At the heart of any great safety culture is behaviour: the things people do. But these behaviours don’t just happen. They’re influenced by leaders and the working environment they create and reinforced by habits.
Behavioural science indicates that when we do something consistently and positively, it becomes second nature.
In the manufacturing and processing industries, this means making sure work environments and routines make safe behaviours easy and natural choices. Routines like pre-shift meetings, wearing the right personal protective equipment and isolation procedures.
Positive psychology also shows us that it’s important to focus on what makes people motivated. When leaders create an environment where employees feel valued, empowered and safe, they’re more likely to do their best work.
Recognising great work, encouraging and genuinely appreciating safe behaviour can go a long way in changing things for the long term, and helps balance the need the robust procedures.
Leadership is the key. The way leaders act and think sets the tone for the whole company. If leaders show a real commitment to safety, have open conversations, and care about their employees, it shows that safety is not just a rule, but a core value. Leaders who model these behaviours inspire trust and accountability across their teams.
Positive behaviour-driven cultures are not only safer, but they’re also more productive, resilient and adaptable. Employees who work in psychologically safe environments are more likely to speak up, report near misses and share ideas for improvement. This not only improves safety but also boosts operational excellence.
This World Health & Safety Day, let’s complement our focus on procedures and policies to the human aspect of safety. By applying the principles of habit formation and positive psychology, we can create a culture where safety is embedded in every action, decision and interaction.
This doesn’t just prevent accidents, it creates workplaces where people can flourish.