An Important Checklist on Felt Leadership

This article was developed and submitted by DuPont, a World Safety Declaration charter signer.

Creating a safety culture requires felt leadership. Felt leadership is all about people, and safety at its essence is respect through action for the well-being of people. When a business focuses on safety, it makes a public proclamation of its commitment to caring about people. A workplace noted for safe practices builds both trust and faith across the board, and grows personal responsibility and accountability throughout the enterprise. 

To practice felt leadership leaders must FEEL and BELIEVE in what their organizations value. And most importantly, they must ACT according to these values. Nowhere is felt leadership more important than with safety.  Without felt leadership around safety, lives are lost. People die. Children lose parents.  Families are torn apart.

Here is a 12-point checklist to help leaders put their beliefs into actions.

1. Set a good example.

• Observe all safety rules.
• Always wear PPE where required.
• Discuss some aspect of safety with employees every day.

2. Know the operation.

• Understand the entire process or operation for which you are responsible.
• Process data to find and track trends.
• Understand how and why the safety rules apply to the work you supervise.

3. Anticipate risks.

4. Discuss hazards.

• Encourage your employees to discuss work hazards.
• No job should proceed where a question of safety remains unanswered.
• Encourage and be receptive to the ideas of your workers.

5. Be alert for unsafe conditions.

• Every plant walkthrough should be an impromptu inspection tour.
• Correct hazards on the spot.

6. Follow up.

7. Inspect often; inspect intelligently.

• Detect unsafe acts.
• Eliminate unsafe practices.
• Audit often. Involve the entire organization.
• Observe people and inspect conditions.
• Track your performance.

8. Take effective corrective actions.

• Correct the deficiencies and poor practices you see.
• Correct; don’t reprimand.
• Corrections must be made promptly.
• Address unsafe actions immediately.

9. Investigate incidents (accidents).

• Investigate all injuries and incidents.
• Identify key factors.
• Line management is accountable.
• Investigation findings must be seen as learnings.
• Encourage employees to report all events.

10. Maintain discipline.

• Discipline may be necessary.
• Discipline should be applied consistently and equitably.
• The main objective of discipline is to improve performance.

11. Know your employees.

• Line management should mentor employees.
• An employee’s ability depends upon their education, training, experience, etc.
• Take employee capabilities into account when planning a job.
• Communicate extensively and foster involvement through auditing and teaming.

12. Make safety part of your business.

• Always incorporate safety into your business events.
• Accident prevention leads to better business.
• Make safety a prime obligation - let it be felt.
• Demonstrate your level of safety as a leader.

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