As I was growing up, my Papa would sit me down to discuss reality, philosophies and other aspects of life. He would often pose questions that forced me to think through to a conclusion.

It’s no secret that when workers and management value safety, there tend to be fewer hazardous work practices on the jobsite. But are safety managers doing all they can to make that happen?

As safety professionals, we all know the difference between the safety performance of workers under a safety-oriented supervisor and workers under a supervisor that does not push safety.

Eliminate or reduce any safety vs. productivity conflicts. Adopt and enact the philosophy and vision that ‘safe production is the number one priority’. Develop a safety partnership between management and employees. Actively involve employees in the safety improvement effort in meaningful ways.

One of the changes in the nature of workplace safety work happens to be the nature of conversations revolving around safety. Back in the day when safety was largely a policing job with a heavy emphasis on rules and discipline, conversations between the safety manager and an employee tended to be short and direct.