This article is the first in a three-part series on safety self-management. Next month, Dr. Geller describes 10 techniques to increase personal responsibility. In August, he discusses the use of imagery to improve safe behaviors.

Have you ever thought about how safety-related conversations often resemble an adult-child confrontation? One person holds another accountable for at-risk behavior, as in: "I saw what you did." Safety then becomes a 'gotcha' game, one that is reinforced by corporate rules and OSHA regulations. This heavy-handed approach only diminishes an employee's feelings of empowerment, importance, belonging and interpersonal trust. It's exactly the opposite of what is needed to encourage and support safety.