Safety Coaching: The Critical Control You Might Be Overlooking!
- David Wollage
- Nov 10, 2024
- 3 min read
Updated: Dec 6, 2024
In the realm of workplace safety, we often focus on physical barriers, procedures, and protocols as our primary controls against incidents. However, according to safety expert Ray Gonzalez during a recent YouTube interview, we might be overlooking one of the most powerful controls at our disposal: effective safety coaching.
The Human Element in Safety
With 44 years of experience in high-risk industries, including nuclear power operations, Gonzalez has observed a fundamental truth: human performance and safety are inextricably linked. As he puts it, "Human Performance and safety are tied directly. As human performance trends, so does safety, and vice versa." This observation underscores the critical importance of focusing on the human element in safety management.
Why Coaching Matters
Safety coaching isn't just another box to tick in your safety management system. It's a dynamic, real-time process that directly influences workplace behaviour and culture. What makes coaching particularly powerful is its ability to:
Provide real-time observation and feedback
Enable immediate intervention when needed
Foster self-reflection and learning
Create sustainable behaviour change
Protect people, assets, and brand reputation
Coaching as a Critical Control
Perhaps the most compelling aspect of Gonzalez's perspective is his assertion that "there is no more important critical control than having an effective observation and feedback process." This bold statement challenges traditional thinking about critical controls, but it makes sense when you consider the unique advantages of coaching:
Real-Time Monitoring: Unlike other controls that are static or procedural, coaching allows for dynamic, real-time observation of work as it happens.
Immediate Intervention: Coaches can step in immediately when they observe potential risks or incorrect behaviours.
Behavioural Reinforcement: Regular coaching helps embed safe behaviours and practices into daily work routines.
Continuous Learning: The coaching process creates ongoing opportunities for learning and improvement.
Key Elements of Effective Safety Coaching
Based on Gonzalez's experience, successful safety coaching programs share several crucial elements:
1. Top-Level Support
Without buy-in from senior leadership, coaching initiatives are likely to falter. Leadership support ensures the program receives the resources and attention it needs to succeed.
2. Self-Reflection
Effective coaching encourages workers to engage in self-assessment and introspection, leading to deeper understanding and more lasting behaviour change.
3. Verbalization
Having workers articulate their thoughts and actions serves two purposes: it helps them internalize safety practices and creates opportunities to catch potential mistakes before they happen.
4. Strong Intervention Skills
Coaches must be equipped with the skills and confidence to intervene when they observe unsafe behaviours or conditions.
5. Practical Application
While classroom training has its place, the real value of coaching comes from its application in actual work environments.
Wrap Up
Viewing safety coaching as a critical control represents a paradigm shift in how we think about safety management. It acknowledges that while physical barriers and procedures are important, the human element – specifically, how we observe, interact with, and guide each other – is equally crucial for preventing incidents and protecting our workforce.
By investing in robust coaching programs and treating them with the same rigour as other critical controls, organizations can create more resilient safety systems that better protect their people, assets, and reputation.
Remember: in the words of Ray Gonzalez, safety isn't just about protecting people and assets – it's about creating sustainable behavior change that makes safety an integral part of how work gets done. And there's no better tool for achieving this than effective coaching.
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