What makes the following workplace communication mistakes particularly sloppy is that they provide enormous returns if you get them right and just make a mockery of your whole workplace safety communication strategy (you do have one, don't you?) when they are done incorrectly.
So stop being sloppy, and make sure you're not making any of these common workplace safety communication errors:
1. Showing photos of people doing stuff the wrong way - Due to the funny way our mind works, people remember what we see. So if you show someone lifting a box the wrong way, guess what you're teaching them? Show people the right way. Putting big red marks across a poor lift is just lazy communication. Showing people what not to do, doesn't help them with what to do. Help people understand what they are meant to do, by showing them what to do.
2. Writing wordy training manuals - Do you really think anyone wants to read through 11 pages of your rules about isolations when it reads like it's been written by a lawyer? Avoid getting committees to write regulations for procedures and then believe that's good enough for training. It just smacks of a company wanting to protect itself, rather than provide advice on how to say, do an isolation correctly. Use clear English, explain with photos or videos liberally and give people steps on how to do things that can be read out to a child. You know you've got a well written training manual when an eight year old child can read it (and understand).
4. Using boring photos or videos of equipment - People love looking at other people. Have you ever taken holiday photos of a beautiful landscape, only to find the beautiful landscape looks better with someone in it? When taking photos or videos of your equipment or processes, ensure staff are featured. And try and show their face. It's also much more effective to include photos in your posters that have a face. Avoid plain text and a drawing.
If you're making any of these workplace safety communication mistakes, shhh...we won't tell anyone...as long as you promise to go fix it. These are easy mistakes to make, but luckily, they are also fairly easy to remedy. And whether you have a fledgling workplace safety communication strategy or a robust one, fixing these mistakes is a guaranteed way to start getting the attention of staff and contractors.
Photo Credit: Flickr, opensourceway (mistakes) and Squeezyboy (horseplay)