Finish Strong: The Leadership Habits That Set You (and Your Team) Up for a Brilliant Q4

If you can switch your mindset to viewing safety as a strategic asset rather than just a cost centre, you could gain a competitive advantage!

In many sectors, regulators, the supply chain and even investors’ expectations are driving safety performance up the agenda. Senior teams that have shifted from reactive mode in the wake of an incident, to embracing health and safety as a key performance indicator are leading the way.

Leadership teams that lead by example can generate cultural change that creates trust, openness and drives innovation and performance. Safety excellence can become your strategic differentiator that improves operational efficiency, staff engagement and business success.

The business case is clearly in favour of having a strong focus on health and safety as this can lead to significant business benefits including:

• improved productivity
• reduced costs
• a better reputation

The HSE had a campaign some years ago entitled “Better Safety, Better Business” which sums it up!

1. Lead by Example – senior management and leaders must visibly demonstrate their commitment to safety. This means following procedures, participating in safety discussions, prioritising safety in decision-making, and investing in resources.
2. Open Communication – create an environment where employees feel safe and comfortable reporting hazards, near misses and incidents.
3. Involve Employees – involve workers in hazard identification, risk assessments, incident investigations, and the development of safety procedures.
4. Empower employees – to stop unsafe work if they identify an immediate danger and know that they will be supported by management.
5. Effective Training – including refreshers and opportunities for continuous learning and skill development.
6. Reward Safe Behaviour – acknowledge and appreciate employees who consistently demonstrate safe behaviours or contribute positively to safety initiatives.
7. Integrate Safety into Operations – make health and safety an integral part of every task and discussion, rather than a separate, “additional” requirement.
8. Performance Reviews – include safety performance as a component in performance appraisals.
9. Audits and Inspections (with Employee Involvement) – conduct regular health and safety audits and inspections and share the findings.