Safety Training Tips - How to Motivate Your Employees

1. Build a Working Relationship with Your Employees
To earn your employees' respect and, with that, their attention, you have to show that you are concerned with and respect their well-being. Many workers assume that these safety precautions are implemented not for their well-being, but to save the company money. Additionally, workers see these safety precautions as slowing them down while working. Take their viewpoint into consideration and get your employees involved by asking them for their input on how you can reduce hazards without slowing down production.

2. Bribe Them
Yes, you read that correctly. Bribe them to safety training meetings by offering pizza and refreshments. Bring prizes or candy for those who answer questions correctly. You can offer a drawing at the end of the meeting for something that applies to the safety topic.

3. Offer Additional Incentives
Find a safety feature that is customizable, or that they can use outside of work, such as a steel-toed boot program or hardhats with their favorite team's logo on it. It's simple and it works.

4. Keep It Simple
Make training simple and somewhat enjoyable for all. No need to try and trick them with difficult test questions. Unless it's absolutely necessary (such as fork truck and respirator training), try and keep training to no more than an hour at a time.

5. Get Workers Involved
Create a safety inspection or safety improvement team and let them pick their own training material. You can even invite them to be guest speakers to offer their advice on a topic that pertains to their job. Apply the training to include their home or family's safety, such as proper ventilation while painting or using earplugs while mowing the lawn.

Engage your employees and keep their attention with entertaining safety training videos.