EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATIONS LOUISE BREAREY – PRINCIPAL ADVISOR WORKSAFE NZ.

EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATIONS

LOUISE BREAREY – PRINCIPAL ADVISOR

WORKSAFE NZ

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EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION

• Communication and Health and Safety Culture

• Theory• Communication and new

legislation• Examples • Lessons

DECEMBER 2014WORKSAFE NEW ZEALAND

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WHY IS COMMUNICATION IMPORTANT?

High performing organisations have •A positive health and safety culture – not a blame culture•Leaders who demonstrate commitment•Engaged workers•Learning Culture•Effective risk management

DECEMBER 2014WORKSAFE NEW ZEALAND

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CONDITIONS FOR SUCCESS

• Respect• Trust• Open• Empowered• Clarity• Assuredhttp://learninglegacy.independent.gov.uk/

publications/pre-conditioning-for-success-analysis-of-human-and-organ.php

DECEMBER 2014WORKSAFE NEW ZEALAND

WORKSAFE NEW ZEALAND 5DECEMBER 2014

COMMUNICATIONS – PART OF THE SOLUTION

• BUT alone will not manage health and safety

• Needs to be part of how health safety is managed

http://learninglegacy.independent.gov.uk/publications/communication-and-action-for-a-safer-london-2012-olympic.php• Human beings will make mistakes –

telling them not to doesn’t work

WORKSAFE NEW ZEALAND 6DECEMBER 2014

NEW HEALTH AND SAFETY ACT 2015

Primary Duty of Care (s36) - information, training instructionSame Duty (s34) - Consult, co-operate with and co-ordinate Designers, Manufacturers, Importers, Suppliers, Installers, Constructors, Commissioners (s39-43)Officers (s44)Worker engagement, participation and representation (Part 3)

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AVOID THIS RISK – NOT EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION

DECEMBER 2014WORKSAFE NEW ZEALAND

WORKSAFE NEW ZEALAND 8DECEMBER 2014

DESIGNERS - CONSTRUCTION

WORKSAFE NEW ZEALAND 9DECEMBER 2014

BIM – FOR CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS

WORKSAFE NEW ZEALAND 10DECEMBER 2014

EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION WITH WORKERS

• Clear message• Why as well as what• Fresh – keep updating• Specific• Usually positive• Consistent

WORKSAFE NEW ZEALAND 11DECEMBER 2014

HOW TO COMMUNICATE

• Not just written• Face to face often best• Suitable for the audience - language, content and media • Always seek feedback• Use multi channels• New media

WORKSAFE NEW ZEALAND 12DECEMBER 2014

EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION

• Two way – listening- You said – we listened

• Report back – Coloured Boards, Committees, personally

• Need communication skills• Tone – vary it• Body language (93% when delivering a

verbal message)• Actions – particularly leaders

- conversations- availability

WORKSAFE NEW ZEALAND 13DECEMBER 2014

GUIDING RULES

1. Simplify, simplify, simplify

2. Always put yourselves in the end-user’s shoes

3. Make it engaging and appealing

4. Keep it ‘short and sweet’

5. Focus on excellent basics (but provide onward direction for more)

WORKSAFE NEW ZEALAND 14DECEMBER 2014

EXAMPLES

• Inductions – site specific in construction

• Videos of how to do a task – what good looks like

• Visual methods/task analysis• SOPs with symbols and pictures• Posters• Celebrate success

WORKSAFE NEW ZEALAND 15DECEMBER 2014

VISUAL STANDARDS

WORKSAFE NEW ZEALAND 16DECEMBER 2014

VISUAL STANDARDS – REDEFINE THE NORMS

• Single topic• Limited text• Pictures speak for themselves• Positive branded • Used by all contractors on site• Prioritised topics• Used by everyone (assurance,

directors, supervisors etc)http://learninglegacy.independent.gov.uk/publications/benefits-of-using-visual-standards.php

‘Tool Box Talks’…

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WORKSAFE NEW ZEALAND 18DECEMBER 2014

DAILY ACTIVITY BRIEFINGS

• Brief, but don’t rush• Open questions test understanding• Have the right equipment – white board• Summarise key points - handouts• Benefits beyond health and safety

http://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/lwit/assets/downloads/communications-toolbox-talks.pdf

WORKSAFE NEW ZEALAND 19DECEMBER 2014

POSITIVE MESSAGES

WORKSAFE NEW ZEALAND 20DECEMBER 2014

CELEBRATE SUCCESS

WORKSAFE NEW ZEALAND 21DECEMBER 2014

EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION – OUTCOMES AND BENEFITS

• Teamwork• Honest feedback • Information flows • Buy in • Innovation• Value• Efficiency gains

http://learninglegacy.independent.gov.uk/publications/communication-and-action-for-a-safer-london-2012-olympic.php

WORKSAFE NEW ZEALAND 22DECEMBER 2014

MY EXPERIENCE – INDICATORS COMMUNICATION NEEDS TO IMPROVE

Rules posted, but clearly not followedMainly negative – don’t messagesH&S minutes trivial mattersWorkers told, no role in decisionsAccident reports that blame employeesNear miss/hazard reporting system not usedCommunications one wayBriefings are endured - boringUnsafe behaviours not challenged

Effective?

WORKSAFE NEW ZEALAND 24DECEMBER 2014

SUMMARY

• Keep it simple• What good looks like• Variety of channels - consistent• Check understanding/effectiveness• Requires skills• Benefits beyond health and safety