Simple Steps For Creating a Safety Culture Among Drivers

Introduction

Building a safety culture among drivers is about fostering an environment where safety becomes a core value. In this video with safety expert John Davis and host Mitch Adams, we delve into practical and effective steps to achieve a robust safety culture in your organization. (and plenty of humorous anecdotes and real-life examples)

The Importance of Recruiting Right

John emphasizes that the foundation of a safety culture begins with recruiting. He advises running a Pre Employment Screening Report (PSP) to check the driver's history of violations and accidents. This step saves resources and ensures you're hiring candidates who already value safety.

In addition, we’ve heard from clients the confidence and peace of mind that comes with a strong and constant recruiting pipeline. If you know you have another couple drivers waiting, you don’t have to compromise on keeping a driver around that you know is not safe.

Effective Onboarding is Crucial

Once you've recruited a driver, the onboarding process is critical. John points out that onboarding should go beyond merely checking boxes. It should include comprehensive safety training and drills.

• Checklist: Ensure that your onboarding checklist is detailed covering everything from in-cab safety to organizing the truck binder.

• Continuous Drills: John strongly endorses the use of drills to instill a safety-first mindset. Just as athletes practice their skills regularly, drivers should practice key safety procedures.

Lead by Example

Setting a safety culture also depends on the behavior of the management. We sometimes like to think we are more advanced than we are - but really we are all like kids and fall into the trap of monkey see, monkey do.

If your managers aren’t doing the safety trainings, wearing seatbelts, etc - it will be near impossible to expect your drivers to do those things.

Treat Drivers as Humans

John shared several examples that highlight the importance of treating drivers like human beings rather than robots programmed to follow orders. If you can understand their backgrounds and challenges, it will give you insight as to why they might not be following some safety procedures. Then you have the opportunity to reframe that experience.

In addition, everyone likes some praise once in a while. Give your drivers praise for proper safety.

Terminate When Necessary

A bad apple can spoil the bunch. If a driver consistently violates safety protocols, it’s crucial to take action. Keeping unsafe drivers can quickly erode the safety culture and demoralize other employees, making everyone think they don’t have to be safe.

Creating a strong safety culture among drivers is a multi-faceted process that begins with recruiting and extends through ongoing training and managerial behavior. By focusing on detailed onboarding, regular drills, and empathetic management, you can foster a safety culture that benefits not only your drivers but the entire organization.