Page 33 - OHS, April/May 2025
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Without a foundation of
psychological safety, even
the most well-intended safety
programs can fail to create
lasting change.
psychologically safe environment.
psychologically safe environment.
3. Measure success. Engagement surveys can help you assess
3. Measure success. Engagement surveys can help you assess
improvements in psychological safety. Keep an eye on physical
improvements in psychological safety. Keep an eye on physical
safety indicators, too. An increase in, say, incident or near-miss re-
safety indicators, too. An increase in, say, incident or near-miss re-
ports could actually be a sign that workers feel more comfortable
ports could actually be a sign that workers feel more comfortable
fl agging safety concerns.
When your safety eff orts focus on the psychological, you’ll fi nd
it easier to cultivate a workplace where employees don’t hesitate to
take action on critical safety matters.
Your Safety Culture Depends on Psychological Safety
Trust and comfort are powerful motivators in the workplace. With-
out it, even the most well-intentioned safety initiatives will fall fl at.
Th at’s why it’s so important to invest in fostering psychological
safety. What you’ll unlock: a culture where employees feel more secure,
engaged, and committed to the long-term safety of your team.
cal safety a fi xture of your safety program.
My advice for safety professionals? Consider these three tips:
1. Weave psychological safety into your safety education.
From toolbox talks to microlearning modules, look for ways to
educate workers about psychological safety and its importance.
2. Clearly connect the psychological to the physical. Make
sure workers understand how psychological safety directly infl u-
ences physical safety at work. Th is will make it easier to achieve
the team-wide understanding and buy-in you need to support a
Glorianna L. Reeser is a Senior Risk Management Consultant at
KPA. Reeser is among KPA’s team of environment, health, and safety
(EHS) risk management consultants who work with clients auditing
workplace conditions and safety pro-
grams, leading on-site EHS compliance
training and safety committee meetings,
and assisting with the management,
REFERENCES
1. tinyurl.com/yy35jf2j
2. tinyurl.com/2tev296k
tracking, and reporting of EHS issues.
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