Why Consult with Employees?
Consulting with employees:
- Gives credibility to your occupational road safety (ORS) program
- Helps employees accept new initiatives
- Provides an avenue for employees to express opinions and provide input on:
- Policies
- Procedures
- Leadership
- Training
- Communications
Consultation is an effective way of checking your organization’s safety culture and safety climate.
How to Consult with Employees
Consultation and information gathering can take different forms:
Informal discussions
Input and information can be gathered through informal:
- ‘Tool-box’ chats
- Debriefing sessions
- Lunchtime events
- As part of other events
Consider setting up an incentive program for participation or for suggestions made at these events.
Have a few questions ready to ask before an informal consultation. For example:
- Do you have specific driving-related safety concerns?
- Do you have any comments or suggestions on how well specific safety policies or procedures are working?
Formal discussions
Formal discussions are useful for checking on various aspects of your organization’s safety culture. Detailed information from employees can be gathered through:
- Focus groups
- Structured discussion groups
These sessions are helpful for exploring employees’ perceptions, opinions, beliefs and attitudes relating to various aspects of road safety at your organization (safety climate). They can be conducted by internal or external resource people. A discussion guide is developed in advance.
Get tips on conducting a formal discussion group.
Surveys
Surveys are useful for understanding your organization’s safety climate .
Employees are more likely to accept changes that promote occupational
road safety if they:
- Have positive attitudes toward safety
- Think an organization places a high priority on the well-being of employees
Review how to conduct a safety climate survey and review the sample survey questions.
