Employees may hesitate to voice their opinion about workplace safety problems.
Employee opinions are an important source of information. Personal opinions are the expression of what individuals believe to be true. Though not always objective, employee opinions about workplace safety can be an indicator of the safety culture of a company.
Supervisors should find out what their employee think about workplace safety. Do your workers feel safe at work? What problems are employees coping with on the job? Are work days stressful and do unreported injuries or near-misses occur? Are workers concerned that their job is compromising their health?
Engaging employees in non-judgemental conversations about what they think about the status of the workplace safety helps builds positive relationships and trust. Dialogues, including casual conversations, safety meetings and anonymous surveys, provide opportunities for employees to express opinions and ask questions.
Awareness of employee concerns about workplace safety allows managers to better train and supervise employees. Understanding what employees think can help managers correct problems and create a better employment experience. Employees often have practical solutions to workplace safety problems.
Start by asking this simple question: Do you feel safe on the job? Openly talking about workplace safety is an important step towards developing a work environment where employees are safe, healthy and enjoy their jobs.
