How to Make Safety Meetings Less Boring and More Productive

By Tyler Doupe'

If members of your organization sigh or groan when the term “safety committee meeting” comes up in conversation, you’re not alone. It’s not uncommon to struggle to secure employee buy-in surrounding workplace health and safety. The good news is that you can easily change this sentiment and build a safety culture where people want to show up and make a meaningful difference. 

If you’re reading this post, you might be wondering where to start. Not to worry. We’ve got the very answers you seek within. We’ve got a few simple steps you can take to elevate your safety committee meetings, and they’re coming your way now. We’ll additionally call out some even more comprehensive resources at the tail-end of this article. 

Successful Safety Meetings Start in the Planning Phase

So where do you start? The truth is that the success or failure of your safety meeting begins long before the attendees arrive on the scene. Plan your agenda in advance to make sure things run smoothly within the allotted time. Be sure that the room temperature is comfortable and that all of your equipment is working as expected. It is also advisable to provide light refreshments for attendees. Doing so is a small investment that will make participants feel valued. Not to mention, caffeinated drinks will help keep energy levels high, which will likely correlate with increased participation.        

The next step to increasing buy-in and engagement is to keep meetings informative but concise. Begin the meeting as scheduled and conclude the proceedings on time. When these gatherings are focused and predictable, employees will feel valued and be more inclined to participate. 

Everyone’s Voice Counts Equally

During the course of the meeting, you’ll want to make sure that everyone has the chance to weigh in. A brief icebreaker activity is a great way to encourage participation. Giving everyone the chance to loosen up beforehand will make it easier for more reserved attendees to get involved.

Don’t let one or two voices dominate the meeting but also be sure you don’t allow anyone to abstain from participating. You can set the expectation at the onset of the meeting that everyone will have a chance to speak. You may need to encourage participation from some attendees who are more reserved and redirect others who are overly eager. Creating that balance will ensure that you get  the most out of the meeting and hear diverse perspectives from employees at all levels of the organization.

Finally, when it’s time to end the meeting, conclude with a clear action item (or items) to encourage accountability and ensure that the topics discussed at the meeting will lead to future change.

If you follow the suggestions above, you’re guaranteed to get more employee buy-in at your next safety meeting. For even more helpful information on this very subject, be sure to take a look at OSHAcademy Course 707: Effective OSH Committee Meetings as well as the Safety Topics and Meetings Guidebook (also available in audiobook format).