Safety Speaker Tip – Go Beyond Your Industry For Safety Insights

As a motivational safety speaker I have too often seen people develop tunnel vision when it comes to safety solutions and safety teaching and training.

When you only teach safety specific to a particular job, task, or industry you risk people missing the general safety principles. For example, when we talk about distracted drivers, which is important to do. We fail to discuss the underlying principle. That lesson is whenever you are doing a task in which lack of focus could result in an injury.  You must do your best to limit or eliminate distractions. The even larger issue is teaching people to increase their focus and how to regain focus when they have been distracted. My presentation “Ensure Your Safety” has an entire section dedicated to re-establishing focus. I also share how to take the message home to your family.

Single Industry Challenge

One challenge with industry – or task-specific safety lessons is someone can exempt themselves from the hazard. They do this because they are more experienced than everyone else. I suspect we have all done it. We begin to hear something and we believe we already know the information which is being shared and so we shut down and our minds drift to another topic.

With my 54 years of scouting experience, unless I am coaching an instructor, I will tune out a basic training module because I have already heard it or taught it myself.

When you teach a safety principle using an illustration which is not specific to your industry they are less likely to tune you out because they haven’t heard it before.

Reach Out To Others

As a motivational safety speaker I learn so much from so many sources. Contact fellow safety leaders from nearby companies. First, ask yourself what companies are near you? Second, have you met the safety team members at these nearby locations? If so, give them a call and invite them to your safety meetings and ask if you could visit theirs. If not, introduce yourself to them. Once you’ve met, arrange to visit their meetings. When you take the time to do this you are investing in your own safety knowledge. You will be thrilled with what you learn. Make a list of potential companies in your area and contact one per month.