Communicating the Benefits of Safety Culture to Leadership

We all know that being safer is better, but the idea of this can be frustratingly nebulous. This means safety can often be waved away when more pressing issues rear their head, and nowhere is this more obvious than when it comes to getting the leadership team of your company on board.

Of course, employers want their employees to be safe. Of course, accidents at work are terrible for all involved. But when confronted with the day-to-day safety management, it’s not uncommon for those with hectic schedules to overlook it in favour of taking care of more tangible priorities.

It’s the job of those in safety management to communicate the benefits of a positive safety culture and how to achieve it. This goes double when communicating with leadership, as they are usually in charge of the money. Still, their active involvement in promoting safety across the business can have a powerful impact.

So – how can you communicate the benefits of safety to management to allow them to see the value beyond the obvious?

The negatives

You might not think it’s good to start with the negatives, but it’s worth keeping in mind. Those in a leadership position should do what they can to ensure a safety culture because it’s effective and because they have a legal obligation.

The HSE explicitly states: ‘an employer must protect the health, safety and welfare of their employees and other people who might be affected by their business,’ and that ’employers must do whatever is reasonably practicable to achieve this.’

However, any senior professional should already know this. As a safety manager, you don’t want to be repeating things others already see until it becomes white noise, so let’s look at the positives instead.

Better staff retention

Nobody wants to work for a company that doesn’t value their safety. A company with a lax attitude to safety will inevitably have a higher staff turnover as employees leave for competitors dedicated to keeping them safe. The more accidents and incidents on your site, the greater the risk of losing valuable team members.

Improved morale

When a company prioritises worker safety, it improves physical health and morale. If someone feels they can work freely without being put at risk of injury or long-term health problems, they’re more likely to identify positively with their role and the business. If you show that you are willing to invest in your people, then your people will invest in you.

Increased efficiency

With lower staff turnover reducing the need for induction training and on-boarding, and a dedicated workforce that feels valued, it’s only logical that efficiency will increase.

The increased focus on safety also means staff are less likely to be injured and absent, processes are streamlined, and machinery is kept in top condition, all of which will reduce loss and increase efficiency.

A better reputation

Reputation can make or break a business. If a company has no interest in the safety of its employees, it’s not a stretch to think that they probably don’t care all that much about their customers either. Those customers might also want to avoid dealing with a business with a bad rap for safety, to avoid being grouped with them.

In the case of contractors in industries such as construction, a poor safety record will quickly lead to the business crumbling, as no one will want to risk letting them on-site.

Conversely, a company that proudly puts real effort into improving its safety culture, keeping workers safe and investing in safety management will instead be viewed as a progressive organisation that cares. So who would you rather work with?

Maximised profits

It’s no secret that money is a priority in business. Even the most progressive businesses still need to turn a profit. But safety and profitability aren’t opposites, and in fact, they go hand in hand. A safer business is a better and more efficient business, which ultimately means higher profits.

Accidents at work, low morale, and absenteeism can be costly, not just in human terms but in financial terms too. Safety managers must communicate this to a leadership team and get them on board.

Communicate safety the right way

A business that shines a spotlight on safety and prioritises its safety culture is healthy, and leadership can make the most of this by leading from the front and influencing it with the right behaviour.

Safety managers must understand their audience when communicating health and safety benefits to ensure real buy-in from both employees and management.

Our safety coaching course is an excellent way for health and safety managers to learn the skills to get everyone on board with health and safety. For more information, get in touch.