1. Not Walking the Talk

Actions really do speak louder than words when it comes to safety leadership. All the slogans, posters and tool box talks in the world won’t make a difference if employees see leaders acting in a different way to what they are saying. By always being a model of safe work and rule compliance, a leader can have more of an influence on his team than he ever could through “safety moments” and “monthly safety topics”. People naturally look to their leader for direction, and the thing they look at most are his behaviours. As a leader, you must go above and beyond what is required by your site safety systems, and demonstrate to everyone that keeping people safe is top of your priority list.
 

2. Turning a Blind Eye

Safety rules and systems apply to everyone, all the time. When we ignore minor breaches or small unsafe acts, we are effectively condoning and encouraging those actions. By our own lack of action we are telling our team that it’s ok not to follow certain rules or procedures. You can’t turn a blind eye, even when the work is urgent, out of site, or on a back shift. Unacceptable behaviours are best changed early while they are still small. (Try our simple model to make giving corrective feedback quicker, easier and more effective).

  
 

3. Not Giving Enough Positive Feedback

While it is important to let people know if they are not working safely or following the correct procedures, it is also important to give people positive feedback when you find them working safely or doing things that make the workplace safer. Use this quick four step positive feedback method to give frequent pats on the back to people who deserve it.
  

4. Not Buying in to Safety Systems

As a leader in the operation, you need to buy in to safety systems, even if you don’t like them or don’t agree with them. Any feedback you have about the systems and why they won’t work needs to only go up the tree – to your boss and your own team of peers. When it comes to the message you send to the team that works for you, or anyone at the front line, you need to be a supporter. As a team leader you are the company’s representative in your team. And for better or worse they’ve decided to implement this system, so it’s up to you to support it publically. 
 

5. Forgetting the Importance of Habits

Habits are what save us when our mind is not consciously on the job. Many of the safety systems we use (such as Take-5s, prestart talks, and safety observations) are aimed at creating habits in people’s minds so that they are constantly aware of hazards in the work, and can react when they see something that is about to hurt them. Each little action and safety discussion might not prevent an accident itself, but they all add together to create valuable safety habits.
 

6. The Wrong Intentions for Safety Observations

When you are going to do a safety observation, get your intentions right. Your aim when observing people working should be to find ways to give them feedback which keeps them on their toes and challenges them in their work. We want to challenge test people to make sure they know what they are doing and how to do it safely. We are not always trying to catch people doing something wrong.


Have a safe and productive week!!  Each little action makes all the difference to you and your team's safety. 


- Jamie Ross
Mining Man - Practical Safety, Leadership and Productivity Ideas for the Mining Industry


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