It’s no secret that safety should be a top priority for any fabrication or manufacturing company. Add the mighty ocean into the mix, and ship building becomes even more critical in regards to keeping employees safe on the job. But no matter how much you invest in proper safety programs and protocols, if you’re team isn’t on board nothing will change. So how can you ensure your staff is maintaining your standards of safety on the job? Changing up your messaging can make all the difference. Here’s how.
Focus on positive messages.
Here’s where focusing on the processes and procedures are a better choice than emphasizing the dangers of the situation. While you want to make it clear what happens when processes aren’t followed, focusing entirely on the specific dangers will only reinforce the negativity of the situation. Instead, you want to create buy-in for your team. Make them understand how their adherence to the policies will make for a more positive experience.
Encourage team support.
When it comes to safety in your shipyard, one potential advantage is to focus on the team safety aspect rather than just the required protocols. While your safety audits are important for ensuring continued support of the policies, constantly sending the message that safety is essential for everyone on staff builds team support. When your team is focused on the wellbeing of everyone, they are more likely to be compliant.
Swap out prohibitive language.
It is not uncommon for safety programs to focus on language like “Don’t” or “Warning.” And while these words get attention quickly, they also continue to reinforce a negative message. Rather than pushing the narrative of what not to do, demonstrate the positive benefits of a safe and productive work environment. Rather, along with the proper training protocol, language such as “Proceed with Caution” may be effective in some cases.
Lead by example.
Finally, when it comes to safety in your shipyard, it is essential that these mandates are adhered to from the top down. If your marine employee sees the executive level team not wearing safety gear on site or engaging in behaviors that are prohibited by the safety programs, it sends a message that these processes aren’t very important, when the truth is actually the opposite. Always follow your own safety plan when you’re on site.
Work with a leader in shipyard staffing.
Do you want to know more about ensuring the safety of your shipyard? Contact Hutco today to learn more.
