Safety Speaker Tips – Preparing For A Successful 2017 Safety Kickoff

First – Take Your Current Focus Up A Notch
Kick your current focus on safety up a notch. The best element of any safety kickoff is being able to celebrate success. This time of year it is easy for your safety team and workers to become complacent especially if your safety performance to date is outstanding. You and I know a good safety year is the result of skilled workers doing their job in a safe, professional and productive fashion. Unfortunately, when there have been few or no injuries at a site it is possible to create the illusion that, “it’s safe here.” As a safety speaker I remind people that the reality is the hazards and potential for injuries still exist. It is because of everyone doing what it takes to eliminate those hazards or protect against them that results in their safety.

The danger of this complacency is people may, “let their guard down.” Vigilance and persistence are critical when it comes to injury prevention. Make sure you remind people how much you appreciate the safety efforts they make every day. Remind them they are the reason the injury rate has dropped or is at zero.

Second – Involve Everyone
Involve as many people as possible in the preparation and carrying out of the safety kickoff activities. The best way to get people involved in safety is to give them a job. It doesn’t have to be anything big just make them part of the event. When I was the safety speaker at Steel Dynamics in Indiana I observed a good example of this. Each morning, a team came in to set up the cafeteria for the safety meeting. They would arrive right after the meeting and straighten everything up and get the room ready for lunch. Back that evening, they would prep the room for my presentation to the evening shift. They did attend one of the sessions I did during the week and I made it a point to share my appreciation for how they made the room better for everyone. I even stayed late one day and did some special magic tricks for them. I also pointed out their work made the presentation more effective and therefore was helping with the safety performance.

When I worked as an executive for the Boy Scouts back in 1976 I learned from Gwen Krogen, one of my volunteers, that it was critical every parent in a Cub Scout pack have a job. She made up a list of over fifty jobs so everyone could participate. I also learned the concept, “Never do something you could have someone else do.” It wasn’t about being lazy; it was about involvement and ownership. When you divide up all the tasks, attending the sign in table, setting up chairs, handing out materials, greeting people as they arrive, decorating the room, escorting guest speaker, and the list can go on and on, you include more people.

Everywhere I go I hear people wanting everyone to take ownership and responsibility for safety. People who are involved in any safety event or activity begin to take greater ownership. One of the best ways to increase safety ownership is to implement my, “Would You Watch Out For My Safety?® techniques. This can be done currently by having me come and do the training and also by giving copies of my book to your employees. (We are currently developing online eLearning resources for these injury preventing techniques).

Third – Prepare Your Team
This is a great time of year to give your leadership, safety team leaders and others the skills they need to succeed. Virtually no one in industry has been trained or educated in communication and presentation skills. Especially in the field of safety. For over 27 years I have been sharing skills in these areas. I have two presentations which deal with these subjects specifically. The Mastering Safety Communication is a one day class and the Dynamic Safety Meetings Institute is two to three days depending on your needs.

Mastering Safety Communication – One day course designed to help safety teams effectively convey any safety message they want to share. Communication skills honed and customized for safety. Safety speaker John Drebinger shares skills your team can use immediately.
For more information go to: https://www.drebinger.com/presentations/mastering-safety-communication-full-day-course-with-safety-speaker-john-drebinger/

Dynamic Safety Meetings Institute – A two to three day course that will give you, your leaders and your team the presentation skills you need to effectively reach your audience with an effective result getting message. Most professionals create great content yet they don’t get the results they are looking for. Presentation skills are the missing element. Safety speaker John Drebinger has more experience and skills than any of the other safety speakers available.

For more information go to:
https://www.drebinger.com/presentations/johns-safety-institute/

The Dynamic Safety Meetings Institute is available in an audio home study version. For more information on this go to: https://www.drebinger.com/shopping-cart/home-study-course/

Fourth – Reserve The Best Safety Speaker Now
Every year my Marketing Director Diane Weiss gets calls from people wanting me to speak at their event only to find I am already booked at another location. contact her now about one of the presentations listed below so you don’t miss out.

Would You Watch Out For My Safety?® (45 minutes to 1 hour)
Give your people the reasons why and the how to of watching out for each other. In one hour John will make it comfortable and easy for people to approach someone else to help them avoid an injury. For more information go to: http://www.drebinger.com/?p=348

Ensure Your Safety (45 minutes to 1 hour)
After this presentation your people will willingly take personal responsibility for their own safety and the safety of those around them. Shortcuts, personal protective equipment, and regaining safety focus are some of the outcomes of this great talk. For more information go to: https://www.drebinger.com/presentations/ensure-your-safety/

Safety as a Value (45 minutes to 1 hour)
When corporations, organizations, leaders and employees hold safety as a value rather than a priority injuries are prevented. In this presentation John shares how to make safety a personal value. For more information go to: https://www.drebinger.com/presentations/safety-as-a-value/

Safety for Effective Leaders (1.5  to 2 hours)
When your leadership is committed to safety production improves and people go home safe every day. Let John help your new and experienced leaders discover how safety can get people home to their family and improve your production.
For more information go to: https://www.drebinger.com/presentations/a-safety-mindset-for-effective-leaders/