1. Effective Safety Meetings
Juan Sanchez / Brent Hillard

2. What Is A Safety Meeting
A brief (15-20 minutes) discussion with employees about safety hazards that exist in their work environment. The goal of the meeting is to educate employees about the hazards so as to reduce or eliminate injuries

3. Purpose of Meetings Promote Safety Awareness : Motivation of employees
Sharing of ideas & suggestions
Discussion of safety standards
Establish communication
Demonstrates management’s concern for safety

4. Meeting Presenter Safety Meetings Can Be Conducted By Anyone Employee
Why is this so beneficial?
Supervisor
Plant Manager
Safety and Health Manager
Outside Speaker
Fire departments
Companies that supply safety equipment (Cintas)
OSHA / EPA

5. Attendance Strive for 100% Mandate attendance from all employees.
For absent employees - Make up missed information.
Upper management should be present for the safety meeting and take a participatory role.

6. Preparation Know the Topic:
Don’t let the meeting be the 1st time you looked at it.
Review, be the expert
Highlight some important areas
Be sure to check any visual aids, videos, hand-outs, etc. before the meeting begins.
Keep meetings brief and to the point.
Avoid reading to your employees

7. Be Specific – At Work, At Home.
Preparation
Be Specific – At Work, At Home.
If the topic doesn’t apply to your employees, choose something else - Do not pick too broad of a topic
Remember, safety isn’t just for the workplace; you may also address safety at home.

8. Preparation Meeting Set-Up Comfortable, non-distracting environment.
Find a restful location where workers can relax, sit and concentrate on the meeting
Eliminate Distractions (if possible)
Machinery
Compressors
Windows
Use Props or Visual Aids
Expired fire extinguishers
Flip charts
Unlabeled bottles (chemical or water)
Position Your Group
Seat people as you need to make the meeting effective

9. Execution – Your Time to Shine
Lead It, DON’T Read It!
Welcome your employees and thank them for their time and attention
Be specific about how it applies to the workplace
Encourage discussion with/among the employees
Share your personal stories and experiences and encourage employees to share theirs

10. Execution – Your Time to Shine
Ask, Don’t Tell
Never tell them something that they can tell you
Encourages involvement and ownership.

11. Execution – Your Time to Shine
Engage the Audience
Ask Open-Ended Questions
Avoid Yes and No
Avoid single word
Ask Reflective Questions
Stimulate listeners
What are their solutions
Be truthful
Questions
Research
More time

12. Execution – Your Time to Shine
Presentation Skills 101:
Eye Contact
Shift your focus frequently.
Project your Voice
Make sure they can hear you in the back.
Move Around (if possible)
Changes the focal point of the employees
Are they paying attention?
Body Language
Beware of yours and pay attention to theirs
Find the Friendly Faces
Who's buying in?
Helps engagement of others

13. Follow Through – Carry the Message back to the Floor
Ask for Feedback
On the topic.
On the meeting.
On how the employee will apply the information to their job.
WRITE SUGGESTIONS AND FEEDBACK DOWN! This lets your employees know that their feedback is important and will be taken into consideration.

14. Make sure the message has been received
Other Ideas
Make the topic personal
Family, personal experiences
Encourage employees to share stories
Call on individual employees
Mix it up, don’t call on the same person
Helps attentiveness and participation
Demonstrate
Acting, role playing, hands on demonstrations
Make sure the message has been received

15. Conclusion Tell your employees Thank your employees
They are the experts
They are unique
Compliment on safety efforts, be genuine
Thank your employees
Time and attention
Suggestions for next meeting

16. A Point to Remember People learn best by interacting with information:
Through discussion
Through hands-on experience
People remember:
20% of what they hear
30% of what they see
50% of what the hear & see
80% of what they hear, see, & experience

17. Questions?