--- title: Kevin Burns Blog | safety buy-in (2) description: safety buy-in | Tools and strategies to build supervisor leadership, clarify the safety message, and get employee buy-in. (2) --- Kevin Burns Blog | safety buy-in (2) [![KevBurns Learning: We teach industrial supervisors how to be really great leaders.](https://www.kevburns.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Kev-Burns-Learning-white.png?width=240&height=118&name=Kev-Burns-Learning-white.png "KevBurns Learning: We teach industrial supervisors how to be really great leaders.")](https://www.kevburns.com/) - [About](https://www.kevburns.com/about-kevin-burns) - [Supervisor Training](https://www.kevburns.com/supervisors) - [Try First 6 Days Free](https://www.kevburns.com/6days) - [52 Benefits of Safety](https://www.kevburns.com/52-benefits) - [Hope Calculator](https://www.kevburns.com/calculator) - [Issues](https://www.kevburns.com/safety-issues) - [Safety](https://www.kevburns.com/safety-issues) - [Operational](https://www.kevburns.com/operational-issues) - [Growth](https://www.kevburns.com/growth-issues) - [Resources](https://www.kevburns.com/books) - [Books](https://www.kevburns.com/books) - [Newsletter](https://www.kevburns.com/newsletter) - [Downloads](https://www.kevburns.com/downloads) - [Case Study NBU](https://www.kevburns.com/nbu-case-study) - [Case Study WCC](https://www.kevburns.com/wcc-case-study-2026) - [ROI Videos](https://www.kevburns.com/videos) - [Speaking](https://www.kevburns.com/speaking) - [Media/Podcast](https://www.kevburns.com/media) - [Blog](https://www.kevburns.com/blog) - [Contact](https://www.kevburns.com/contact-us) - [About](https://www.kevburns.com/about-kevin-burns) - [Supervisor Training](https://www.kevburns.com/supervisors) - [Try First 6 Days Free](https://www.kevburns.com/6days) - [52 Benefits of Safety](https://www.kevburns.com/52-benefits) - [Hope Calculator](https://www.kevburns.com/calculator) - [Issues](https://www.kevburns.com/safety-issues) - [Safety](https://www.kevburns.com/safety-issues) - [Operational](https://www.kevburns.com/operational-issues) - [Growth](https://www.kevburns.com/growth-issues) - [Resources](https://www.kevburns.com/books) - [Books](https://www.kevburns.com/books) - [Newsletter](https://www.kevburns.com/newsletter) - [Downloads](https://www.kevburns.com/downloads) - [Case Study NBU](https://www.kevburns.com/nbu-case-study) - [Case Study WCC](https://www.kevburns.com/wcc-case-study-2026) - [ROI Videos](https://www.kevburns.com/videos) - [Speaking](https://www.kevburns.com/speaking) - [Media/Podcast](https://www.kevburns.com/media) - [Blog](https://www.kevburns.com/blog) - [Contact](https://www.kevburns.com/contact-us) # Kevin Burns Blog #### Leadership for frontline industrial supervisors. [Current Articles](https://www.kevburns.com/blog) [RSS](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/rss.xml) [Why Work With Kevin?](https://www.kevburns.com/about-kevin-burns) - [safety leadership (247)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/safety-leadership) - [safety culture (166)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/safety-culture) - [kevin burns (135)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/kevin-burns) - [safety buy-in (125)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/safety-buy-in) - [peoplework (96)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/peoplework) - [the carefull supervisor (90)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/the-carefull-supervisor) - [safety meeting (74)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/safety-meeting) - [supervisor training (63)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/supervisor-training) - [safety speaker (60)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/safety-speaker) - [safety marketing (59)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/safety-marketing) - [safety communications (58)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/safety-communications) - [supervisor leadership (57)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/supervisor-leadership) - [PeopleWork Supervisor Academy (56)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/peoplework-supervisor-academy) - [safety complacency (52)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/safety-complacency) - [safety (51)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/safety) - [selling safety (33)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/selling-safety) - [Leadership Development (32)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/leadership-development) - [Supervisor leadership skills (32)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/supervisor-leadership-skills) - [supervisor development (25)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/supervisor-development) - [supervisor safety coaching (23)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/supervisor-safety-coaching) - [Developing effective frontline leaders (18)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/developing-effective-frontline-leaders) - [employee engagement (17)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/employee-engagement) - [Employee Retention (14)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/employee-retention) - [frontline supervisors (14)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/frontline-supervisors) - [hope promotion (14)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/hope-promotion) - [workplace safety culture (14)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/workplace-safety-culture) - [Industrial Supervision (13)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/industrial-supervision) - [workplace culture (12)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/workplace-culture) - [Workplace Safety (11)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/workplace-safety) - [Business ROI (10)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/business-roi) - [Engaging frontline teams (9)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/engaging-frontline-teams) - [positive supervisor (9)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/positive-supervisor) - [CareFull Supervisor (8)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/carefull-supervisor) - [people skills (8)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/people-skills) - [supervisor communications (6)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/supervisor-communications) - [frontline leadership (5)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/frontline-leadership) - [industrial leadership (5)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/industrial-leadership) - [industrial safety (5)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/industrial-safety) - [operations management (4)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/operations-management) - [operational performance (3)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/operational-performance) - [team development (3)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/team-development) - [12 metrics (2)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/12-metrics) - [Employee Motivation (2)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/employee-motivation) - [Succession Planning (2)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/succession-planning) - [absenteeism and safety (2)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/absenteeism-and-safety) - [disengagement (2)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/disengagement) - [frontline management (2)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/frontline-management) - [psychological safety (2)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/psychological-safety) - [safety manager (2)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/safety-manager) - [safety training for supervisors (2)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/safety-training-for-supervisors) - [supervisor adaptability (2)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/supervisor-adaptability) - [supervisor people-skills (2)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/supervisor-people-skills) - [supervisor safety leadership (2)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/supervisor-safety-leadership) - [supervisor trust (2)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/supervisor-trust) - [team culture (2)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/team-culture) - [52 benefits of safety (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/52-benefits-of-safety) - [Absenteeism Reduction (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/absenteeism-reduction) - [absenteeism (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/absenteeism) - [care in the workplace (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/care-in-the-workplace) - [coaching supervisors (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/coaching-supervisors) - [confidence at work (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/confidence-at-work) - [core essentials (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/core-essentials) - [crisis management (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/crisis-management) - [delegation (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/delegation) - [departmental silos (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/departmental-silos) - [ehs (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/ehs) - [employee burnout (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/employee-burnout) - [employee turnover (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/employee-turnover) - [employee wellbeing (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/employee-wellbeing) - [employee wellness program (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/employee-wellness-program) - [employees interrupt safety meetings (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/employees-interrupt-safety-meetings) - [escalations (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/escalations) - [exit interview (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/exit-interview) - [family safety culture (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/family-safety-culture) - [frontline supervisor training (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/frontline-supervisor-training) - [how to improve safety culture (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/how-to-improve-safety-culture) - [how to reduce workplace stress (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/how-to-reduce-workplace-stress) - [how to run a safety meeting (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/how-to-run-a-safety-meeting) - [hse (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/hse) - [industrial management (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/industrial-management) - [leadership standardization (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/leadership-standardization) - [management meetings (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/management-meetings) - [manufacturing leadership (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/manufacturing-leadership) - [mental health at work (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/mental-health-at-work) - [organizational silos (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/organizational-silos) - [performance metrics (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/performance-metrics) - [plant manager (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/plant-manager) - [productivity (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/productivity) - [relationship management (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/relationship-management) - [safety meeting problems (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/safety-meeting-problems) - [safety meeting script (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/safety-meeting-script) - [safety performance (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/safety-performance) - [safety posters (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/safety-posters) - [safety program conditions (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/safety-program-conditions) - [silo thinking (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/silo-thinking) - [staff retention (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/staff-retention) - [stress at work (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/stress-at-work) - [supervisor coaching (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/supervisor-coaching) - [supervisor confidence (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/supervisor-confidence) - [supervisor loneliness (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/supervisor-loneliness) - [supervisor warning signs (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/supervisor-warning-signs) - [taking control of safety meetings (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/taking-control-of-safety-meetings) - [truly human leadership (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/truly-human-leadership) - [turnover and safety (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/turnover-and-safety) - [workforce stability (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/workforce-stability) - [workplace stress (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/workplace-stress) - [workplace wellness (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/workplace-wellness) - [world-class safety program (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/world-class-safety-program) See all ## [Safety Buy-in Starts With A Single Thought](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/safety-buy-in-starts-with-a-single-thought) Posted by [Kevin Burns](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/author/kevin-burns) on June 8, 2021 [![Safety Buy-in Starts With A Single Thought](https://www.kevburns.com/hs-fs/hubfs/focus.jpg?width=900&name=focus.jpg)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/safety-buy-in-starts-with-a-single-thought) Business development is the focus of most companies. Getting more customers, making more sales, upselling existing clients. Companies hone and adjust their marketing messages to attract more revenues. When more clients buy from us, there is cause for celebration. [Read More](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/safety-buy-in-starts-with-a-single-thought) ## [Care vs Compliance: Making Them Care About Safety](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/care-vs-compliance-making-them-care-about-safety) Posted by [Kevin Burns](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/author/kevin-burns) on May 19, 2021 [![Care vs Compliance: Making Them Care About Safety](https://www.kevburns.com/hs-fs/hubfs/caring.jpg?width=900&name=caring.jpg)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/care-vs-compliance-making-them-care-about-safety) Everybody cares about something. And they do care about it … in their own way. The challenge in getting your people to care about safety lies largely with how they understand and interpret the word safety. [Read More](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/care-vs-compliance-making-them-care-about-safety) ## [3 Strategies to Better Safety Engagement](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/3-strategies-to-better-safety-engagement) Posted by [Kevin Burns](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/author/kevin-burns) on April 21, 2021 [![3 Strategies to Better Safety Engagement](https://www.kevburns.com/hs-fs/hubfs/engagement.jpg?width=900&name=engagement.jpg)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/3-strategies-to-better-safety-engagement) Disengagement rates in the workplace are too high. In North America, Gallup says that 65% of North American workers are not actively engaged in their work. And that is going to spell trouble for safety. You’ve been trying to get your employees to focus on safety and your efforts have not been effective. Here’s why. [Read More](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/3-strategies-to-better-safety-engagement) ## [What Is Safety Buy-in? And Why It’s Important.](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/what-is-safety-buy-in-and-why-its-important) Posted by [Kevin Burns](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/author/kevin-burns) on December 2, 2020 [![What Is Safety Buy-in? And Why It’s Important.](https://www.kevburns.com/hs-fs/hubfs/respect02.jpg?width=900&name=respect02.jpg)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/what-is-safety-buy-in-and-why-its-important) In safety, there are no trade secrets. That’s because the rules are the same in each industry. No one company gets an advantage over another because of safety regulations. No company is handed a better, less restrictive set of rules to operate by. The playing field is level. The rules are the same across each industry. So why do some companies find it so easy to get their employees to follow safety protocols and other companies struggle? Why are some supervisors able to more easily rally their crews around safety and other supervisors can’t seem to get their people to even wear their safety glasses? The answer is buy-in. [Read More](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/what-is-safety-buy-in-and-why-its-important) ## [Processes Don't Deliver Safety, People Do!](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/processes-dont-deliver-safety-people-do) Posted by [Kevin Burns](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/author/kevin-burns) on June 26, 2020 [![Processes Don't Deliver Safety, People Do!](https://www.kevburns.com/hs-fs/hubfs/069vidthumb.png?width=900&name=069vidthumb.png)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/processes-dont-deliver-safety-people-do) If you have been trying to help your team buy-in to safety but are having trouble getting the result you’d like, you may be focused on the wrong thing. In this week’s post, a three-step plan to improve the level of buy-in to the safety program. [Read More](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/processes-dont-deliver-safety-people-do) ## ["Be Safe" Is A Terrible Safety Message](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/be-safe-is-a-terrible-safety-message) Posted by [Kevin Burns](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/author/kevin-burns) on June 2, 2020 [![](https://www.kevburns.com/hs-fs/hubfs/060vidthumb.png?width=900&name=060vidthumb.png)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/be-safe-is-a-terrible-safety-message) Be safe. There are a host of reasons why you will want to stop saying it - including that it’s a terrible safety message and it’s nearly impossible to do. [Read More](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/be-safe-is-a-terrible-safety-message) ## [Safety Only Needs Ten Percent Buy-in](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/safety-only-needs-ten-percent-buy-in) Posted by [Kevin Burns](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/author/kevin-burns) on June 2, 2020 [![054BlogThumb](https://www.kevburns.com/hs-fs/hubfs/054BlogThumb.png?width=900&name=054BlogThumb.png)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/safety-only-needs-ten-percent-buy-in) You don’t need more rules and procedures in safety. You need more people to buy-in to what you are trying to do in safety. That is a very different issue. And it requires a different set of skills to capture hearts and minds of employees in safety. If you’ve adopted a leadership mindset, then you will have already spent time envisioning what needs fixing in your safety program. Without spending time to assess what’s wrong, you can’t possibly improve your program. Without a vision of where you would like to end up, you’ll stay stuck right where you are. [Read More](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/safety-only-needs-ten-percent-buy-in) ## [The Competition Between Production and Safety](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/an-alternative-to-safety-departments) Posted by [Kevin Burns](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/author/kevin-burns) on June 3, 2020 [![BlogThumb](https://www.kevburns.com/hs-fs/hubfs/BlogThumb.png?width=900&name=BlogThumb.png)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/an-alternative-to-safety-departments) Twenty years ago, most of the safety jobs that exist today, weren’t around. In another ten years, most of the safety jobs as you know them will have disappeared. New ideas make way for new approaches. And for anyone who thinks that safety will be the same in ten years from now is not paying attention. Everything cycles, including safety. [Read More](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/an-alternative-to-safety-departments) ## [Leadership Vision to Create Safety Buy-in](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/leadership-vision-to-create-safety-buy-in) Posted by [Kevin Burns](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/author/kevin-burns) on May 1, 2019 [![thumb 11](https://www.kevburns.com/hs-fs/hubfs/thumb-11.jpg?width=900&name=thumb-11.jpg)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/leadership-vision-to-create-safety-buy-in) Provide a clear and concise vision of where your crew is headed. What's your vision for safety? And don't say "no one gets hurt." That's not a vision - it is a hope strategy - fingers crossed that no one actually does get hurt. Face it, if you're a supervisor, foreman, manager or executive, you're in a leadership role. You're in charge. That means the responsibility for the performance and safety of the team is yours. As a leader, there is one thing you need to get right, and it will solve problems in so many other areas: you need to provide your people with a clear vision and direction. You need to tell them where you're headed. Every member of your team wants to know where the team is going. [Read More](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/leadership-vision-to-create-safety-buy-in) ## [What's Important to Employees in Safety](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/whats-important-to-employees-in-safety) Posted by [Kevin Burns](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/author/kevin-burns) on February 27, 2019 [![thumb 10](https://www.kevburns.com/hs-fs/hubfs/thumb-10.jpg?width=900&name=thumb-10.jpg)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/whats-important-to-employees-in-safety) You need to connect with employees in driving the things that are important to them. You feel like you’re saying the right things in safety. Some days your safety performance is great. Other days, you wonder if your team was listening at all. And it frustrates you that just when you seem to be making steps forward, a dumb little incident shows up. This is where you can change it up. You need a safety message that resonates, at the right time, saying the right thing so that every employee is working toward common goals in safety. And the goals are not numbers. Stop pitching numbers to your people. Numbers don’t inspire better performance. [Read More](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/whats-important-to-employees-in-safety) [Previous](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/safety-buy-in/page/1) [All posts](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/all) [Next](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/safety-buy-in/page/3) ### Subscribe to Kevin's Blog Get insights and strategies to build the leadership skills employees want their supervisors to have! Subscribe now. --- Kevin Burns' newest book, **The CareFull Supervisor**. This is the book that every frontline supervisor should read.   ![carefull-supervisor-3d-covers-400-1](https://www.kevburns.com/hs-fs/hubfs/carefull-supervisor-3d-covers-400-1.png?width=253&height=253&name=carefull-supervisor-3d-covers-400-1.png)   **BUY NOW:** [Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/CareFull-Supervisor-Tools-Succeed-Employees/dp/1039197256)| [B&N](https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-carefull-supervisor-kevin-burns/1144577942) | [Indigo](https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/the-carefull-supervisor-the-tools-to-succeed-and-be-the-supervisor-employees-want-to-have/9781039197268.html)| [FreisenPress](https://books.friesenpress.com/store/title/119734000383321344)| [Kobo](https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/the-carefull-supervisor)| Audible --- ### Recent Posts - About - [Supervisor Training](https://www.kevburns.com/supervisors-old) - [Blog](https://www.kevburns.com/blog) #### © 2026 PeopleWork Align Inc. [![Kev-Burns-Learning-white](https://www.kevburns.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Kev-Burns-Learning-white.png?width=180&height=89&name=Kev-Burns-Learning-white.png "Kev-Burns-Learning-white")](https://www.kevburns.com)