In our first post on developing an ideal safety culture, we talked about how it all starts with leadership and eliminating the "Don't" mentality — starting at the top of the industrial company and working down. The next step is to talk about the behaviors of your workers. 

This is not a post about trying to change their at-risk behaviors... mainly because it is not practical. 

Think of it this way — if you see a piece of trash on the floor, you're going to bend over and pick it up instead of squatting down. You won't even think about it; you'll just bend your back and grab it. You even know you're not supposed to do that.  

Why? You're human! You'll almost always go with what is easiest, quickest, convenient, and comfortable. 

And the workers in your facility will practice the same bad behaviors, no matter how many times you try to prevent them because it's what is easy. But every industrial setting needs humans—no matter how much automation is involved—to maintain productivity and ensure quality.

There will always be risks and risky behaviors because you cannot eliminate all the hazards and over-engineer all the controls. 

So the answer is to do... nothing? 
The first step for any company is most certainly to eliminate as many of the hazards as possible. Most companies that care about their employees have already done this or are working on it.

• Can certain chemicals in a facility be eliminated or substituted?
• Can a process be automated to remove the human element?
• If a hazardous material is required, can the people be absent whenever the hazard is present?
• Can only authorized workers unlock the controls to the equipment?

The next step is to offer an analysis of worker behavior. Since every worker on your floor is different — with different cultural upbringings, mindsets, and habits — it is vital to implement a system that is customized and personalized. 

For example, a company that specializes in ergonomic evaluations could review each employees at-risk behavior and discover all the habits that have lead up to this point in their lives. They could then offer corrective actions to based on their reasons and slowly institute new habits. 

Like ways to stop you from bending over to pick up the trash on the floor. 

Here's your answer
The ergonomics evaluation won't eliminate all bad behaviors because, well... like I said... we're all humans. But giving workers a personalized and customized assessment and recommendations will do more than posting warning signs and holding safety meetings.  

By showing employees new ways to complete a process — whether it's how to pick up a box or function on an assembly line — that is easier, faster, and less stressful then you'll be helping them form new habits. 

And because people are people, you'll still have strains and pains caused by their work. Ergonomic experts or, as we like to call them, industrial athletic trainers can help them strengthen those back muscles and stretch their shoulders. They can also recommend treatments and follow-up with care advice when those injuries become worse. 

Because you can't remove humans from the equation — be sure to bring in humans who can help prevent and triage injuries and provide ergonomic advice. 

That is your next big step in creating an ideal safety culture. 

Read PART 2 of creating your ideal safety culture!