The Occupational Safety and Health Administration says talking to workers is a crucial part of finding and fixing hazards. However, if you truly want to improve workplace safety, it is important the conversations are effective, according to Safety+Health magazine.
OSHA promotes the following “COIN” method when having safety conversations.
- Connect with the worker. Work to establish common ground with the worker by asking questions such as, “Can we agree we both care about safety?” or “My family expects me to work safely so I come home in one piece. Do you have a family?”
- Observe. Be specific when acknowledging the unsafe behavior being observed. For example, point out that a worker is not wearing eye protection and ask why.
- Impact. Explain the consequences of the unsafe action to the worker. If a worker is not wearing eye protection, you could say, “You could get something in your eye and need to go to the emergency room.”
- Next steps. Create an action plan with the worker to help him or her change the unsafe behavior. Why is the worker not wearing eye protection? Is it the fit or comfort level? Once you learn the why, discuss the steps that should be taken to improve safety, such as finding a type of eyewear that fits better.
