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3 Ways to show You're an effective Safety Professional
Being effective doesn't mean being perfect. In fact, being effective in the safety world means being knowledgeable, skilled, and prepared for almost every relevant situation. Here are three surefire ways to show you're an effective safety pro. 1. Be Prepared for Anything The best way to show you're an effective safety professional is to be prepared for anything. This means having well-stocked first-aid kits, eyewash stations, charged fire extinguishers, and everyone being trained on how to use all the safety equipment, especially the janitors. It doesn't stop there. It is your responsibility to ensure workers are trained and up-to-date on all the latest safety procedures and protocols relevant to their job and work environment. It is unrealistic to be prepared for everything, but that does not mean it isn't worth trying. It's important to always be on the lookout for potential hazards and scenarios and put measures in place to handle them. 2. Become a Subject Matter Expert Effective safety professionals are experts in their field. Does it mean they know everything? Of course not. We cannot predict the future. But they are resourceful enough to find answers pretty easily. They know the ins and outs of OSHA regulations, environmental compliance, risk management and injury mitigation, they can spot most hazards a mile away, and they can talk about many safety topics for hours on end without getting bored. If you want to be an effective safety pro, make sure you're constantly learning and expanding your knowledge base. Immerse yourself in the industry's news. Subject matter experts are typically the go-to people when questions arise. Become that person for all things health and safety. 3. Be proactive, not reactive Prevention is better than cure. Similarly, the best way to avoid accidents is to be proactive about them. This means identifying potential issues before they escalate then taking steps to prevent them. It also means being honest about risks and not sugar coating dangerous situations whether the root cause is direct or indirect. Not everyone is going to like this, especially if they cannot see it for themselves (or rather, refuse to see it without an actual occurrence). Facing these types of problems early shows that you're willing to take whatever steps are necessary to keep people safe. Plus, it's typically easier to handle a smaller problem earlier before it grows into something harder to deal with. In the end, the amount of paperwork you've got to fill out is completely within your control. Are you looking to show everyone that you're an effective safety professional? Then follow these three tips and you'll be well on your way. Remember, being effective doesn't mean being perfect; being knowledgeable, skilled, and always prepared is what sets the effective safety professionals apart from the rest.
