| How often do you hear that we need to change our safety culture? Are you skeptical that it can be done? Well, don’t despair. We have seen many cultural changes over recent years. The one that comes to my mind is our attitude toward cigarettes and smoking. We have had a huge change in beliefs in this one area alone. I am 51 years old and I remember in elementary school every kid made his or her mom a special present each year for Mother’s Day. Can you guess what we made each year? Well, if you guessed ashtray you would be right. I even remember in Eighth Grade Metal Shop we made an ashtray as one of our projects. Can you imagine the uproar today if a teacher sent children home with such a project? That change has happened because people’s beliefs can be changed.
Have you seen this happen recently? Sure you have, remember when comedians like Foster Brooks did a routine as a drunk and we considered it funny? It took less than a decade for groups like Mothers Against Drunk Driving to change the culture into looking down on those who drink and drive. I wonder how long it will take for us to change the safety culture of the nation? Well the good news is we are on the way. Are we there yet? No, but it is important to realize that such a change is possible.
Unsafe behavior is still accepted by many people in the workplace. What we need to do is continually remind people in many ways that taking unnecessary risks is unacceptable. Just as unacceptable as sacrificing product quality.
Have you noticed the latest anti-drug advertisements? They have pictures of people who appear to be “recreational” drug users. They, then either have the drug user explain how they helped fund a terrorist attack or they ask the question, “Do you know where terrorists get the money to buy their weapons of mass destruction?” This is the beginning of changing the cultural belief that drugs don’t harm anyone.
The great thing about this is that it uses one of the best tools for changing a belief, asking questions. Challenging a cultural belief head-on is not the most effective approach. Asking questions causes the person to begin to question their belief on their own.
Unsafe behavior is similar. In some workplaces certain behaviors would not ever be allowed yet in others they are. I wonder how many peoples lives will be changed by asking the right questions? Do you want to learn more?I wonder how many people you could reach if your safety meetings were more effective? I wonder how many beliefs you could change if you learned to ask the right questions? Do you wonder how you could learn all this. Well, I wonder if attending this year’s “Dynamic Safety Meetings Institute” would help you achieve this? Well, if you wonder the same thing please go to:
http://www.drebinger.com/page/page26.html for more information or call
Sandie Gilbert at: 209-747-2770.
Yours in Service,
John Drebinger, C.Ht., CSP (Certified Speaking Professional)
For more information call our Institute Director, Sandie Gilbert at 209-747-2770 or call our office at 800-745-9419.
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Reprinted with permission from:
Dynamic Safety Meetings Newsletter
Copyright John Drebinger 2002
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