Tips on How to be a Great Leader in the Workplace
Safety in the workplace is crucial not only because of legal accountability, but because employers should prioritise the health and well-being of the workers. Happy and satisfied workers mean increases in efficiency and productivity, therefore boosting the profits of your business.
Having a solid and well-designed safety program is not enough. The success of the safety program in your company lies in the hands of the safety leader, whose attributes and behaviour should inspire employees to maintain a high standard of safety at work.
What a safety leader should do
Being a safety leader is a big responsibility. Below are some of the important things that you have to do to be an effective leader of safety at work.
Daily maintenance
Slips and falls are some of the most common causes of injuries in a workplace. As the safety leader, you should monitor the areas where there are a lot of foot traffic and make sure that liquid spills, trash, and other unsafe objects are immediately cleaned up or removed. Keep the workplace orderly to minimise and prevent accidents.
Ensure security
Safety leaders should restrict unauthorised access to the workplace. Implementing key cards and security check-ins would help you provide a secure space for you and the workers.
Monitor equipment
You have to make sure that all the machinery and heavy equipment gets regular maintenance to avoid malfunctions and damages. You also have to keep the safety equipment up to date and in good condition.
Prepare for emergency
We are not just talking about first aid kits for minor injuries. Emergency equipment like a defibrillator could help have a worker’s life in the event of a heart attack at work. A safety leader should also make sure that there are enough working fire extinguishers and fire alarms in the workplace. Part of his or her responsibility is to conduct safety training and emergency drills for the employees so that they would know what to do in emergency situations.
Be informed
Safety leaders should be well informed and updated with the different safety standards for your business. Attending workshops and seminars is advisable to gain more knowledge about keeping the safety in the workplace.
Four qualities you need to be a great safety leader
There are certain qualities that are commonly observed in effective safety leaders. Having these four qualities would help you inspire the employees to adhere and maintain a high level of safety at work.
Leading by example
If you want your employees to follow certain rules or behaviour, you as the safety leader should show that you are strictly following safety and health protocols. Whether you are being observed or not, your actions should set the benchmark for how all the workers should behave. Set the right example for them and they will follow suit.
Timely and appropriate response
The ability to notice and address safety issues immediately and appropriately is a crucial attribute in every safety leader. Diligently noting all the issues, prioritising their settlement, and showing a constructive response to issues would promote a solid safety culture in the company.
Being observant and proactive
While responding quickly to safety issues is important, a safety leader should be able to anticipate risks and hazards. By carefully observing the workplace, you should identify hazards in the environment, as well as the risky behaviours of the employees. By doing this, you will be able to take action proactively and prevent any accidents from happening.
Good communicator
If the safety leader fails to effectively communicate the safety hazards and issues in the workplace to the employees, then even the best safety equipment and well-designed safety program will be worthless. A great safety leader maintains open communication with workers and listens to their feedback, then incorporate their input when creating and implementing safety policies. Having regular meetings and consultations with workers, managers, and officers will help develop cooperation and trust within the team, enabling you to effectively implement the safety program.
If you want to know more about how to be an effective safety leader at your workplace, contact Verge Safety Barriers and our team of experts will answer any of your concerns.