7 steps to build a positive health and safety culture

How can you build a positive health and safety culture in the workplace in 2022?

One that meets the ever-changing needs of a diverse workforce, evolving cultural norms, and emerging technologies?

We have a 7-step plan for you to ensure your business is ready for health and safety expectations in 2022 – and beyond.

We look at the key strategic elements that are must have’s today, as well as future trends in technology.

1. Identify priorities in your risk management procedures

First, kick off an audit and identify whether the safety systems you currently have in place are operating effectively, or whether they need to be more efficient. Next, assess areas where health and safety policies are missing or incomplete.

An audit may be conducted internally, but many businesses choose to bring in external assistance in order to conduct an audit of current health and safety plans, then assist in implementing any recommended improvements.

2. Responsibility of risk management and delegation of authority

Before getting too far into strategy and processes, you need to clearly define responsibilities and authority. Who is actually going to be doing certain tasks or be responsible for the policy? Which department is responsible for what?

Good safety culture should start with management, and trickle down to every level and every person.

3. HR and inductions

In order to set up a good safety culture, you need to be ready to induct new contractors properly, right from the start.

By using effective tools and systems, you can get your employees and contractors correctly trained, compliant, and on the job faster.

4. Develop processes that are transparent and hold people accountable

If people feel that reporting and management of health and safety issues are taken seriously, and acted upon with accountability, they are more likely to engage positively.

Instil processes and set a culture that holds everyone accountable, especially managers and supervisors. Provide multiple options for reporting and monitoring so that individuals can feel in control.

5. Staff engagement – share your vision

You can empower staff and build engagement by including them in the process and in decision making.

Don’t just set some health and safety policies, write a manual and leave them in a drawer to be eaten by moths!

Share the policies, talk about the company vision regularly, and show when things work well as well as when improvements are implemented.

6. Test, refine, test, repeat

Harder, better, faster, stronger…. not just words to a pop song! Also, a great mantra for your health and safety strategy. Test what works, improve constantly and then repeat!

Plans need to be kept up to date when things change either internally or externally and polices need to adapt to an ever-changing world.

7. Future technology trends

We all know that technology is always improving, changing, and adapting. It’s critical that organisations harness opportunities to design safer and more productive ways of working.

The future of work will change and evolve as technology changes. Organisations must work to be able to look at future risk management and become early adopters of new technology.

Contact us at Rapid Global to see how easy it is to use technology to set up an effective health and safety strategy.

We help businesses of all sizes, across all industries, to improve their work practices.