Page 84 - OHS, September 2024

SAFETY CULTURE
They should start by assessing and addressing employees’ basic needs, ensuring that the work environment is physically and psy- chologically safe. Leaders must then focus on creating a positive safety climate by providing opportunities for growth, recognition and empowerment. By adopting a transformational leadership style, leaders can inspire employees to embrace safety as a core value and actively contribute to the organization’s safety culture.
Leading with Emotional Intelligence
To really excel at safety leadership, it’s crucial to develop emotional intelligence. When leaders are attuned to their team members’ emo- tions, they can pick up on subtle cues that an employee is struggling or morale is declining before those issues snowball into safety incidents.
Emotionally intelligent leaders also tend to be more effective at building relationships, communicating sensitively and influencing behavior. By modeling safe practices, openly discussing safety con- cerns and showing genuine care for employees’ well-being, they help ingrain safety as a core part of the company culture.
Uncovering Risks Through Gap Analysis
Even the best-laid safety plans can fall short in practice. That’s why it’s so important for leaders to regularly conduct gap analyses to identify discrepancies between official procedures and how work is actually getting done.
By observing employees in action and asking for their input,
leaders can uncover deviations that may seem harmless but actu- ally introduce new risks. From there, they can work with the team to revise procedures, provide additional training or resources, or address any underlying systemic issues. The key is to create an en- vironment where employees feel comfortable flagging issues with- out fear of punishment.
Implementing Change Effectively
Improving safety often means implementing change, whether it’s rolling out new protocols, investing in new equipment or revamp- ing training. To get employees on board, leaders need to commu- nicate the “why” behind these initiatives and actively involve the team in shaping the approach.
Providing ample support and resources is also critical to help employees successfully adapt to any changes. And don’t forget to celebrate successes along the way. Recognizing progress keeps the momentum going and reinforces that safety is a top priority.
The Dangers of Toxic Leadership
While positive leadership can level-up an organization’s safety cul- ture, toxic leadership can tank it. Leaders who rule by fear, pun- ishment and unrealistic demands create an environment where no one feels safe speaking up about hazards.
Abusive or unethical leadership has been directly linked to de- creased safety compliance and increased risk-taking among em-
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