Peer to Peer Safety Conversations

1. Peer to Peer Safety Conversations By Amy Alves

2. Why is safety communication important? • One of the most effective ways to improve a safety culture and prevent injuries is to optimize safety-related communication throughout an organization (Williams, 2003). • With such a large campus to cover and many buildings off campus, we often have to rely on teamwork to complete a job. Having multiple sets of eyes to look out for hazards helps keep us safe. Do you feel comfortable talking to your coworkers about safety?

3. The Safety Culture Survey • 90% believe that employees should caution others when they’re operating at risk . • Only 60% say they actually do provide critical feedback. • 74% welcome peer observations for the purpose of receiving safety-related feedback. • Only 28% believe that other employees feel the same way. Source: The Safety Culture Survey by Safety Performance Solutions

4. What can we learn from The Safety Culture Survey • Respondents of the survey also felt that giving safety-related feedback would create conflict. They also did not feel competent at giving safety feedback or they didn’t want to insult coworkers with more experience. • Most injuries have a behavioral component. • Employees will be more open to safety-related feedback if coworkers do a better job of providing and receiving it. Peer to peer safety feedback should be a normal, established way of doing business.

5. How to give feedback • To provide effective corrective feedback, don’t make it personal – focus on feedback. • Ask questions to facilitate discussion – don’t lecture. • Give feedback immediately and one-on-one, while showing genuine concern for others’ feelings and well being. • Offer the opportunity to work together to find better solutions. • Thank the person for listening. • Discuss with your coworkers what you would say if you saw someone working unsafely around Facilities Services. • How would you approach that person? • What if you weren’t sure if the person was actually doing something unsafely?Would you tell him/her anyway? • What would you do if your feedback was ignored?

6. How to receive feedback • Actively listen and don’t interrupt. • Remain open and receptive and don’t get defensive. • Discuss better ways of doing the task. • Thank the person for providing feedback. • Discuss with your coworkers what you would say if someone told you that you weren’t being safe. • Would you be open minded? • Would you understand that your coworker might feel uncomfortable telling you that s/he is concerned for your safety? • Would it affect how you work in the future?

7. Talk about it with your coworkers! • Do you feel comfortable giving your coworkers safety-related feedback? What about coworkers outside your shop or department? • Have you ever had to point out an immediate threat to a coworker? How did you address it? How did the coworker respond? • How can we change our behavior to have a safer environment? If you have any safety concerns or suggestions, please contact Amy Alves at 962-1235 or amy.alves@fac.unc.edu Source: The content of this presentation came from the following articles: Communication Strategies for Achieving a Total Safety Culture by Josh Williams, PhD, and Scott Geller, Ph.D and Using Behavioral Safety to Improve Safety Culture by Josh Williams, PhD. http://www.safetyperformance.com/pdf/articles/PracticalArticles/CommunicationStrategiesforAchievingaTotalSafetyCulture.pdf https://www.safetyperformance.com/BBSImprovesSafetyCulture.pdf