
2. Informative- When the information is shared to the employees telling them what they need to know to work safely under all conditions.
3. Positive - This method focuses on the exchange of ideas and information to improve workplace safety and prevent accidents and illness.
4. Productive – This method allows us to interact successfully with employees and spread safety message to everyone.
Look out for communication barriers.
Unfortunately, numerous barriers can break down communication.
For example:
–If too much information is being communicated at a time, it would be difficult for workers to absorb all the information at a time.
–If information presented lacks clarity, it will be confusing or unclear, what a worker actually understands might be quite different from what you intended to say.
–If expectations and results are not clearly defined, you may not be satisfied with the results. It is important to know and express what would you expect as a result of your safety communication.
–If you communicate a safety message without listening to the response of employees, then communication is incomplete. Remember, you have to speak and listen in response for communication to be successful.
–If you don’t consider workers’ concerns and priorities into account, they might not listen to whatever you try to communicate.
Upward communication from workers to managers facilitating the exchange of information among workers is essential for organizational learning, improvement and safe operations. Some common barriers to upward communication include fear and guilt that the communication will be filtered as it goes up. These communication barriers are not addressed; it can have a negative impact on information exchange, organizational learning, and ultimately safe performance. To facilitate effective upward communication, it is necessary that the managers need to create a supportive, encouraging environment accepting both positive and negative feedback, so workers would always feel free to speak up.
Never forget that effective safety communication always begins with a clear message.
The message is the safety information or content you want to transfer and communicate to the workers
–Think before you speak on what you want to say. Be as clear as possible about each point you want to cover.
–Organize your message and content into a logical sequence for communication.
–Keep your communications simple. Small information at a time, simply and clearly stated, is more likely to be understood.
–The message should as precise as possible. Use simple language and examples to explain what you mean so that won’t be any misinterpretations.
Why it is important to use a variety of methods to communicate health and safety information in the workplace.
There are certain reasons such as:
- The people respond differently to different methods and this variety prevents over-familiarization with only just one method and helps to explore many.
- Variety of methods are needed for effective communication to overcome language barriers and the incapability of some workers to read;
- Different methods of communication can motivate, stimulate interest and gain involvement and feedback;
- Different types of information require different methods of communication, for example, emergency signs, reading list or a hand book.
- In some cases organizational policy may require certain information to be in a specified format;
Why It Matters…
Organizations with ineffective safety communication can have serious negative consequences, including:
–Accidents, incidents and illness
–Lost time injuries
–Reduced and delayed productivity
– Chance of risk-taking by employees
–Inability to comply with norms and regulations
–Increased workers’ compensation and medical insurance costs
–Damage to materials, equipment, or plant facility (for example, fire caused by carelessness or lack of knowledge in the work place)
–Risks to community and environment (for example, due to the release or improper disposal of toxic chemicals)
Effective safety communication is an integral part of achieving an accident free workplace. Safety culture / Safety performance can be improved by providing sound guidelines to improve safety related communication. By providing all means of receiving safety feedback can make the workplace safer. Communications that maintain a focus on safety essentials are meant to protect the workers, the public and the environment.
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