At first glance, it seems counterintuitive that enforcing strong health and safety policies makes personnel feel valued and respected.

Enforcing rules on people, even when in their best interest, can easily make them feel disvalued or disrespected. Enforcement, by definition, implies that you don't trust people with upholding those rules of their own accord. Yet there a caveat to this.

Health and safety policies exist to keep the company, its assets, and its personnel safe from accident, damage, or malfunction. But if you enforce these policies, will that purpose get lost behind a veil of authority?

Unfortunately, it's all-too-common for personnel to look at health and safety procedures as an inconvenient chore that's done just because “the boss says so.” In their minds, these protocols do nothing more than eat up their time.

Enforcement Means Commitment

Research has shown that workplace satisfaction is related to well-being, which of course includes being healthy and safe. That’s why health and safety policies and procedures should boost morale (and therefore productivity) rather than lowering it due to a feeling of annoyance.

In the end, the reason why personnel may look at safety procedures as an extra chore is a failure of top-down communication. Leaders need to do more than enforce; they need to educate employees about the importance of health and safety in the workplace. And the enforcement aspect should be framed as the company's commitment to safety.

The goal is for personnel to view health and safety policies and procedures, and their enforcement, as an indication of a company’s strong commitment to everyone's well-being—a commitment that shows that a company cares about its people.

This simple change in perspective is all it takes for personnel to look at these health and safety protocols differently. Instead of complaining about having to do regular audits and inspections, they will actively look for potential hazards, pinpoint trouble areas, and even uncover solutions to mediate problems. 

Takeaway

Implementation of rules won’t necessarily change worker behavior. But if management is genuinely committed to health and safety and consistently sends the message that policies and procedures are for personnel’s well-being more than anything else, personnel will be more than willing to take the few extra minutes to do audit/inspection checks without complaining about it.

The Checker Software will help them follow these protocols much faster and more efficiently than ever before.