Effective Communication

Bureau of Workers’ Compensation

PA Training for Health & Safety
(PATHS)

PPT-092-01 1
 Communication Plan

The elements of an effective communication plan

should include a clearly defined:

• Receiver

• Message

• Communication process

• Timeframe

• Evaluative process

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Communication Process

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 Communications Process

Message/
Sender Medium Receiver

Experience Verbal/non- Experience

Attitudes written Attitudes
Skills Email Skills
Perceptions Web Perceptions
Pictures

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 Communication Process

Input Feedback

Personality/Style Climate

View of others/self Complainant’s

behavior

Communication skills How well you handle

feedback

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Realities of Communication

Four Important Realities:

 Communication is the main way we exchange

idea, needs and beliefs and get things done.

 Miscommunication is more prevalent than good

communication.

 Communication is more psychological than

anything; “how” you say something accounts for
80% of the meaning and impact.

 The best way to get good results in anything is to

improve your style of communication.
PPT-092-01 6
 Effective Communication
Why it Matters…

Failure to communicate safety information

effectively can have serious negative consequences:

- Incidents, injuries, and illness

- Lost workdays
- Reduced productivity and delays
- Risk-taking by employees
- Inability to comply with regulations
- Higher workers’ compensation and health
insurance costs

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 Safety Communication

The main objective of any workplace safety

communication or program is to change behavior.

???

How does a safety committee change attitudes

toward safety or improve the way people work?

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 Betari Box Model
MY ATTITUDE

AFFECTS AFFECTS

MY BEHAVIOR
YOUR BEHAVIOR

AFFECTS
AFFECTS

YOUR ATTITUDE
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 The A’s of safety

• Attitudes • Acknowledge

• Awareness • Assist

• Action • Appreciate

• Accountability • Approve

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 Safety Culture

• A mind set

• An attitude

• Safety messages must be designed into every

aspect of the company

• Must be the company’s vision – a value for all

employees

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 Challenges

1. Attitudes

2. Communication

3. Competing Priorities

4. Employee Buy-In

5. Creating Safety Awareness

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Communication Process

Four separate groups of workers seek

information differently based on their perceived
risk:
 Responsive individuals

 Avoidant individuals

 Proactive individuals

 Indifferent individuals

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Communication Process

• It won’t happen to me!

• I’ve been doing this job for 15 years …

• I’m CAREFUL!

• I don’t want to get (someone) in trouble!

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 Communication

• Convey your ideas

• Discuss concerns or objections

• Share important criteria and priorities

• Indicate how change will benefit this individual

• Present solutions that contain your priorities and

those of the individual you are influencing

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 Communication Process

• Effective communication increases motivation

• The more people a “communication” goes

through, the more distorted it becomes

• Effective communication reaches the heart as

well as the mind

• Use it or lose it

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 Communication

“The danger in communication is the

illusion that it has been accomplished.”

- George Bernard Shaw

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Understanding What is Said
Even the most seasoned has trouble coping with the
ambiguities.

The struggle to understand is carried out relentlessly by

the most conscientious.
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 Communication Process

“Nothing is so simple it cannot be misunderstood.”

- Freeman Teague

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Keys to Communication

1. Interactive

2. Informative

3. Positive

4. Productive

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 Safety Messages

How to Communicate Workplace Safety Messages:

• Plan your safety messages like a mini advertising

campaign

• Get personal

• Consistent, clear messaging (includes branding)

• The consequences of poor safety

• Multiple message placement

PPT-092-01 21
 Safety Messages

How to get employees engaged in your workplace

safety message

• Watching it (training videos)

• Hearing it (discussion and feedback on

safety issues)

• Reading it (posters, email, newsletter)

PPT-092-01 22
 Communication Tips

 Use more Visuals

 Tell Stories

 Lead by Values

 Use Positive Language

 Involve Senior Management

 Keep it Simple

 Ask more why Questions

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 Safety Communication

• Employee suggestions
• Ergonomics

• Wellness programs
• Back Safety

• Workplace Violence
• Fire Safety

• Incident Investigations
• Electrical Safety

• Slips, Trips and Falls • Emergency

Preparedness

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Communication Objectives

Objectives should be: SMART

• S Specific

• M Measurable

• A Attainable

• R Relevant

• T Time-bound
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 Safety Culture

• Consideration to the prevention of injury to self

and coworkers

• Continual improvement is the goal

• Involvement and thinking of all people in the

safety process

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Getting the Message Across

• Decide what your messages will be.

• Understand clearly whom the message is for.

• Consider using several different ways to

communicate the same message.

• Select the best option for your audience.

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Getting the Message Across

• Consider who should deliver it, and what

credibility they have – a good message badly
delivered is lost.

• Consider whether the communication was

effective.

• Plan your method of evaluating success before

delivering the communication activity.

• To communicate effectively, keep it simple.

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 Effective Safety Messages

• The secret to developing highly successful safety

communication is to use marketing-based tactics.

• Treating safety messages as a mini-marketing

campaign will provide better safety performance,
communication and camaraderie in the
workplace.

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 Contact Information

Health & Safety Training Specialists

1171 South Cameron Street, Room 324
Harrisburg, PA 17104-2501
(717) 772-1635
RA-LI-BWC-PATHS@pa.gov

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Questions

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