4 Ways to Encourage Your Team to Wear Safety Goggles
Your workers’ healthcare and safety are vital concerns that you cannot take lightly. Rules stating to wear personal protective equipment like safety goggles should be implemented as part of their usual routine. However, many workers often neglect to put them on because they can’t see clearly due to fogging. Others state improper fit and discomfort, especially when they wear it for long periods, are deterrents.
These issues are magnified significantly in cheap goggles with an inferior build. Often, these are uncomfortable and cause irritation. Some also don’t take into account that workers need prescription lenses. Without proper refraction, it could lead to eye fatigue. As a business owner, you have to ensure that your workers wear protective eyewear all the time to prevent injuries, medical bills, and lawsuits. Read on the following tips to help you encourage your workers to don safety eyewear at all times.
- Enforce Rules and Policies
Protective equipment is specifically designed to minimize workplace hazards. As the head of the team, you have to ensure that your rules and policies are enforced consistently. When you are not vigilant about implementing regulations, it will cause confusion and chaos. Your staff will think that it’s okay not to wear safety goggles because not everyone follows protocol. To ascertain that your old and new team members understand your policies, you need to be clear about them. You can try the following:
- Print the rule in the employee manual
- Put up posters that display the rules in high traffic areas
- Conduct regular updates and classes on workplace safety
- Ensure that supervisors enforce policies
- Teach Employees Why It Matters
You have to tell your employees why these policies are in place. Education is one way to get them to commit to wearing their protective eyewear. If they know the reasons behind the procedure, they will feel more inclined and motivated to keep safety goggles on.
For instance, explain how safety eyewear with UV protection can help deter cataract. In the same token, safety goggles can also prevent harmful vapours from damaging the eyes. When people know why something is implemented, they feel it will be logical to follow the rules. If you just hand them the goggles and tell them to wear them without proper explanations, they will not feel any sense of urgency.
- Lead The Staff By Setting an Excellent Example
When your supervisors don’t wear safety eyewear, the rank and file personnel will not be inclined to follow the rules either. Hence, you have to ascertain that those in a position of power will lead by setting an excellent example for the employees. If they see no one is exempted from the policy, they will abide by your safety procedures. This kind of behaviour exemplifies that no one is above your company’s rules and regulations.
- Give Employees the Ability to Choose
When it comes to eyewear, it is not a one-size-fits-everyone kind of product. What may work for one may feel uncomfortable for another. Most employees state that they don’t like wearing safety eyewear because of improper fit. When your staff gives you this reason, you must listen to their concerns. Instead of buying cheap ones that are not durable, it is better to invest in quality pieces that offer longevity and durability. Luckily, you can count on suppliers to make affordable but quality safety eyewear with tons of frame selections that your employees can choose from. If you give them choices, they can find frames that fit their style and address needs. With this, they’ll feel more motivated to wear their eye safety gear.
Author Bio: Shirley Daniel is a copywriter and content strategist. She helps businesses stop playing around with content marketing and start seeing the tangible ROI. She loves writing as much as she loves the cake.
