Structuring the Motivational Environment

It takes some degree of organization and commitment to structure an environment where workers will be motivated to perform their work in a safe and healthy manner. The safety and health environment must have a foundation. A written safety and health program is the key component in providing and structuring that foundation. This written program should set the tone for safety and health within the work environment. 

There are some keys to motivating safety and health. A listing of than is as follows  

you must explain and clarify the safety and health performance expectations. You cannot assume that workers know what is expected of them unless you teU them. You must make sure that your expectations are concise and consistent. If you want your workplace to be the safest in your industry, then yon mnst not deviate from what you expect. Tell people how you hope to achieve your expectations and do not fail to ask for advice on how to attain these expectations from everyone in your workforce. Always remember that people have a definite need to know. They certainly like to know what is going on. 

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY MANAGEMENT A PRACTICAL APPROACH 

The key, which has been discussed earlier, is involvement. We should make every effort to involve workers who have a vested interest and invest their energy toward the outcome of a safe and healthy workplace. There are many ways to involve workers in the safety and health initiative. These range from participation in a safety and health committee to conducting inspections. This involvement needs to be nurtured and recognized. When our contributions are supported and recognized, it has a positive effect on our behavior and thus we are more motivated. You may need to be highly creative in finding ways to get workers involved. 

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The way you structure the motivational environment will allow individuals within the work groups to accomplish safety and health goals and assure that they are free from injury and illness. What you need to do is set up an environment where people can be successful. And, in order for that enviromnent and the people within it to succeed, you must demonstrate that you genuinely care about them and the purpose of the mission (goals) they are trying to attain, which in this case is a safe and healthy workplace. 

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