The “missing link” between the prevention adviser and the shop floor
WHAT ARE SAFETY COACHES?
Safety coaches are hands-on team members who support and motivate their colleagues in terms of safety.
They focus on raising awareness, flag unsafe work situations and stand up for the safety of their colleagues.
A safety coach guides, advises and helps colleagues on the shop floor with the aim of reducing the number of incidents in the workplace!
Advantage of safety coaches
Unlike a prevention adviser or manager, they work among their colleagues on the floor.
They experience unsafe situations first-hand. And the theme of safety is a visible part of their daily work.
Safety coaches are the ideal discussion partner for both colleagues and managers.
- What is a safety coach?
- Profile: what makes someone a suitable safety coach?
- Position in the safety policy
- Time and resources
- Network of coaches
- Purpose and benefit
- Tasks
- How do you create broad support?
- Aligning mutual expectations
- Preconditions
- Recognition
- Internal communication
- Coaching
- Situational leadership
- Involvement: motivating and appreciating
- Dealing with unexpected circumstances
- Adjusting where necessary
WHAT MAKES SOMEONE A GOOD SAFETY COACH?
- Employees who want to volunteer for the safety of their colleagues
- Ownership: “safety is really my thing”
- A “not all-knowing” coach
- An affinity for safety, but not a know-it-all
- A safety coach coaches and, oddly enough, this can be easier with less knowledge
- Knowledge of the organisation and the regular work
- Takes initiative
- Persuasiveness and collegiality
- Self-confidence, stress-resistant and resilient
- Reliable and empathetic
Ownership: “safety is really my thing!”
TASKS OF THE SAFETY COACH
- Raising awareness among colleagues about the subject of safety
- Stimulating attention to safety and safe behaviour among employees and managers
- Ensuring that safety becomes and remains self-evident
- Working together with the Committee, management, prevention adviser, managers and employees
- Advising management on adjustments to the safety policy
- Source of information for colleagues, management and the committee for prevention and protection at work (CPPW)
- Keeping employees to agreed arrangements and procedures on reporting unsafe situations
- Taking care of a smooth registration of incidents and analysis
- Have more knowledge about safety than their direct colleagues
- Know the way to find the necessary information when they cannot provide an answer
- Flag unsafe situations
- Prevent incidents by mapping bottlenecks in consultation with colleagues and managers, and assess care and aftercare following an incident
- Encourage their team to receive the necessary training
NO WORDS, BUT ACTIONS!
- Short and powerful safety awareness-raising
- Small groups for interaction
- Theoretical introduction with practical application in the company
- Guidance and follow-up of the coaches is recommended
Frequently asked questions
What is a safety coach?
A hands-on team member who supports, motivates and raises awareness among colleagues about safety — the 'missing link' between the prevention adviser and the shop floor.
What makes someone a good safety coach?
Someone who volunteers, shows ownership ('safety is my thing'), takes initiative, persuades, is reliable and empathetic — and not a know-it-all.
How does the training work?
Short, powerful awareness-raising in small groups for interaction, with a theoretical introduction and practical application in the company; guidance and follow-up of the coaches is recommended.