Safety Motivational Speakers – Are You Saying, “Accidents Happen”?
Safety Motivational Speakers – Watch What You Are Saying
When Did You First Realize The Importance Of Safety?
As a safety speaker, I like to ask managers who have safety as a personal value, when they first realized the importance of safety. One of my favorite responses was told to me by a very successful and young (for his position) manager. He told me that early in his career he was the night shift supervisor in a manufacturing plant. The injury rate there was high. Nothing major but people were being injured on a regular basis.
Your Beliefs Limit Your Thinking
The plant manager decided this had to change. He called the day and night shift supervisors to individual meetings to discuss safety. Neither one knew about the other meeting or the subject of the meeting. The day shift manager showed up and was asked by the plant manager what he thought about the injury rate and safety. His answer was, “Accidents happen.” The plant manager asked him if he really believed that and the answer was yes. The boss said thanks and told him they would pay him for two months so he could find a new job but today was his last day there.
The plant manager knew if you had the belief that accidents just happen you would be incapable of improving safety performance. It also isn’t good from a leadership perspective. No manager worth their salary would believe “production just happens.”
My client showed up and was asked the same question. His answer was, “I think we are hurting too many people.” That was the right answer. He immediately received a promotion and a raise. Are you one of those safety motivational speakers who use the wrong phrase?
Changing The “Accidents Happen” Mindset
When I speak to leaders, I overcome the, “accidents happen,” mindset by showing case after case of high productivity sites with very low incident rates. When possible I show them within their own company.
I also illustrate how two different sites within the same company can have different safety results. If “accidents happen,” was the way the world worked you would expect the same injury rate. I ask, “How is it that site X has a better safety record than you and also is more profitable.
This positive approach has a much better result than trying to scare someone into valuing safety.
Solutions For Your Safety Challenges
When you need solutions for your safety challenges give Diane Weiss a call at 209-745-9419 and bring John to your site to discover injury preventing solutions. You can email her at diane@drebinger.com
Until next week,
I’ll be, “Watching Out For Everyone’s Safety™”
John
© 2017 John Drebinger Presentations
Permission to use granted when credited and contact information included. www.drebinger.com +1 209.745.9419
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