What is Safety Observation?
Safety observation is a proactive approach to prevent workplace incidents by identifying potential hazards and at-risk behaviors including unsafe actions and conditions through systematic observation of the work environment and activities. The purpose is to utilize these observations to implement corrective action and improve the safety of the workplace. Managers record safety observations through checklists. The managers can have separate sections or checklists for each safety topic.
Safety observations are crucial to
- Identify and control risk exposures
- Reinforce safe behaviors
- Drive a speak-up culture
- Reduce employee injury/illnesses
- Increase safety awareness
- Drive continous monitoring and improvement