| A lot of supervisors and managers don't give | | | | false eye with a pencil and explain that this is |
| safety talks to their teams basically because they | | | | much harder than the human eye. |
| don't know how. In this article, I'll include the key | | | | Quickly point out that we all have soft eyes and |
| points I have used whilst teaching thousands of | | | | in the workplace they are very vulnerable to |
| leaders to talk to their teams. Initially, a lot of | | | | being damaged. When they are damaged, |
| leaders are fearful and nervous about talking to | | | | sometimes they are removed and replaced with |
| groups. This is perfectly normal. The secret of | | | | a glass eye just like the one you are holding. |
| getting rid of nervousness is the preparation. | | | | Explain to the group that you as the leader do |
| Good preparation means that you will give a good | | | | not want to have to accompany someone to |
| safety talk, poor preparation means that you will | | | | hospital because of damage to their eyes. |
| struggle. The good preparation will give you, the | | | | At this stage take out a pair of safety glasses. |
| leader, confidence and enable you to get your | | | | Point out that safety glasses will save people's |
| message across without rambling. Make it | | | | eyes and it makes sense to wear them in the |
| interactive and this really takes the pressure off | | | | designated areas. Your group may have gone a |
| you. It means that you have to answer questions | | | | bit quiet at this point which will allow you to ask |
| but it also means that you can reinforce your | | | | the next question, "If you saw a workmate not |
| points with your answers. | | | | wearing his or her eye protection, what do you |
| Take one safety tip and use that as your central | | | | think is the best course of action?" Whatever |
| message. It may be the use of personal | | | | they come back with you can always mention, |
| protection equipment such as safety glasses. A | | | | "So The Objective Is to Keep Ourselves Safe?" |
| good way of introducing this subject is to acquire | | | | By taking this approach you can let the group talk |
| or borrow a glass eye. Now this may seem a bit | | | | which takes off the pressure from you. Think |
| gruesome but it is very effective. When you | | | | about safety talks as a way of using your |
| start your safety talk, hold up the glass eye and | | | | imagination to get your point across. What about |
| ask if anyone knows what it is. You may get | | | | all the props you can use? I have used bandages, |
| some bizarre answers but it sets the tone of the | | | | crutches, splints, a plastic skull, a plastic thigh bone |
| meeting. When you say that it's a false eye, you | | | | and at one time a complete skeleton. |
| may find that there are a few sniggers. Tap the | | | | |