Discussing Safety with Coworkers

1. Discussing Safetywith Coworkers

2. Unsafe Coworker • Safety is a priority for everyone, but lapses occur • Confronting coworkers can feel uncomfortable • Remind yourself: addressing the issue as soon as possible will improve safety for you, your coworker, and the whole group • Stop Work Authority gives personnel right to stop unsafe work

3. Before Speaking Up… • Define the problem • Be able to articulate the unsafe action to your coworker • Speak respectfully (without anger or annoyance) • Evaluate Cause • Is there a reason they chose the less-safe option? • If you don’t know, ask • Offer safer alternative • Calling out unsafe action = good; providing an alternative = better • Offer a reference to the correct procedure • If unsafe behavior persists • Recruit fellow co-workers, then senior/respected co-workers, PI, DEHS (anonymous LER forms: <http://www.jst.umn.edu/incident.html>) Loosely adapted from http://work.chron.com/confront-coworkers-17815.html

4. Initiating Conversation • Address coworker as soon as lab work allows • Be considerate when interrupting lab work • Be in control of your emotions (avoid anger or annoyance) • Use a calm, quiet, and confident voice • Try asking a question about what they’re doing, rather than making a statement that what they’re doing is wrong • Ex. “What are you working on?” “Can I help you?” • When in doubt, use ‘I’ statements • Recruit others only if you cannot address issue on your own

5. If Conflict Occurs *Once reported to PI, matter may be out of your hands • Owe it to your reputation to handle the matter respectfully from beginning Resources for conflict resolution: • ‘Non-confrontational Communication with Co-workers’ • Conflict Resolution at Work for Dummies • UMN Student Conflict Resolution Center http://work.chron.com/nonconfrontational-communication-coworkers-8667.html http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/conflict-resolution-at-work-for-dummies-cheat-shee.html http://www.sos.umn.edu/