Do safety Communication campaigns reduce injuries in your solar construction company? 5 things that you can do right now, that works

For Safety Communication Campaigns to impact

There are three key things of a campaign that HAVE to occur:

1. Seen & heard

2. Understood

3. Acted upon

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What we mean by “safety communication campaigns”.

Typical examples are Goal Zero campaigns, it is a verbal written message that is general or specific it is NOT specific control message. E.g. Safety promotion e.g. Safety month or day. It could be a poster that shows the consequences of not being safe…

They key question here is how much can we affect safety by just communicating?

For Safety Communication Campaigns to impact

There are three key things of a campaign that HAVE to occur:

1.    Seen & heard

2.    Understood

3.    Acted upon

You have to ensure that all 3 elements are completed e.g. you can measure performance by likes of an promotion in stage 1 when it has not been acted upon, which is not a real measure of performance.

Often, we can pick a great communication campaign and run with it, but not think about the method to create change.

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Let’s go RETRO – We can learn from the past…

‘70s-era seat belt campaigns.

Mandatory seatbelts were introduced in the 1970’s around the world and there was a large media campaign, it also still goes on in regional Queensland, which is surprising. A large study was done in 1974 showed that the % wearing a belt was the same whether they had seen or hadn’t seen the campaign. E.g. I might see it, but I might not do anything about it.

‘80s-era home safety campaigns.

In a study looking at the prevalence of accidents in the home. TV commercial versus a house visit in the home showed that post house visits 60% of people chose to change things in the home. Without the visit it was 9%.

Generally, campaigns are around 0 >10% effective with communication alone. This is low but it is still impactful.

The conclusions from communication campaign studies give us some guidance to get into the top %.

 5 things you can do to make a communication campaign successful.

1.    It needs to be specific e.g. have a clear objective and not general. E.g. Solar panels over 16kg need to use a mechanical lifting device. Not Safety first

2.    What you ask for needs to be positive and people believe they can do it e.g. Directly ask them to do something. E.g. put cut 5 gloves on before handling panels.

3.    Attract attention – E.g. changing styles format to attract positive attention.

4.    Position of message that is appropriate for the trigger – crucial point of actione.g. General Safety message in the bathroom, what do you want me to do?!?

5.    Message reinforcement – feedback e.g. tell them how it is working.

 Research that informs some of You3’s views:

Abstract

Saarela, K.L., Saari, J. and Aaltonen, M., 1989. The effects of an informational safety campaign in the shipbuilding industry. Journal of Occupational Accidents, 10: 255–266.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of an informational safety campaign arranged in a shipbuilding company. The study design consisted of two intervention ships and two comparison ships. The campaign material, including slogan signboards with specific safety instructions, was developed within the company itself. Feedback about housekeeping was also provided during the campaign. The results indicate that the campaign was received well and the message could be recalled by the personnel. Yet no notable changes occurred in the number or seriousness of accidents.

In the Above study, housekeeping was also measured during the campaign and it was found that there was limited impact from sign campaigns. Injuries are a poor measure and climate and enabling change is a very important part of the journey.

You3’s approach to increasing safety on people’s values

We believe that if you stack the personal benefits of Safety in your Solar Construction company for your staff. E.g. if individuals write down 200 benefits of performing safely in their business to the 7 areas of their life and then integrate. When this is supported with a high performing safety system, great things happen.

Message retention rates

These can often be low from studies so reliance on this needs to be cautious.

Summary

There are three key things of a campaign that HAVE to occur:

1.    Seen & heard

2.    Understood

3.    Acted upon

Make sure that your campaigns are simple and achieve outcomes

Remember to SPAAPR your campaign for success!

·     Specific

·     Positive

·     Achievable

·     Attractive

·     Position

·     Reinforce

 

  Edward Foord

We offer remote services to make Solar companies Safer, Faster, have lower impact and costs. Ask me for a demo.

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