How to Create a Positive Safety Culture in Your Workplace

The safety culture of an organisation includes the values, attitude, behaviour and commitment to health and safety in the workplace.

It's "how things are done* in a company *when the boss is not around".

Implementing a positive safety culture at work is vital for maintaining workers’ physical and mental well-being.

What is safety culture in the workplace?

Safety culture refers to the implementation, reinforcement and advocacy of health and safety procedures in the workplace.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) board defines safety culture as: “a combination of the attitudes, values, and perceptions that influence how something is actually done in the workplace, rather than how it should be done*” .

The HSE also highlights the importance of integrating a positive safety culture to significantly lower the likelihood of "*major accidents and injuries*" in the workplace.

Creating a strong and effective safety culture is often more important in work environments with increased risk of health hazards, such as in the manufacturing or mechanics industry.

Benefits of having a positive safety culture

- Higher employee satisfaction

Prioritising and investing in the health and safety of workers will inevitably inspire trust by creating stronger interpersonal relationships between management and employees thus increasing employee satisfaction.

- Higher levels of productivity

Encouraging a positive safety culture can motivate workers, enabling them to work more effectively and therefore reducing the organisation's losses.

- Less legal concerns

A positive safety culture can help encourage organizations to consistently and better comply with updated safety regulations.

- Trained and specialised staff

A positive safety culture will promote and provide learning and continuous improvement to all workers.

- Better reputation

Cultivating a positive safety culture can create a positive image for the organization which in turn attracts more customers and talent and generates more profit.

How to build a positive safety culture

- Attitude

A successful management will understand, maintain and teach safety culture as an ongoing, non-linear process involving continuous learning and improvement. There is always room for self-improvement!

- Positive reinforcement

According to basic concepts of psychology, the most effective way to teach a person a new behaviour is with positive reinforcement. It is important to recognise and reinforce workers who consistently follow health and safety guidelines.

- Qualified management

An essential aspect involves employing especially trained and qualified management staff that can implement and improve on the existing health and safety culture of the organisation.

- Involve everyone

Lastly, involving all workers in the process of decision and policy making will help eliminate internal hierarchies which creates transparency, open communication and trust between management and employees.

How to improve your workplace safety culture

- Encouragement to participate

Encourage workers to participate in the learning and decision-making process.

- Willingness to report

Encourage the need to report any issues or concerns by creating a safe and open space where employees can feel comfortable.

- Education and resources

Inform and provide employees with educational resources which are easily and readily accessible.

- Empowerment

Recognise and award the implementation of said health and safety knowledge, allowing employees to feel empowered and motivated through this.

- Trust and empathy

Dedicating a separate department to health and safety can create a more trustworthy and empathic space where workers feel comfortable to share their stories and ask for help.

Case study – *Skanksa*

A leading successful example of positive safety culture can be found with the enterprise Skanska , a project development and construction group who take their health and safety culture seriously.

They prioritise education and awareness by providing extensive training to all staff, in this including a 4 hour IFE (Injury-Free Environment) orientation which is mandatory for all employees as well as other specialised training courses for management staff.

Following the Covid-19 pandemic it has become even more essential for organisations to recognise and support their workers' mental health. *Skanksa* has just launched a new initiative on some of its projects to make Mental Health First Aiders more visible. All employees who have undertaken Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) course can now display a Mental Health First Aider sticker on their construction hard hat .  

Skanksa is leading by example for achieving major progress in the expansion of defining a modern positive safety culture.

In conclusion, positive attitude, education and awareness through positive reinforcement, inclusion throughout the organization and qualified staff members are the key points for creating a successful positive safety culture from which employees and employers can greatly benefit.

Safeguru | Delivering a Safer Future