Sudhi and I are past colleagues, often we would chat and reflect on how to have impactful and meaningful conversation. I was every excited to hear Sudhi’s views on safety moments and tips and how to bring the workforce in as part of the discussion.
What is your name?
Sudhi MP
What industry do you work in?
Business Consulting
What country do you reside in ( this is also the country that your responses will be based on)?
India
Whats your "cuppa" - mine is a cold brew coffee*
That sounds wonderful. Mine is a strong Indian tea with Milk and Jaggery.
Is the ritual of safety moment at the start of every meeting impactful, engaging, behavioural changing? Yes or No?
No
How are safety tips delivered in the corporate environment?
1) As a Spacer to kick off meetings 2) Safety Training Programs 3) Online Learning Platforms 4) Safety Meetings 5) Safety Posters/ Signage / Flash Cards 6) Email and Intranet Communications 7) Through Apps 8) Safety/emergency Drills and Simulations 9) Safety Committees
How are safety tips delivered in an operational environment?
In my region, safety moments are predominantly conveyed through: 1) Safety meetings, 2) Toolbox talks, 3) Posters and signage, 4) Newsletters, and 5) Digital platforms.
What's the best safety tip you observed and why?
The most impactful safety tip I've encountered came from the heartfelt and deeply personal perspective of an employee of one of my clients. It wasn't delivered by a safety expert or a seasoned worker, but by a grieving wife who had tragically lost her husband in a two-wheeler accident. Her message was simple yet profoundly moving. She reminded the audience that during the COVID-19 pandemic, people had quickly and diligently adopted the habit of wearing masks to protect themselves and others. She asked a poignant question: "If we can swiftly embrace mask-wearing for the safety of our health, why can't we bring the same level of awareness and commitment to wearing helmets for our safety on the roads?" Her words struck a chord with everyone in the room. It was a powerful reminder that sometimes the simplest safety measures, like wearing a helmet while riding a two-wheeler, can make all the difference between life and death. Her story was a stark illustration of the consequences of neglecting this essential safety practice. What made this safety tip so impactful was its emotional resonance. It wasn't just about rules and regulations; it was a plea from someone who had experienced a tragic loss firsthand. Her message was a call to action, a reminder that safety is a responsibility we owe to ourselves and our loved ones. In that moment, her words inspired a renewed commitment to helmet safety among the audience. It was a reminder that we can make a difference in our own lives and in the lives of others by simply following this fundamental safety practice. It was a powerful lesson in the importance of taking safety seriously, not just as a set of rules but as a way to protect the people we care about most.
Have you heard a safety tip that made you cringe? What was it, and why did you cringe? *
Picture this: a room filled with our colleagues, an air of solemnity settling in as we listened to an experienced worker, a father, recount a deeply unsettling incident. His words carried the weight of a cautionary tale, underscoring the critical importance of safety practices in our line of work. He began by describing a day not too long ago when he and his two sons, all seasoned riggers, found themselves perched high above the ground on a scaffolding. Their task is to erect overhead pipelines. It started like any other workday, but what unfolded would haunt us all. The scaffold's collapse was not solely due to their oversight; it was the culmination of multiple factors. An unstable floor, poor-quality erection of the scaffold, and improper rigging practices all played their part in this devastating incident. The floor they worked on proved unstable, unable to provide a secure foundation for their scaffolding. Compounding this, the scaffold had been erected hastily, lacking the quality and stability it should have possessed. It was a recipe for disaster. Yet, it was the improper rigging practice that ultimately sealed their fate (root cause). And, instead of adhering to safety guidelines and securing themselves properly, the two sons opted for bull body harnesses attached to the scaffold itself. In stark contrast, the father made the wise choice to anchor himself to a permanent, proper anchorage point. A tragedy struck suddenly and without warning: the scaffold gave way and crashed to the ground below as a result of the unstable floor, subpar erection, and improper rigging. The consequences were catastrophic. His youngest son, brimming with life and potential, lost his life that fateful day. His other son, once filled with dreams and aspirations, was left permanently disabled, his future forever altered. As he recounted this harrowing incident, we in the room could feel the weight of the numerous factors that contributed to the scaffold's collapse. It made us cringe with the realization that neglecting even one aspect of safety, whether it's floor stability, scaffold quality, or proper rigging, can lead to such a devastating outcome. The father's message resonated deeply: safety practices are non-negotiable, and overlooking any aspect of them can have dire consequences in our hazardous profession.
Your personal view. Is it time to ditch safety moments in the corporte setting?
Yes.
Your top three tips for delivering an impactful and engaging safety moment/tip.
1) Keep It Relevant and Specific: One of the key factors in delivering an impactful safety moment is ensuring that it is relevant to the audience and the specific work environment. Start by addressing current safety concerns, recent incidents, or near misses that are fresh in everyone's minds. Make the safety moment specific to the tasks or activities that employees are about to undertake. By addressing real and immediate safety issues, you capture your audience's attention and demonstrate the practical importance of safety measures.
2) Make It Relatable and Personal: To engage your audience effectively, connect the safety moment to their daily lives and experiences. Share stories, examples, or anecdotes that resonate with employees on a personal level. Humanize safety by discussing how it impacts not just the organization but also individuals and their families. Encourage employees to share their own safety experiences or observations, fostering a culture of open communication and shared responsibility for safety.
3) Interactive and action-oriented: Engage your audience actively by involving them in the safety moment. Ask questions, solicit input, and encourage discussions about safety topics. Use visuals, props, or multimedia presentations to enhance understanding and retention of key safety messages. Most importantly, conclude the safety moment with actionable takeaways. Provide clear, practical steps that employees can immediately implement to enhance safety in their daily tasks. Encourage a commitment to safety by asking for voluntary pledges or safety goals from the team.