Make Safety a Personal Thing: Adopt a Safety Code of Conduct

The reason why workers don't follow the safetyforemen don't take responsibility for enforcing a
rules is that they don't take personal responsibilitynew rule or work procedure change. Sometimes
for safety. Ensure that your personal approach tosuch leaders are not comfortable with the change
safety is at the highest level so you can go homethemselves, or do not agree with it. Other times
every day to your family without injury. Makethey are unwilling to take measures such as
safety a personal thing and adopt a code of saferetraining or disciplinary action to assure that
conduct.workers know the importance of following the
By Carl Potter, CSP, CMC and Deb Potter, PhD,rules.
CMC4. Workers publicly accept a rule and privately
WHEN SAFETY ISN'T PERSONALdisregard it.
Far too often, workers ignore even the mostSometimes it's difficult to see that workers are
basic, yet life-saving safety procedures -nodding in agreement when a rule change is
procedures like using machine guards, applycommunicated, yet choosing to ignore the rule or
appropriate protection when working aroundimproperly apply their own "rules." It's a passive
electricity, and wearing proper personal protectiveresistance to following the rules.
equipment. On further investigation, we often find5. Workers don't think the rules apply to them.
that these workers just simply don't like the safeThe number one reason that workers don't follow
work procedures of their company. They considerthe rules is they don't think they need the rules
safety something that someone is "doing toto stay safe. They think they are experienced
them" rather than a way to protect themselves,enough, smart enough, or strong enough to
their co-workers, and their families. They don'twithstand the risk of injury. This kind of attitude is
take safety personally.at the root of many injury-related incidents.
REASONS WHY WORKERS DON'T FOLLOW THEADOPT A SAFETY CODE OF CONDUCT
RULESWhether you are a leader or a follower, see if
Often we talk with managers and supervisorsyou recognize any of the attitudes and behaviors
who are very frustrated with workers whodescribed above. Chances are, you do. Maybe
blatantly ignore safe work procedures. While itsafety just isn't a personal thing for you. But, if
seems very simple that a company wouldyou are injured, it will become very personal to
establish safe work procedures based on theyou and your family. You don't want that to
known hazards associated with producing itshappen! Take a forward-thinking approach to
products or services, it is not thatsafety and adopt a code of safe conduct. A code
straightforward. Consider these reasons thatof safe conduct is a set of personal parameters
some workers ignore or fail to adopt workthat you will always follow; they are the standard
procedures:by which you operate day in and day out. Here
1. Safe work procedures are developed withoutare a few ideas for your consideration:
appropriate worker input.1. Safety is my number one priority.
Many companies have safety committees and2. I will look out for others and myself.
rule committees. Sometimes employees are3. I will immediately stop any job or task that I
included in these committees. When employeesbelieve is unsafe.
aren't included, the rules and work procedures are4. I will seek excellence in my work.
not suitable for the work. This is the best way to5. I will always behave as a professional and will
ensure that rules are ignored!learn all I can about my work.
2. New rules or work procedures are not6. I will recognize and manage risks appropriately.
well-communicated.7. I will always address any hazards when I
When a work procedure or safety rule isbecome aware of them.
adopted, it may not be communicated effectively.8. I will adhere to the company's safety rules.
Sometimes a rule or work procedure change isYou can certainly adopt this list "as is" for your
announced in a safety meeting and merelycode of safe conduct; it will be an even more
glossed over without appropriate discussion tomeaningful list if you make it personal by adding a
ensure complete understanding. This is a greatfew of your own parameters. Ask yourself what
way to make sure that people aren't fully awareyou need to do every day, in every job to keep
of the purpose of a rule.yourself and others safe. This will ensure that
3. Work procedures and changes are notyour personal approach to safety is at the highest
adequately enforced.level so you can go home every day to your
We often see that supervisors, crew leaders, andfamily without injury.