How To Get Employees Involved in Promoting Health and Safety

The answer to this question will vary from organisation to organisation and id dependent on the culture, resources and managerial commitment in the organisation. Here are a few valuable insights provided by some industry experts.

Provide Resources and Training

When staff use the knowledge they have of their working environment, they can better understand the kinds of things that can put people at risk of accidents and injuries. In order to make appropriate changes to the health and safety regime in any organisation, its employees need skills delivered by appropriate health and safety training programmes, cooperation from fellow employees and the backing of senior management.

The Importance of Health and Safety Training

In order for employees to properly take ownership of the health and safety improvement process in their organisation, they need to be provided with in depth health and safety training and ongoing coaching. So proper levels of training and education need to be provided together with other resources and most important of all operational authority, in order to change working practices.



Therefore, it is of the utmost importance that training is focussed on the essential principles of developing a safe workplace culture. If health and safety responsible employees utilise this approach, they will be able to stimulate the required levels of internal commitment, accountability and responsibility to really improve workplace health and safety. Ensure that all company employees are involved in the health and safety improvement process.



Get input into things like machinery protection, use of personal protective equipment and all other processes that can impact on their personal wellbeing and safety. This can be achieved by creating a “health and safety action team” which comprises representatives from shop floor, office staff and management personnel. The team can be facilitated by a health and safety professional but are not responsible to them.

Health and Safety Champions

All members of the action team must be allocated individual responsibilities. This could range from workplace inspection, problem solving, training delivery and coordination and employee communications. This last aspect is vital in order to ensure that an effective health and safety culture is developed throughout an organisation and that shared values and improvements in health and safety are recognised and rewarded.

Free Health and Safety Speaking Is Vital!

A positive health and safety training program and culture actively encourages direct overt feedback regarding potential risks in the workplace. Therefore, it is vital that all employees who do come forward with suggestions and complaints are not ridiculed or subjected to reprisals. Their voices must be protected because employees who are likely to be impacted by health and safety risks are the one who should have the greatest say in their mitigation. One idea that can help in this regard is the creation of a nominated day of the month when employees can create awareness of a potential health and safety problem without fear of ridicule and reprisals. Employees who are encouraged by management backing for such an initiative are more likely to be forthcoming and safety hazards can be addressed in a positive manner with remedies proposed and implemented as appropriate.