How to Communicate Workplace Safety Messages

Getting safety training messages to stick can be tricky. Discover the key factors behind successful workplace safety communication and how to implement them. Reported by MARIE-CLAIRE ROSS.

EFFECTIVE communication is vital to get staff and contractors aligned and working towards a positive safety culture.

Yet, just providing training to work safely is not always enough. How we communicate about safety influences whether or not people will accept or reject our safety messages.

The main objective of any safety communication program is to change behaviour. But how does a safety or human resources professional change attitudes towards safety or improve the way people undertake procedures?

The secret to developing highly successful safety communication programs is to use marketing-based tactics.

Key marketing tactics to consider for marketing safety are:

• Plan your safety messages like a mini advertising campaign –Define your target audience and work out the best ways to communicate to them. For example: male workers aged 25 – 55 years tend to prefer a more visual communication style.
• Consistent, clear messaging (includes branding) – Always promote the same standardized safety message and ensure that all departments are aligned with the message and do not send out conflicting information (eg: safety officer tells people to work safely and cautiously, but production manager pushes for speed).
• The consequences of poor safety – One of they key messages is to get employees to really understand that poor safety behaviour not only puts their own health and safety at risk, but also the safety of co-workers. Let them know what effect this will have on their personal life and their family.
• Multiple message placement – This means you have a consistent safety message or theme and you repeat it in multiple places. It is like the glue that holds the tactics together and is essential in successful advertising.

Most safety training programs fall short when it comes to frequency of message. Yet, there are many simple and cost effective ways to do this. By getting workers to engage in your safety message in different ways (watching it, hearing it, reading it), supervisors can better ensure that more workers receive the information.

Consider including a training video that is supplemented with matching posters, email newsletter campaigns, key rings, employee handbooks and toolbox talks.

Treating safety messages as a mini-marketing campaign will provide better safety performance, communication and camaraderie in the workplace.

Marie-Claire Ross is a Director at Digicast Productions. If you want to learn more about workplace safety communication download our free report “Seven Communication Tips for Workplace Safety Messages” at www.digicast.com.au

At Digicast, our uncompromising approach to producing training packages ensures that our clients receive highly optimised training videos and manuals that deliver significant training results. Thousands of staff each year worldwide are trained with Digicast training materials call 03 9696-4400 to learn more.

BEST USE OF VIDEO IN A TRAINING PROGRAM

Congratulations to Conundrum Holdings and Digicast Productions for winning a GOLD Prize as ‘Best use of Video in a Training Program’ at the recent Learnx Asia Pacific 2010 E-Learning and Training Awards.

Rob Clarke, founder and event organiser of the LearnX Asia Pacific Conference and Expo announced that the quality of entrants in the LearnX Asia Pacific 2010 E-Learning & Training Awards was superb. “It really is an important time to credit innovation and talent and we are thrilled with the number entering the awards this year,” he said.

Other award winners included the likes of AMP, Salvation Army, Australian Red Cross, Westpac, CGU and Commonwealth Bank to name a few.

You must be logged in to post a comment Login