The internet is full of outdated, incomplete, and even wrongheaded advice, and the news is full of dire predictions that the world is getting hotter and heat illness is getting more frequent. So what’s a concerned safety manager to do?

Maintaining safety in warehouses and factories always has to be a priority. First and foremost, company leaders have an ethical duty to protect workers operating in potentially hazardous conditions.

As with any complex workspace, a production floor comprises a host of different workers, each with their respective duties, types of expertise, and lines of reporting. Organization of work is essential, which is why every type of worker needs to be managed in some way. 

ISHN interviewed former ASSP President Mark Hansen at the Safety 2022 conference in Chicago, and Mark highly recommends reading the book, “Deep Work,” by Cal Newport and published in 2017.
 “Deep Work” does not directly address workplace safety, but its application is obvious.

The last two years have demonstrated the importance of prioritizing overall health and well-being — and how everyone’s personal and work life affect each other. With safety being the number one priority in construction, leaders in the industry should take the lessons learned to implement a holistic approach to safety, addressing both physical and psychological health.

Not only do employers and companies have a moral obligation to protect their workers and employees, but they also have a legal one. Under the Occupational Health and Safety Act of 1970, regulations regarding lone worker safety have been predominantly guided by two core standards.

Behavioral safety has had a significant impact on making the American workplace safer in recent years. Observing behaviors can help to identify unsafe acts and conditions and provide a tool to help correct both. 

There are many parallels between exceptional safety leadership and sports. It takes proper planning and execution to be a consistent winner. Great leadership is great leadership, regardless of the context. Here are some lessons learned from the sports world to improve your own safety leadership.