Safety Conversation Guide 1.1.4

Are you engaging in appropriate personal safety discussions with your employees?

Many supervisors routinely address safety topics with their employees. However, a significant number of individuals in supervisory positions lack the necessary skills or comprehension to conduct these discussions effectively.

Consequently, the results of one-on-one safety talks can often be unsatisfactory for both the supervisor and the employee. Common issues encountered include:

• Unchanged behaviors
• Absence of commitment
• Erosion of trust

The Safety Conversation Guide is founded on a proven methodology for enhancing the efficacy of safety conversations. It serves as a fundamental component of a highly esteemed workshop (conducted by Continuous MILE Consulting) that educates supervisors and managers on Safety Conversation Skills. Participants in the workshop acquire an enhanced comprehension not only of how to converse with employees about safety but also of the core principles determining the preferred approach for these discussions.

The guide employs a five-step framework that empowers supervisors to concentrate on the essential elements of impactful safety dialogues:

1. Frame the Conversation - Initiating an effective conversation involves setting the context by employing questions that foster genuine dialogue. The framing questions differ based on whether the conversation is anticipatory or responsive.
2. Assess Risk-Taking - Identifying factors that increase the likelihood of individuals taking unnecessary risks is crucial. A successful conversation reveals these factors and addresses them.
3. Discover Error Traps - Certain circumstances heighten the potential for human error. In this phase, the supervisor examines these situations as potential contributors to mistakes leading to incidents or injuries.
4. Identify the Behavior - An evaluation is conducted to pinpoint the primary behavior based on the conversation. The supervisor selects from three possible behaviors recognized in a Just Culture.
5. Take Action - The course of action taken is contingent upon the identified behavior. Productive conversations involve commitments from both the employee and supervisor, leading to improvements while fostering trust.

The Safety Conversation Guide mobile app represents a digital version of the popular Pocket Guide for a Safety ConversationTM.

This tool is distributed to attendees of the Safety Conversation Skills workshop discussed earlier. Given the ubiquity of smartphones today, this mobile app offers access to a simple yet potent electronic version for those without the original laminated Pocket Guide.

Prioritize reviewing and adhering to the process detailed in the Safety Conversation Guide before your next safety dialogue!

About Continuous MILE Consulting:

Continuous MILE Consulting specializes in aiding clients in crafting safety strategies, enhancing safety leadership, and fortifying safety cultures. The company offers structured workshops and guided leadership sessions on these subjects. Additionally, an available survey tool sheds light on employees' perceptions of safety while identifying areas for improvement.

To learn more, please visit the ContinuousMILE website.