Power Engineers are struggling to improve safety in the workplace. What is the best way to achieve this?

1 Safety culture

One of the key factors that influence safety performance is the safety culture of the organization and the team. Safety culture refers to the shared values, beliefs, attitudes, and norms that affect how workers perceive and act on safety issues. A positive safety culture promotes a strong commitment to safety at all levels, encourages open communication and feedback, supports learning and improvement, and empowers workers to report and prevent hazards. To foster a positive safety culture, power engineers need to demonstrate leadership, accountability, and teamwork, as well as participate in safety training, meetings, and audits.

2 Safety systems

Another important factor that affects safety outcomes is the design and implementation of safety systems. Safety systems are the policies, procedures, standards, and controls that regulate and monitor the safe operation and maintenance of power engineering equipment and processes. They include risk assessment, hazard identification, incident reporting, emergency response, lockout/tagout, personal protective equipment, and quality assurance. To ensure the effectiveness and reliability of safety systems, power engineers need to follow them consistently, update them regularly, and integrate them with new technologies and innovations.

3 Safety innovation

A third factor that can enhance safety performance is the adoption and adaptation of safety innovation. Safety innovation refers to the introduction and application of new or improved methods, tools, or practices that can reduce or eliminate safety risks and hazards. They can be technological, such as sensors, automation, or artificial intelligence, or organizational, such as lean management, human factors engineering, or resilience engineering. To leverage the benefits of safety innovation, power engineers need to be aware of the latest trends and developments, evaluate their feasibility and suitability, and test and implement them with caution and care.

4 Safety education

A fourth factor that can improve safety results is the continuous and comprehensive safety education. Safety education refers to the formal and informal learning opportunities that can enhance the knowledge, skills, and competencies of power engineers in relation to safety issues. They can be delivered through various modes and formats, such as courses, workshops, webinars, podcasts, videos, or articles. To optimize the impact of safety education, power engineers need to seek and access relevant and quality sources, apply and share what they learn, and reflect and assess their progress.

5 Safety awareness

A fifth factor that can boost safety performance is the constant and active safety awareness. Safety awareness refers to the mental state and attitude that enables power engineers to recognize and respond to safety hazards and opportunities. It involves paying attention to the environment, the equipment, the task, and the people, as well as anticipating, preventing, and correcting potential problems. To cultivate and maintain safety awareness, power engineers need to practice and improve their observation, communication, decision-making, and problem-solving skills, as well as seek and receive feedback and support.

6 Safety excellence

Safety excellence is the ultimate goal and aspiration of power engineers who value and prioritize safety in their work. It is not a static or fixed state, but a dynamic and ongoing process that requires constant and collective effort, commitment, and improvement. It is not only measured by the absence of accidents or injuries, but also by the presence of positive indicators, such as safety culture, systems, innovation, education, and awareness. To achieve and sustain safety excellence, power engineers need to embrace and embody the principles and practices of safety leadership, management, and professionalism.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?