6 tips for creating a culture of safety.

Accidents happen. So, when it comes to the safety of team members, you have to be prepared for anything. These 6 foolproof tips will help you increase on-the-job safety and bring your team together in the process.

1. Hold daily meetings

Holding daily safety meetings makes sure that the conversation is always flowing and safety is at the forefront of everyone's mind. Some key topics that should be covered are: personal protective equipment, emergency stop devices, what different emergency placards mean, and more. These meetings are a great way to add a bit of fun. Safety is a really serious topic, but that doesn't mean you can't enjoy the conversations.

2. Assign a safety coordinator

This next tip is incredibly important, too. Every operation should have an assigned safety coordinator to ensure communication remains open and always flowing. This person will lead trainings and enforce safety measures. High standards are the backbone of safety, and without someone leading the pack, standards will inevitably fall and more accidents will happen.

3. Work with equipment manufacturers

Safety is all about collaboration and building a strong trust between workers. An open dialogue should always be taking place between equipment manufacturers and employees to ensure that you and your employees understand how to safely operate equipment.

4. Train your operators and employees

Repeat after us: training is essential, training is essential, training is essential. Proper training is crucial for a safe worksite, and there is always room for improvement. Consider hosting regular training courses and events to make sure that the training never stops.

5. Don't overlook basic safety measures

Don't forget about the basics, either. Even the smallest safety details are important: wearing PPE, making sure you shut off your machine, using lockout/tagout systems, and being aware of confined spaces when performing maintenance are all routine safety measures that can be taken for granted.

6. Document your efforts

Last, but definitely not least, document everything. If there is an accident, the inspecting agency will want to know when the last safety meeting or training session was held. Without proper documentation, the organization can be liable for serious legal penalties.