MODULE 4: EFFECTIVE SAFETY COMMUNICATIONS

Here's what One Person had to say about positive and negative messages:

I find it intolerable riding to work with John, he is driving too fast and is talking on the %#$* phone all the time swerving from side to side and generally scaring us to death. I can't take it anymore and neither can the other guys. I'm going to call Brad and let him know what's going on. Next morning, I am wary that John will be angry with me when I load up my gear and climb in but he smiles at me and delivers us to the job on time and I actually slept on the way. Well that was easy, Brad did a good job of handling it and between us we stopped an activity that was potentially deadly to the crew and the company. Opening the mail the next day there is a thank-you note from Brad and he's treating me to a Big Mac to boot! We're a good team. I feel like he will listen to my observations and assessments of the situation and he trusts my judgment. I believe he will act upon my information in a thoughtful and assertive way. I feel he has my best interests at heart and those of the crew.

If I went to Jake with an observation or a report of a potential hazard and he tells me to mind my own business or is unresponsive to my report, I would be angry that he is unconcerned and he ignores me and the situation and lets it go by. It would be hard to tell him of anything else I see and the next time I might keep it to myself for all the good it does to tell him. He's not doing his job and I or someone else will pay the price. I can't work like this, I'm unhappy and resentful, and Jake's a Jerk.

Every time a supervisor appropriately recognizes an employee for safe work behaviors, it reinforces and makes that behavior more likely to occur in the future. It sends a very positive message, doesn't it. On the other hand, if a supervisor yells at you for "complaining," a very negative message is sent. But, I think the worst situation occurs when you are totally ignored by a supervisor. It sends a message that you are invisible, unimportant, and of little or no value. Ignoring others who are trying to communicate is the worst response possible.