| Safety is one of those subjects that needs | | | | leader about working conditions, incidents and |
| continuous promotion. One of the ways of doing | | | | better ways of carrying out tasks. |
| this is to use safety talks at the beginning of each | | | | The most important thing for the group leader to |
| shift. During this safety talk all sorts of subjects | | | | remember is that the promotion of the safety |
| related to safety can be brought up. Reminders | | | | message must be continuous and varied to |
| can be given for changes in the work | | | | maintain the interest of everyone. The group |
| environment, the use of personal protection | | | | leader can provide individual positive reinforcement |
| equipment, housekeeping, recounting a recent | | | | to those group members who have modified their |
| incident, announcing changes in work practices and | | | | behavior and conformed to the safety standards |
| so on. | | | | of the rest of the group. This is best carried out |
| The greatest use of a safety talk is to reinforce | | | | individually rather than in front of the group. |
| desired behavior in the workplace. The leader of | | | | However, the most powerful reinforcement will |
| the work group can show a pair of safety glasses | | | | come from the people in the group regarding an |
| that saved one of the group members' eye in a | | | | individual's safety behavior. |
| potentially damaging incident to reinforce the | | | | Where there are group members who always |
| wearing of safety glasses. Group leaders can use | | | | work in the safest possible fashion, some sort of |
| everyday items from the workplace to maintain | | | | recognition must be given to them. Only too |
| interest and keep their safety programs effective. | | | | often they are ignored and all the attention is |
| Often, group leaders can give personal | | | | given to the people that don't conform to the |
| testimonials to the value of such equipment during | | | | safety standards. One of the most powerful |
| safety meetings. | | | | pieces of positive reinforcement can be a letter |
| During these safety meetings the group leader | | | | of thanks from one of the senior managers. |
| can give feedback to the group on the level of | | | | Where this has been used, group members have |
| performance shown by the group in the proper | | | | known to have it framed and hung up in their den. |
| use of equipment. The sort of feedback is vital in | | | | The group leaders imagination is very important in |
| motivating group members to maintain or change | | | | ensuring that the safety message is always |
| their behavior. It is also an opportunity for group | | | | consistent and varied. |
| members to also give feedback to the group | | | | |