Principle of Safety Participation

Safety motivation increases in proportion to the amount of participation of the people involved. 

Safety involves all people, and safety activities should involve all people. Employees should be informed of the facts at all times and should be asked to give input and suggestions on aspects of safety that directly or indirectly concern them. 

A near miss incident reporting system levels the playing field and employees and managers at all levels can contribute to the system by reporting near miss incidents. Since the attaching of their names to the reports is optional, they are afforded some security in the anonymity of reporting. Many who have never partaken in the safety system events can now become active manbers without fear of repercussions or reprimand. 

Mark Friend (2012) lists four tactics to encourage employee involvement in the safety culture shift  

Encourage employees at every level of the organization to participate in safety and safety processes. This occurs in numerous ways. Examples include  

Ask for their opinions and attempt to respond to as much input as possible. Employees should be in on anticipated changes and should not feel surprised as attempts to make shifts in culture are initiated. 

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