Science suggests that it takes time for a repeated action to become a habit. Some research says you can develop a habit in just 21 days, while other research says that it takes more than 100 days for an action to become a habit. Whether you do it in 3 weeks or 3 months, if you talk about safety with your crew every day, safety will become a topic that they think about habitually.
Here are some ideas to help you make safety less of a chore and more of a habit.
Put it in your calendar. If you have “Safety Training” in your calendar every day, you’re more likely to get it done. You can enter “Safety Training” into the calendar on your phone or computer, or, if you prefer analog record keeping, you can write “Safety Moment” at the top of each page of your Daily Log Book. If you need a Daily Log, you can order one here.
Tell your team that you’re creating a safety streak. Rather than posting one of those signs that says “X number of days since we’ve had an accident” post a sign that celebrates how often you all discuss safety. People respond to positive reinforcement. And nobody likes to break a streak!
Turn downtime into a safety training opportunity. You and your crew are often kept waiting because deliveries or other contractors are behind schedule. You can turn that idle time into accident-prevention time, and we can help. Click here to find out more about our S.A.F.E. Cards®. They make safety moments and on-the-spot safety training quick and easy. Just select a card from the deck, and you’ll have all the information you need to have a short, effective discussion about a hazard or behavior that’s relevant to the work you’re doing today.
However you choose to do it, the way to build a habit is by using the tool of consistency. See if you can discuss safety on your jobsite every day, at least briefly. Engaging with your crew about safety frequently and consistently will help everyone to develop the good habit of safety!