Page 56 - Occupational Health & Safety, October 2018

PROFESSIONALISM
Ten ‘Critical Traits’ of Respected Field Safety Professionals
It should be noted that even if you are not a new safety professional and have been in the organization for years, it is never too late to change your approach.
BY BRUCE BOLGER
As a safety professional, one of most impor- tant keys to our success is in how we inter- act with the teams we support, whether it is operations leadership or the employees in the field who are getting the job done. In this article, we’ll discuss the importance of those interactions with the workforce and the importance of how to approach and interact with those professionals in the field.
Sometimes culture change can take time. In fact, in some instances, it may take years. Never discount the impact you can have on an entire organization winning the hearts and minds of employees, one person at a time. The following 10 traits will help in educating and influencing employees to do the right thing, as well as building your reputation as a respect- ful, trusting, and caring professional.
1. Dress for Success:
Arrive at the job site dressed in proper personal pro- tective equipment (PPE). Park in a safe manner in ac- cordance with company rules (cones if required, etc.). Field employees pay attention to the little things that speak volumes about your interactions with them. Are you ready to work and help them or fumbling around putting on PPE for 10 minutes before engag- ing in interaction?
For those interactions back at the office, you’ll want to dress professionally even if it means having a second set of clothes. Professionalism is critical in in- teraction at all levels. Remember, perception is reality.
2. Lead by Example:
When approaching crews, always model the proper behavior. Never, ever, compromise a safety rule. Al- ways wear every piece of required safety gear and always follow every safety rule. I’m always surprised by how many supervisors, managers, and even safety professionals will engage employees without all the required PPE. It’s as if the rules do not apply to them because they are in management or a safety profes- sional. This must never happen since it undermines the entire safety effort. Safety professionals and man- agement must always model the behavior they expect from their employees. Wear the PPE and follow every safety rule. Bottom line, “Walk the Talk.”
3. Give Respect to Gain Respect:
Approach employees in a respectful manner. I be- lieve this is the most important aspect of a successful safety interaction. Think about how you would like
to be approached if you were in that person’s shoes. Look for opportunities to identify positive actions the crew is taking and share those observations with the foremen and crew. When dealing with an unsafe condition or action, whether it’s a significant concern or a minor violation, your success or failure will de- pend on how you approach the employee, foremen, and the situation. I’ve found taking the individual aside and having a “one on one” discussion goes a long way to build trust and respect. Additionally, ap- proaching someone from a position of concern for his or her welfare, in a sincere manner, can resolve an issue and change behavior.
4. Seek to Understand:
When an issue is identified, ensure the job leader or the foremen are involved and aware of the situ- ation. After all, they are responsible for the safety of their job site. If an imminent danger situation is observed, immediate response is required and ac- tion needs to be taken right away to make the job safe. Discussions with the foremen and or crew can take place after correction of the unsafe condition. For less serious situations, work with the foremen to understand why a potential condition exists. Ask questions to understand why the job is set up the way it is. There may be a reason for the deviation, or the foremen will own up to the error and will often correct without further engagement. If this occurs, thank the foremen for their actions and ask for the same support in the future.
5. Build Influence:
This is especially important for new safety profes- sionals just starting with a company. This is not about making friends or being liked. This is about effective human interactions—often referred to as “emotional intelligence.” How you interact with people will im- pact how they perceive you and your intentions in re- gard to their safety. Your success is directly related to how you interact with those in the field and how they perceive you. If you come across as the “safety po- lice,” you might get momentary compliance, but not culture-changing respect. Coming across as a caring individual and being known for being respectful and fair-minded will win hearts and minds in the culture change initiative.
It should be noted that even if you are not a new safety professional and have been in the organization for years, it is never too late to change your approach.
52 Occupational Health & Safety | OCTOBER 2018
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