When the Work Party ‘buys-in’ to safety and the WPTW system, you focus less on what they do wrong and expect more that they will do right. Putting it bluntly – when they buy-in, you no longer need to police them. The emphasis is on expecting that they will make the right decisions.
All they need is a little coaching and mentoring. Its all about communication and engagement with the Work Party. Some things you can do to improve buy-in:
Lay out the plan – clearly state what is going to happen and what the job is, hazards and controls required.
Personalise tasks – Assign tasks that play to the strengths of each person and set them up for success. Be clear to each person about how their work is vital to the outcome. Then set measurable goals and let them know how they will be held accountable. If appropriate, let the individuals take part in defining the work they will be undertaking.
Follow-up – Stay connected to the Work Party to verify that everyone is clear about the work activity, hazards and controls required. Keep an open-door policy as much as possible. It is important that the Work Party let you know when challenges or change arise. Further, encourage employees to bring a solution with them when making you aware of a problem.