One of the most important roles that supervision has is health and safety coaching. You don’t want to be a safety cop but sometimes you have to coach people into the desired behaviors which enhance your effectiveness as a supervisor and also the health and safety system at your company. 

So when you have a coaching session approach the worker: 

  • Gain his/her attention and don’t use judgmental or subjective statements. Don’t say, “Hey, Al you have done something really stupid.” That makes him defensive and upset and they won’t listen. All their energy is focused on rebutting your casual and cruel remarks. Coaches are not cruel. Coaches give constructive criticism. So explain the need for corrective feedback. “I notice that you were standing on the top step of the ladder. Were you aware that you are only supposed to stand on the steps that are not the top of the ladder, or the second to the top as that is unsafe? It destabilizes the ladder.”
  • Use neutral terms.
  • Stick to the facts.
  • Say what you have observed or what you see.
  • Don’t delve into what you think they should do in terms of subjective items.
  • Let the worker give his/her view of the situation.
  • Listen attentively.
  • Seek to understand as Steve Covey says.
  • Show body language that shows you are listening. Lean forward, look them in the eye, or just say, “Can you get a little closer I can’t hear you over the noise.”
  • Remember to restate the employee’s message, their point of view. Check often to ensure that you heard correctly. Ask open-ended questions if you are not sure. “So tell me why you did this so I can understand and perhaps we can come to an agreement on what needs to be done or whether you need new ladders that are taller or more effective for the job.”
  • Never meet hostility with hostility.
  • Seek to diffuse situations.
  • Emphasize with the employee’s outlook and view wherever possible and seek areas of mutual agreement on the need for improvement.
  • Discuss potential actions. “Here is what we can do. We can get a taller stepladder,” or select an action plan for corrective actions, “I will get maintenance to look into getting ladders that are taller and more effective for the job because the other ladder that you used is broken so we will get that repaired.”
  • Summarize a plan for corrective actions. “So we have agreed you are not going to stand on the top step of the ladder because it is unsafe and it might hurt you and I want you to get home to your family in one piece. So we are going to talk to the maintenance department and get a ladder that is more appropriate for the task or we will get a scissor-lift which eliminates the need for the ladder.”
  • Seek commitment for the plan and hold them accountable for actually doing it. “So you have agreed this is what we will do so why don’t we go over there and do it now and I will check up with you in about half-an-hour to an hour to make sure that you have done it. Alright? So thank you for your time. I appreciate your cooperation. Take care. Safety matters because you matter.”