What are some things that employers can do to help encourage situational awareness?
Minimize distractions and multitasking. A workplace can never fully eliminate distractions. However, workplace distractions that pose the greatest risks can be minimized, or even eliminated, with the right steps. Avoiding multitasking can help employees stay focused on the task at hand, reducing the overall risk of injury on the job.
Make sure your leadership team is engaged. Safety culture begins from the top down. When company leaders model and encourage safe behavior, the trickle-down effect can be seen at all levels.
Ensure supervisor accessibility. Encourage a culture of employees being empowered to let supervisors know when something feels “off,” and allow them the autonomy to stop the task at hand, safely remove hazardous obstacles, and report the information accordingly if needed.
Implement daily huddles and check-ins. Supervisors should meet briefly with their teams prior to the start of each shift to review and communicate plans for the day, any issues, discuss safety and any other current issues that might lead to distractions or injuries.
Conduct comprehensive training. When employees are properly trained, injuries and accidents are less likely to occur. Situational training gives a very strong, clear message about safety, its overall importance, and how safety is implemented in that employee’s particular work area.