Tapping Employee Creativity

In order to tap into employees creativity, the safety and loss prevention professional should create an environment in which employees are empowered to express their creativity and possess the freedom to express that creativity without suffering any possible adverse consequences. Who knows the equipment and operations better than the employees who work with that equipment and operations on a daily basis But when was the last time we asked for their ideas and input as to better ways to perform the job and perform it in a safer manner, to improve quality, or any other aspects of the job ... 

Your employees are one of greatest sources of creativity and innovative ideas in the area of safety, health, environmental, and related areas if their creativity can be tapped. A strategy to entice employees to express their creativity and ideas must be developed in conjunction with an overall plan that takes into consideration the nature of the employer-employee relationship. Employees are often skeptical about expressing their wild ideas or discussing blue-sky concepts with management because of potential repercussions regarding their jobs, or they may even fear that the boss will think I m dumb. An atmosphere should be created in which employees are encouraged to express their ideas, no matter how far-fetched. 

Safety and health professionals should consider tapping the creativity of their employees in this important area of training and education. It is amazing the concepts that employees can develop if tasked and empowered to develop safety and health training and education programs. Some of the ideas developed by employees include the following ... 

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