Communication is the act or process of using words, sounds, signs, or behaviors to express or exchange information or to express your ideas, thoughts, feelings, etc., to someone else. It is important that information is presented in a manner that recipients can understand and interpret. We also acknowledge that different approaches are required for different organizations and situations (e.g., access to computers, non-English speaking background) when sending out these information.
Vital and effective communication has been an integral part for our achieving an injury-free workplace/operation in TECHDaer. Most injuries are due, in part, to risky behaviors, yet employees often are reluctant to provide safety-related feedback to co-workers. We have been able to improve on our safety culture (and performance) by providing sound guidelines to improve safety-related communication, providing and receiving safety feedback more effectively and praising or appreciating employees that have been exhibited good safety-related behaviors. This is evident in the recent statistics of over 12 LTI -free years, recorded in TECHDAER across all her operations and HSE awards received from various clients in recent past for active participation in maintaining a safe working environment while on their location.
One of the most effective ways to improve a safety culture and prevent injuries is to optimize safety-related communication throughout an organization (Williams, 2003).
There are many examples of technical strategies for safety communication within TECHDaer. The most commonly used methods for both internal and external communication include; presentations to senior management, staff and HSE Committees, team meetings, emails, notice boards, newsletters, poster displays and signage, annual reports, publications, telephone enquiries, and submissions to government on changes to legislation, HSE mission statement, policy and strategic plan, STOP cards, HSE statistics, Safety induction, Risk assessment, Manuals, checklists and operating procedures, Hazards, incidents and near-misses, training, HSE Website, brochures, videos, safety Week, safety campaigns , HSE conferences etc.
Unfortunately, numerous obstacles or barriers can cause communication to break down. For instance; when too much information is being communicated all at once, when the message lacks clarity, when expectations are not clearly defined, when a safety message is communicated without taking the time to listen carefully to the response of employees or when employees’ concerns and priorities are not taken into account.
Failure to communicate safety information effectively can have serious negative consequences, including: Accidents, injuries, and illness, Lost workdays, reduced productivity and delays, risk-taking by employees, inability to comply with regulations, higher workers’ compensation and health insurance costs, damage to materials, equipment, or your facility (for example, in a workplace fire caused by carelessness or lack of knowledge), risks to community and environment (for example, in a release or improper disposal of hazardous chemicals), employees may feel left out and end up with bad feelings.
An employee’s perceptions about support for safety can strongly influence his or her willingness to speak up. Some common barriers to upward communication (feedback to management) include fear of retaliation, concerns that the communication will be filtered as it goes up the chain of command, perceptions that management is resistant to critical feedback, and fear of creating interpersonal conflict. These communication barriers, if unaddressed, can have a negative impact on information exchange, organizational learning, and ultimately safe performance.
In conclusion, we will continue to create an environment that is supportive, encouraging, and accepting of both positive and negative feedback, so employees will always feel free to speak up and this will also facilitate effective upward communication in the organization.