Issue link: http://psai.uberflip.com/i/1187254
WEEKLY EDITION AUGUST 28, 2019 Building a Culture of Safety Part II: Co mm un i cat io n By Karleen Kos, PSAI Executive Director • The only true measurement of whether or not a safety meeting was a success or not is if the materials provided were presented in such a way that the employees and other attendees were able to retain the information provided, and implement these tactics into their everyday work habits. • Conducting a successful and interesting safety meeting takes planning on the part of the individual in charge. Simply reading safety procedures from a manual is not the best way to maintain a captive audience. • Most individuals only retain 10% of what they hear or read. If this is true, then your safety meeting has to have some definite bells and whistles involved in order for you to achieve the intended results. Here are some tips for a well run safety meeting: Ø Do create the ideal atmosphere: A successful meeting may require more than just chairs and a speaker or leader. Think about the equipment and materials you will need. Ø If participation is expected (and it should be), seating is important: The use of round tables works best. If only chairs are involved, arranging them in a U-shape allows all to interact without anyone being able to slink into the back row to avoid interaction. Ø Comfort: Be sure the meeting room is a comfortable temperature and the lighting is proper. These factors have been proven to help learning and retention. Ø Taking notes: Assign someone to take notes or minutes during the meeting. Consider also using a tape or digital recorder to ensure accuracy. Ø Add some spice: Games, activities, and contests that promote interactive participation can make a dull subject come to life. Audiovisual aids, such as DVDs, Power Point presentations, or slides can add a level of interest that will cause more of the information to be committed to memory. Don't use outdated slides or training materials that are obviously from another time period. Upbeat, current videos and presentations will hold the interest of all involved. You can find a lot of resources online, and many are free. PAGE 10 CONTINUED ON PAGE 11