Safety Moment Ideas

Creating a safe workplace for your employees is essential. Not only are there legal and moral obligations to do so, but when you have a safe workplace, you are less likely to have absenteeism and more likely to have higher productivity.

Table of contents

What are safety moments for work

Why you need a safety moment of the day

Ensuring the success of safety moments for meetings

How to Conduct a Safety Moment

30 safety moment examples to use in your workplace in 2024

Keeping staff informed about potential health and safety risks is critical to building a safety culture within your organization. Introducing new concepts to this space can help to bring new enthusiasm and awareness to health and safety.

Many organizations have successfully introduced “safety moments” to their health and safety awareness work.

WHAT ARE SAFETY MOMENTS FOR WORK?

Workplace safety moments are brief exercises or discussions focussed on specific safety-oriented topics held at a dedicated time. This work safety idea is designed to focus attention on particular risks as well as general safety.

Despite the name, they actually take up a few moments of time – usually three to five – and should be short and sharp in their duration. The goal is to get employees to think about and identify any potential workplace hazards and to understand what steps they should take to avoid them. Safety moments for work should have clear and concise information and provide easy-to-understand and actionable steps for employees to follow.

A safety moment is usually a standing item on a meeting agenda. They may be delivered at a weekly team meeting or at the start of the day each day, depending on your industry. They are not designed to take the place of formal safety training but can be used to reinforce such learning.

Organizations that have safety moments for staff are usually involved in industries where there is a high risk of workplace injury or death. Dangerous industries such as construction and manufacturing, for example, have workplaces where employees are exposed to numerous hazards and risks. However, workplace safety moments can be introduced to just about any industry.

WHY YOU NEED A SAFETY MOMENT OF THE DAY

Safety moments are designed to put safety at the front of employees’ minds so that they conduct themselves in a safe way, understanding their responsibilities to have a safe workplace and to reduce and avoid risks and hazards to keep themselves and their colleagues safe.

The benefits of having a safety moment of the day include:

• Being able to reinforce your workplace health and safety policies
• Being able to communicate the consequences of not following safety protocols
• Being able to offer quick and simple “refresher” training that builds on and reinforces more formal safety training
• It can present safety information in an engaging and easy-to-digest way for people with lower attention spans
• Can prevent people from being overwhelmed with too much information all at once
• Building a strong safety culture within your organization.

Read more: Emergency alert system for business

ENSURING THE SUCCESS OF SAFETY MOMENTS FOR MEETINGS

If you plan to introduce safety moments to your organization, there’s a few key steps you can take to ensure that they are useful, engaging and ultimately successful:

• Schedule safety moments at a frequency that suits your company’s needs.
• Use safety moments for meetings as part of other safety awareness campaigns to reinforce messages (or vice versa). For example, you can create screensavers or send pop-up quizzes.
• Use visuals to help keep boost engagement.
• Provide relatable workplace safety scenarios so that people can understand and engage with the content.
• Incorporate personalization if you can to help people empathize with the messaging.
• Always ensure there’s an actionable takeaway in each safety moment for work that employees can use in their day-to-day work lives.
• Include remote workers in your safety tips by sending pop-up video messages.

How to Conduct a Safety Moment

1. Preparation

• Identify Relevant Topics: Choose a topic that is pertinent to your work environment or the specific activities your team will be engaged in. Common topics include personal protective equipment (PPE), slips, trips, and falls, electrical safety, or safe lifting techniques.
• Gather Necessary Information: Collect facts, statistics, and any relevant incident reports to support your topic. Ensure you have accurate and up-to-date information. Use visual aids, handouts, or short videos if necessary.
• Understand the Audience: Tailor the safety moment to the audience’s level of experience and knowledge. Consider the work they do and the risks they are most likely to encounter. Knowing your audience helps make the safety moment more relatable and impactful.

• Keep It Brief: A safety moment should be concise, typically lasting 5-10 minutes. Focus on key points and avoid overwhelming the audience with too much information.
• Use Real-Life Examples: Sharing examples of real incidents or near-misses can make the safety message more relevant and memorable. If possible, relate these examples to the specific work environment of your audience.
• Encourage Participation: Engage your audience by asking questions, inviting them to share their experiences, or discussing how they would handle certain situations. Participation fosters better understanding and retention of the safety message.

3. Follow-Up

• Importance of Discussion: After the safety moment, encourage a brief discussion or hold a question-and-answer session. This allows participants to clarify any doubts and ensures they have understood the key points.
• Reinforce the Message: Consider summarizing the key takeaways at the end of the session and periodically revisiting the topic in future meetings. Repetition helps reinforce the safety message and promotes a culture of continuous safety awareness.

By following these steps, you can conduct an effective and engaging safety moment that helps ensure the well-being of your team.

30 SAFETY MOMENT IDEAS FOR MEETINGS IN 2024

Here are some safety moment ideas that you can deliver in your workplace in 2024:

1. Lifting heavy objects

Many workplace injuries happen when people lift heavy objects incorrectly. People need to understand they must always be careful when lifting heavy objects in the workplace, taking care to use correct posture to avoid back and joint injuries:

• Always bend your knees and keep your back straight
• Hold objects you are lifting close to your body

2. Situational awareness

Situational awareness is an extremely important skill for employees to have in the workplace. This safety moment topic can involve talking about the importance of staying focused on the work that is being done while simultaneously being aware of what is happening in your surroundings. Give tips for minimizing distractions or include safety checklists.

3. Slips, trips and falls

Slips, trips and falls are extremely common causes of workplace injuries. The most common causes are:

• Wet and slippery floor/ground surfaces
• Poor lighting
• Unsuitable footwear
• Unstable walkways
• Tripping hazards being left in thoroughfares.

Provide your employees with the most common slip, trip and fall hazards that are unique to your workplace and the steps that they can take to minimize and prevent these risks.

4. Ergonomics

There are many ergonomic risk factors in the modern workplace that can lead to both long-lasting and acute injuries. It’s important that employees understand these risks so that they can avoid them.

A safety moment for office workers should include the following:

• What sorts of repetitive tasks can cause issues
• How to avoid overexertion
• Why they should avoid sustained awkward postures
• How to adjust their office furniture to reduce risk
• Who in the organization can help provide an ergonomic assessment
• The importance of regular breaks
• What stretches/exercises they can do to combat sitting for too long.

5. Workplace stress

There is a whole range of work-related stress that can cause workplace health issues, including burnout, anxiety, depression, and fatigue. This can include:

• Unsustainable workloads
• Toxic work culture
• Infrequent breaks

With these work safety moments, you should advise employees on how to ask for help, what employee assistance programs are available, and any relaxation and rest techniques that you can deploy to reduce stress.

Measure the level of employee stress by conducting a work stress survey.

6. Wearing appropriate clothing

It is important that all employees wear clothing that is suitable and appropriate for the tasks they are undertaking. This includes:

• Avoiding loose clothing that has the potential to be caught in machinery
• Always wearing the appropriate safety gear for the task (eg: goggles, gloves, helmets, boots, hi-vis vests).
• For outside workers, dress for the conditions (eg: wet weather gear, sunscreen, warm clothing when cold).

7. Awareness of emergency exits and routes

It’s important to take time to remind people about where emergency exits are located and to familiarize themselves with any escape routes in advance of an actual emergency occurring. This way, they can be prepared to evacuate should a critical situation unfold.

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8. Workplace drug and alcohol misuse

Employees who are under the influence of drugs and alcohol in the workplace pose a risk to their own health and safety and that of others. When their mental state is impaired, they can cause accidents and fatalities. A safety moment on this topic can:

• Help employees understand the health and physical risks of being affected by drugs and alcohol at work
• The role they have to play in creating a safe work environment that is drug and alcohol-free.

9. Workplace violence

Violence has no place in any workplace, but sadly it can be an occupational hazard for many people. This can be employees being violent with each other or employees being attacked by clients, customers, visitors, and other stakeholders.

This safety minute topic should address what employees can do to keep themselves safe if a work situation becomes violent.

10. Why proper rest is important

Employees who are not well rested at home can be severely fatigued at work. A lack of alertness can lead to a range of health and safety issues that can affect both them and others. Work safety moments on rest should encourage people to ensure they’re getting enough rest for workplace health and safety reasons and schedule regular breaks so they can recharge on the job.

11. Driver safety

Employees who are using company vehicles need to understand the importance of road and driver safety. This includes:

• The most common road hazards
• Driving in severe weather
• Safe and defensive driving practices
• Vehicle safety
• Parameters around driver fatigue
• Zero tolerance for alcohol and drug impairment while operating a company vehicle.

12. Reporting workplace accidents

It’s crucial that employees understand their obligations in reporting any workplace accidents or near misses so that management are aware. This helps to improve safety and is essential for legal and insurance purposes. A safety moment on this topic would give examples of accidents and near misses that should be reported and familiarize staff with the reporting procedures.

13. WORKING WITH HAZARDOUS MATERIALS

Working with hazardous materials can be extremely dangerous and potentially lethal. Employees must understand proper handling, storage, and disposal procedures. A safety moment topic would emphasize:

• the importance of using personal protective equipment, such as gloves and goggles
• the importance of being familiar with material safety data sheets.

14. FIRE PREVENTION

Addressing potential fire hazards and instilling preventive measures ensures both employee well-being and safety and helps to protect the company’s valuable assets. Emphasizing proper equipment usage, emergency protocols, and regular drills fosters a prepared and proactive workforce, reducing the risk of fires.

15. ELECTRICAL SAFETY TIPS

Discussing electrical safety tips in a safety moment educates employees on ways of preventing shocks and fires and reducing any other electrical hazards. Safety moment ideas include:

• regular equipment inspections
• proper use of extension cords
• reporting malfunctions promptly.

16. HEAT STRESS PREVENTION

Heat stress occurs when the body struggles to regulate its temperature, often due to excessive heat. This can be a result of high temperatures in summer time or working in situations, such as fire suppression, where there is a lot of radiant heat.

Addressing heat stress in a safety moment is vital for preventing heat-related illnesses. Suggestions include staying hydrated, taking breaks in shaded areas, and wearing appropriate clothing to ensure a safe and healthy work environment.

17. PARKING LOT SAFETY

Employees must be aware of parking lot safety to prevent accidents, collisions, and ensure a secure environment for everyone. Safety moments examples include:

• adhering to speed limits
• using designated walkways
• maintaining clear visibility
• pedestrian awareness
• security measures.

18. FIRST AID BASICS AND RESPONSE

It’s important for employees to have knowledge of first aid basics to provide immediate assistance in emergencies. First aid is crucial from everything from saving a life through to providing assistance with burns, cuts and broken bones.

Topics could include CPR training, recognizing and responding to common injuries, and creating a first aid kit.

19. SAFE USE OF HEAVY MACHINERY

When employees fail to use heavy machinery properly, it poses severe risks. Accidents, injuries, and equipment damage become likely. Improper operation can compromise workplace safety, lead to financial losses, and result in legal consequences.

Discussing this in a workplace safety moment raises awareness of potential hazards and emphasizes the importance of proper training, maintenance checks, and adherence to safety protocols

20. CHEMICAL SPILL RESPONSE

An appropriate chemical spill response involves immediate containment, evacuation, and notifying designated personnel so that you can keep people and assets safe.

Safety moments can be used to communicate spill response procedures to employees. Stress the importance of reporting spills promptly to minimize exposure risks and ensure a swift, effective response to protect both individuals and the environment.

21. AVOIDING DISTRACTED WORK

Distracted work, caused by factors like smartphone use or multitasking, compromises safety and productivity. Safety moment ideas include stressing the dangers of distractions and encouraging employees to stay focused on tasks. Promote designated break times for non-urgent tasks and emphasize the importance of mindfulness to maintain a safe and efficient work environment.

22. AVOIDING EYE STRAIN

Eye strain can occur in the workplace as a result of prolonged screen use or poor lighting, leading to discomfort and fatigue.

Safety moment ideas include:

• Recognizing symptoms like headaches and dry eyes
• Encouraging regular breaks
• Using proper lighting,
• How to use the 20-20-20 rule (looking at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds every 20 minutes) to reduce eye strain

23. RESPIRATORY PROTECTION GUIDELINES

Respiratory protection is vital to prevent inhalation of harmful substances. In a workplace safety moment, stress the importance of understanding and identifying substances that pose respiratory risk, wearing proper masks and correctly fitting respirators for specific tasks. Educate employees on proper fit, maintenance, and disposal.

24. PREVENTING HEARING DAMAGE

Hearing damage risks in the workplace stem from prolonged exposure to loud noise. In a safety moment, inform employees about the potential hazards, emphasizing the use of ear protection. Encourage regular hearing checks, raise awareness about noise levels, and implement engineering controls to mitigate risks,

25. WORKPLACE WELLNESS INITIATIVES

Many organizations have a wide range of workplace wellness initiatives in place, but don’t always do a good job of promoting them to staff. Leverage workplace wellness initiatives in a safety moment by emphasizing their impact on overall health and safety.

Discuss the benefits of physical activity, stress reduction, and mental health support. Encourage participation in wellness programs, fostering a culture of well-being that positively influences workplace safety, productivity, and employee satisfaction.

26. IMPORTANCE OF STRETCHING EXERCISES

Encourage employees to incorporate regular stretching into their routines, emphasizing its role in improving flexibility, reducing muscle tension, and preventing strains. Promote awareness that simple stretches contribute to overall well-being and enhance workplace safety.

27. IMPORTANCE OF REGULAR EQUIPMENT INSPECTIONS

Regular equipment inspections are vital for workplace safety. Emphasize their importance in a safety moment to prevent malfunctions, accidents, and injuries. Discuss the role of inspections in identifying potential hazards, ensuring equipment reliability, and maintaining a secure work environment. Promoting a routine inspection culture fosters proactive risk management and overall safety awareness.

28. CORRECT USE OF PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

Correct use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) provides a protective barrier against hazards, reducing the risk of injuries and illnesses.

Safety moment ideas include:

• How to wear PPE properly
• Compliance with regulations
• Personal responsibility
• Maintaining health
• Preventing exposure to harmful substances

29. FALL PROTECTION MEASURES

Falls in the workplace involve incidents where individuals descend unexpectedly from one level to another. They can occur on stairs, ladders, platforms, or slippery surfaces, posing a significant risk of injuries.

Emphasize its importance in a safety moment to create awareness about proper ladder use, clear walkways, and the significance of fall protection equipment.

30. COLD WEATHER SAFETY

Cold weather safety in the workplace is crucial to prevent hypothermia, frostbite, and accidents. Promote a culture of vigilance and preparedness for working in chilly conditions.

In a safety moment, stress the significance of wearing appropriate clothing, taking breaks to warm up, and recognizing early signs of cold-related illnesses.

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Workplace safety moments are a great contribution to your communications activities to build a culture of safety in the workplace. In conjunction with other communications tools, channels and strategies you can make safety front-of-mind in your organization.

To find out how DeskAlerts can help you to deliver vital safety information to staff in an engaging way that cuts through digital noise in the workplace, get in touch with our team of experts for a free demo today.

FAQs

WHAT IS A GOOD SAFETY MOMENT FOR A MEETING?

A good safety moment for a work meeting is one that is topical and relevant to the people you are talking to. For example, office safety moments may include work station ergonomics, while in a chemical plant you may want to talk about working with hazardous materials.

WHAT'S A GOOD SAFETY TOPIC FOR WORK?

Good safety topics for work meetings are anything that will help to keep employees safe while on the job and should be relevant to the work that is done and the industry it is done in.

WHAT ARE THE 10 SAFETY TIPS TO BE PRACTICED IN THE WORKPLACE?

The top 10 safety tips for the workplace are:

• Reducing stress
• Always operate tools, equipment and machinery correctly
• Always use the appropriate personal protective equipment
• Stay sober and free from drugs in the workplace
• Understand what to do in an emergency
• Report all accidents and near misses
• Always be aware of your surroundings
• Take regular breaks
• Drive safely
• Follow processes and procedures.

WHAT IS AN EXAMPLE OF SAFETY AT THE WORKPLACE?

An example of safety in the workplace is identifying hazards and taking steps to remove them.

What are some good safety moments?

Safety moment examples to use in your workplace include:

• Lifting heavy objects
• Situational awareness
• Slips, trips and falls
• Ergonomics
• Workplace stress
• Wearing appropriate clothing
• Awareness of emergency exits and routes
• Workplace drug and alcohol misuse,

What is a good safety talk?

A good workplace safety talk addresses specific hazards, emphasizes preventative measures, encourages active participation and reinforces the importance of a safety-conscious mindset among employees. It should be engaging, relevant, and promote a culture of responsibility and awareness.

What is an example of a quick safety moment?

A quick safety moment for today could involve reminding employees to wear personal protective equipment, discussing the proper techniques for lifting heavy items, or highlighting the location of emergency exits. It's a brief, focused reminder to enhance safety awareness in the workplace.

What are good topics for safety meetings?

Good safety moment topics for meetings include emergency preparedness, hazard communication, workplace ergonomics, electrical safety, fire prevention and proper use of personal protective equipment. Addressing these topics help to promote a culture of safety within an organization and also aids in reducing workplace risks.

What is a safety moment for a work meeting?

A safety moment for a work meeting is a brief discussion or presentation focused on a specific safety topic. It aims to raise awareness, reinforce safe practices, and encourage employees to keep safety front-of-mind and make it a priority.