Forest Resources Association: Loss Control Overviews

Loss Control Overviews Online
Southwide Safety Committee
Forest Resources Association Inc.

ENHANCING SAFETY THROUGH FEEDBACK TO EMPLOYEES
Number 29

Reviewed February 22, 2004

Communicating with employees through feedback is vital to correct unsafe behavior and to make safety a habit. The lack of feedback may send the message that performing a task unsafely is okay.

Following are tips for providing constructive feedback:

Feedback can be unspoken as well as spoken. Remember, motions, gestures, and facial expressions send messages to employees, both positive and negative.
Employees respond to and often appreciate feedback that is given constructively and in a non-threatening manner.
Look for opportunities to provide positive feedback, such as praising safe performance. Positive feedback is more likely to result in permanent change.
Do not make an example of employees' improper actions by singling out offending employees and disciplining them in front of their peers.
Feedback to correct an unsafe act should be immediate and conducted one-on-one with the employee.
Communicate your expectations to your employees. Otherwise they cannot be held accountable for actions that are contrary to your wishes.

Your goal is to correct your employees' behavior and to make performing work tasks safely a habit. Without proper feedback, employees generally learn by consequence. Learning by consequence often times reinforces unsafe behavior. Be careful not to reward unsafe behavior for production's sake.

Forest Resources Association Inc.
600 Jefferson Plaza, Suite 350, Rockville, Maryland 20852
Phone: (301) 838-9385 Fax: (301) 838-9481