Conducting regular safety meetings is a key component of any organized workplace safety program. As most of you can attest, getting people to pay attention or participate isn’t always the easiest thing to do. Sometimes you have to go back to the basics to really discover why the participation in your meetings is lacking. Check off these 10 tips for more engaging safety meetings:
1. Prepare for the Meeting. You can keep up-to-date on safety issues by continuing to read safety publications and talking to safety experts.Visual aids including videotapes can greatly enhance a talk. Make sure you preview any videotape or slides which you intend to use, and check to see if the videotape player or projector is working. Gather up other items for demonstrations such as related equipment, tools or hazardous materials labels, etc.
2. Start and end the meeting on time. If you promise to keep it brief – do so.
3. Observe the KISS rule. Keep it straight-forward and simple. Zero in on just a few key points – don’t bore your participants by reviewing the whole safety manual in one session. In this case, less is actually more!
4. Stick to your agenda. Be flexible enough to respond to concerns, but keep to the topic. Control the meeting – don’t let it turn into a social hour or a beef session.
5. Encourage questions. Remind the participants that there is no such thing as a dumb question. Everyone learns when one person asks a question. These questions will also give you a clue to whether or not you have put your point across to the audience.
6. You don’t have to have all the answers. If you don’t know, maybe you can refer the question to another experienced worker in the group. Or promise to look into the matter and report back at the next safety talk.
7. Find ways to involve members of the group. It will keep their interest, and it will help them to remember what you have been discussing. Ask them for examples of hazards and safeguards related to the topic. Ask everyone to pick a partner, and have them take turns practicing the safety technique under discussion.
8. Use Humor. It will keep the attention of your listeners, and they will be more likely to remember what has been discussed.
9. Be interested in your topic and the audience. Welcome comments and questions. If you are enthusiastic, your listeners will be too. Repeat their comments in your own words to make sure you understood.
10. LISTEN to what the participants say to you. Remember that holding weekly safety talks is an excellent way to keep in touch with current safety concerns. They are also an excellent way of emphasizing any safety accomplishments that have been gained by the group. If you promise to follow up on a safety concern for (or before) an upcoming meeting – it is extremely important that you do so! There is no better way of losing both credibility and respect if you don’t.
11. Treat your listeners with respect. Keep in mind that many may have years of experience on the job and some may have actually helped develop some of the safety procedures being discussed. When you are talking about a safety topic which is familiar to them, treat it as a review. Remind them that experienced workers can occasionally drift into unsafe habits over a period of time – even if they do know better. Invite experienced workers to comment on issues or demonstrate techniques for the group – this will keep them involved.
End your meeting on a positive note by summing up the key points that are outlined on your copy of the talk along with any further action that will be taken as a result of the safety meeting. Remember to thank the participants for their involvement.
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