No matter which industry you work in, communication is essential. No company ever profits from decreasing the amount or quality of communication in the workplace. How exactly can better communication improve safety in the workplace?
Communicating problems can be difficult for many employees, especially if they are caused by the employee’s mistake. Many adults would rather try to solve a minor issue on their own rather than inform a supervisor.
This can lead to bigger accidents occuring, possibly with no one around to help right away. Communicating errors, mistakes, and malfunctions is a significant step in maintaining a safer workplace.
The first step in on-the-job communication is training. Employers must effectively communicate all training and company information so that each employee is equipped with the knowledge required to accurately and safely perform the tasks assigned.
During training, employees must be made aware of all possible risks and hazards involved in the workplace, even if not directly related to their individual responsibilities. Knowledge is power, as they say, and knowing how to handle a potentially dangerous situation gives workers the potential to save lives.
You have to communicate openly. Don’t just tell employees what must be done; tell them why it must be done. Blindly following orders does not necessarily make the best employee. Employees will have a better understanding of the rules in place if they’re told why they’re in place—and they may even end up helping to alter or add to the rules.
With this open communication system, show that you’re willing to accept feedback and questions from anyone so that employees aren’t holding anything back. If they’re not afraid to ask questions and report issues, the workplace can be made safer for everyone.
On the Job
On-the-job communication helps employees to keep track of what’s going on all around them. By letting others know when a hazard is approaching or by requesting help with something, all other employees understand the safety information that accompanies the communication. Teamwork—especially safe teamwork—cannot work without effective and timely communication. Whether the information is urgent or just precautionary, communication on the job is perhaps the most critical type of communication with regards to safety.
There are many more reasons to improve communication in the workplace for the sake of safety, but we’ll leave you with these 3 for now. Consider these points to improve the overall safety in your workplace, and subscribe to our blog to receive more great information on safety and other workplace tips.