Cultivating a culture of safety at your business is critical—especially given the inherent safety risks your employees face every day, just by virtue of working in the horticultural industry.
One of the most effective ways for you to help create a safe work environment is through robust training programs that promote awareness, caution, and responsibility.
When you prioritize comprehensive training, you can help reduce accidents at your business and create an environment where your employees actively work to protect themselves, their coworkers, and your customers.
The LEAD workplace safety model
Building a strong safety culture starts with leadership commitment. Leaders like you can reinforce that safety is more than a checkbox—it’s a core business value.
The LEAD safety model, developed by Mark Griffin, identifies essential skills for effective safety leadership:
Leverage: Recognize achievements, provide clear guidance, and coordinate work effectively
Energize: Inspire and support associates as they develop new safety skills
Adapt: Learn from past experiences to enhance safety resilience
Defend: Foster vigilance, monitor practices, and promote accountability
So what does this look like in action? Reinforce the LEAD model by:
Conducting regular safety meetings: Discuss new procedures, review incidents, and address potential hazards.
Creating visible reminders: Place safety reminders in common areas and work zones to keep safety top-of-mind throughout the day.
Promoting open communication: Encourage employees to report hazards and join safety discussions without fear of reprimand. Provide anonymous reporting channels for unsafe practices, and reward consistent safe behavior with a recognition program designed in consultation with your human resources and legal professionals.
Owners, managers, and supervisors set the tone by visibly demonstrating a dedication to safety—whether through regular check-ins, addressing concerns promptly, or actively participating in training sessions.
Developing a comprehensive training program
Clear, measurable objectives are crucial for an effective safety training program.
Start by conducting a needs assessment to identify potential hazards and specific training requirements for each role. Understanding the unique safety challenges each job presents ensures the training each employee receives is relevant and targeted.
Combine classroom sessions, hands-on demonstrations, simulations, and online courses to help create effective safety training that accommodates diverse learning styles.
Engaging methods—such as role-playing, case studies, and group discussions—boost retention, especially for specific scenarios and safety concerns. Tailor training to risks workers often encounter in your industry, such as equipment handling, slip-and-fall hazards, and chemical safety. Offer regular refreshers to help maintain skills and reinforce best practices.
Core training topics to cover include:
Hazard identification
Recognize potential risks specific to horticultural work, such as pesticide handling and equipment operation.
Personal protective equipment (PPE):
Provide gloves, eye protection, and other PPE to employees, and train them on proper usage of the equipment.
Emergency procedures
Establish protocols for immediate response to injuries and hazardous situations.
Safe work practices
Emphasize proper lifting techniques, ergonomic tool use, and safe equipment handling.
Evaluating and improving training
Safety regulations and best practices evolve, so ongoing evaluation is essential to keep training relevant and effective.
Key steps for improvement:
1. Pre- and post-training assessments
Measure employee knowledge before and after training to identify gaps and reinforce learning.
2. Feedback and evaluation
Collect feedback from employees and supervisors to assess the training’s impact and make necessary adjustments.
3. Data analysis
Track workplace incidents and analyze trends to identify areas needing further focus or training.
Empowering teams to help create a secure and productive workplace
Investing in robust, evolving training is one of the most effective ways to help protect your employees and your bottom line.
A well-trained, safety-conscious workforce not only helps prevent accidents, but it also promotes an environment where everyone can perform their duties confidently and securely.
You don’t have to create a safety plan alone. If you’d like assistance with training resources, claims analyses, workshops, and on-site consultations to help identify and mitigate risks, contact us. Our Safety Services team is here to help you and your business.
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