Safety Speaker John Reminds Your Workers To Take Safety Home

As an international safety speaker, I often remind audiences more injuries occur off the job than at work. With all the focus we place on workplace safety, I think most people must not be aware of this fact. For many of my clients, their safety record is so good the safest part of their employees’ day begins when they go through the gate to work. There are several advantages of focusing on safety off the job. First is consistency. If you want people to use hearing protection it is important to teach them the real reasons why they would want to use this personal protective equipment (PPE). When I sell people on the real benefits of using their PPE they are more likely to do so when no one is watching and when they are off the job. If people are only doing a safe behavior because you are paying them and they are willing to comply with your rules, you haven’t given them enough reasons which benefit them. The best safety speakers will always make sure people have several reasons they should take any action you want. Safety motivational speakers will present a concept or an idea in several different contexts to make sure everyone can relate.

As a Safety Speaker I Remind Them Their Family Is Safer

One of the best reasons to use the same safety procedures and equipment at home is the workers’ children and loved ones learn to use the items also. If a child sees mom or dad using hearing protection when mowing the lawn it becomes natural to them. When working with tools, wearing gloves and safety glasses tell the people you love that safety is important to you. As much as we joke about kids, especially teenagers, not listening to their parents, your actions speak volumes and they will respond appropriately.

They Discover You Really Care

A second reason to focus on off the job safety is it sends the message you really care. As a safety speaker, I have interviewed hundreds if not thousands of employees. I have discovered some employees believe their employer is only concerned with the dollar cost of an injury and not the real safety of the employee. I know at least for my clients this isn’t true. However, perception is everything. If employees believe this they act accordingly. When you talk about safety at home or before vacation season they get the message you really care. At the location I just spoke today, at least one-third of my audience were wearing some form of hunting camouflage apparel. It would be outstanding to do a session on hunting safety before hunting season begins.

Your Company Is More Productive

I don’t know of any company who has more workers than they need. Today’s workforce is lean and if someone doesn’t show up for work because they were injured off the job your productivity is impacted. The injured, off the job worker may not be able to ever return to their specific job because of injuries. You lose your investment in their training and experience. Turnover is never good. On the darker side, some off the job injuries find their way into your workplace. I have heard stories of someone limping to work, then “twisting their ankle” on the job later that day. Instead of getting into an argument as to the legitimacy of the injury, why not just prevent it in the first place.

Safety Equipment To Loan

One of my earliest clients in California had a great idea. They had lockers of safety equipment which employees could check out to use at home. This way someone could use more expensive PPE when a special job at home called for it. Also, it made sure people didn’t borrow the same equipment off a truck so a crew wouldn’t have it the next day.

Bring Me To Your Site So I Can Share The Message of Off the Job Safety
I can add an element of off the job safety to any one of my employee presentations. Just let Diane Weiss, my marketing director, know and she will set it up for you. She can be reached at 209-745-9419. You can email her at diane@drebinger.com
Until next week,
I’ll be, “Watching Out For Everyone’s Safety™”
John
© 2015 John Drebinger Presentations
Permission to use granted when credited and contact information included. www.drebinger.com +1 209.745.9419

Remember Veterans Day is next week, Wednesday, November 11th. One great way to thank veterans for service to their country is to make sure they are safe on the job. They have served their country and put themselves between us and harms way. Now we need to keep them out of harms way here at home.

Start a personal tradition. For many years now, I have a Veterans Day ritual I observe. Next Wednesday, I will be calling three friends who are Veterans. I thank them for their service and making sure we were safe at home. Two of the three were in Vietnam and if you are too young to remember, soldiers of that era did not receive the proper respect when they returned home. Take a moment next week to thank any friends you have who have served.

Thank each and every subscriber who is a Veteran. I know my freedom exists because of your bravery and dedication. Thank you very much. Be safe and may God bless you.