--- title: Kevin Burns Blog | safety communications (6) description: safety communications | Tools and strategies to build supervisor leadership, clarify the safety message, and get employee buy-in. (6) --- Kevin Burns Blog | safety communications (6) [![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 Academy](https://www.kevburns.com/supervisors) - [7 Reasons to Not Work With Us](https://www.kevburns.com/7-reasons-not-to-work-with-us) - [52 Benefits of Safety](https://www.kevburns.com/52-benefits) - [Hope Calculator](https://www.kevburns.com/calculator) - [Issues](https://www.kevburns.com/safety-issues) - [People](https://www.kevburns.com/people-issues) - [Safety](https://www.kevburns.com/safety-issues) - [Escalations](https://www.kevburns.com/escalation-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 Academy](https://www.kevburns.com/supervisors) - [7 Reasons to Not Work With Us](https://www.kevburns.com/7-reasons-not-to-work-with-us) - [52 Benefits of Safety](https://www.kevburns.com/52-benefits) - [Hope Calculator](https://www.kevburns.com/calculator) - [Issues](https://www.kevburns.com/safety-issues) - [People](https://www.kevburns.com/people-issues) - [Safety](https://www.kevburns.com/safety-issues) - [Escalations](https://www.kevburns.com/escalation-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. 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[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) - [unplanned costs (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/unplanned-costs) - [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 ## [3 Ways To Positively Motivate In Safety](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/3-ways-to-positively-motivate-in-safety) Posted by [Kevin Burns](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/author/kevin-burns) on October 1, 2024 [![3 Ways To Positively Motivate In Safety](https://www.kevburns.com/hs-fs/hubfs/positive06.jpg?width=900&name=positive06.jpg)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/3-ways-to-positively-motivate-in-safety) Instead of focusing on negative outcomes, re-frame communications to be more positive in safety. Safety, like any other message or idea, needs to be marketed to employees. Safety needs reminding. The more a safety message is repeated, the more employees become comfortable with the message. The overwhelming focus of safety marketing in past has been wrong. Scare tactics, sad stories and data charts do not provide inspiration or motivation to buy-in to safety. They create fear and accident avoidance. That's a short-term result that needs to be constantly fed and reinforced. Safety is focused on achieving compliance instead of developing an affinity with personal values. A cop at the side of the highway causes short-term compliance. Values alignment creates safety buy-in so that cops become unnecessary. Instead of focusing on negative outcomes, re-frame communications to be more positive in safety. [Read More](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/3-ways-to-positively-motivate-in-safety) ## [Safety People Love To Argue](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/safety-people-love-to-argue) Posted by [Kevin Burns](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/author/kevin-burns) on October 1, 2024 [![Safety People Love To Argue](https://www.kevburns.com/hs-fs/hubfs/argue-1.jpg?width=900&name=argue-1.jpg)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/safety-people-love-to-argue) Shooting down one person’s imperfect safety ideas in favor of your own imperfect safety ideas still yield the same results: good people getting hurt. If only social media were treated like safety conferences, or social events, or wine-and-cheese gatherings. People would be considerate of others’ points-of-view. They would listen, consider and digest ideas. They would ask questions. They would be respectful and be willing to accept that perhaps, among all of these diverse minds and experiences, they might get a new perspective that challenges their own. But, it’s social media. Social media is apparently where points-of-view are defended, where others’ opinions are chastised - sometimes, even ridiculed. You’ve seen people offer their opinion to headlines without actually reading the entire article. That would never happen at a party or social event. There, people would be given consideration to finish explaining their idea. People would engage, listen, hear, exchange and probably learn something. [Read More](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/safety-people-love-to-argue) ## [Why Do You Choose Safety?](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/why-do-you-choose-safety) Posted by [Kevin Burns](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/author/kevin-burns) on October 1, 2024 [![Why Do You Choose Safety?](https://www.kevburns.com/hs-fs/hubfs/story.jpg?width=900&name=story.jpg)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/why-do-you-choose-safety) Employees may know logically that safety is the right choice. But, it is the story of why you choose safety that is more compelling to others. What’s your story? Everyone has a story about the time they made the decision to jump on the safety bandwagon. Everyone has a story of why safety is important to them. Some of those stories may be as the result of suffering a workplace injury. Some may be of losing a friend or family member. Some may be from a realization from something someone said that affected them at an emotional level. But before most people choose safety as one of their personal values, there is usually a story. Unfortunately, most stories are sad. Why People Choose Ask someone why they choose a retirement savings plan. You will hear stories of wanting freedom in retirement, to travel, to see the world, to enjoy grandkids, etc. They are not sad stories. They are stories the come from caring about family and loved ones. They also want financial independence. [Read More](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/why-do-you-choose-safety) ## [ZeroSpeak - 4 Ways To Improve Safety Communication](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/zerospeak-4-ways-to-improve-safety-communication) Posted by [Kevin Burns](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/author/kevin-burns) on October 1, 2024 [![ZeroSpeak - 4 Ways To Improve Safety Communication](https://www.kevburns.com/hs-fs/hubfs/communication02.jpg?width=900&name=communication02.jpg)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/zerospeak-4-ways-to-improve-safety-communication) Your people deserve your best communication effort. Their safety depends on it. Zero-Speak. It’s not just a clever name. It’s a mindset and a safety communications philosophy. Zero-Speak is a way of ensuring that you communicate effectively with your people. To move you closer to the ultimate goal of your safety program requires effective communication. If you have to repeat yourself, your people aren't buying-in to what you're saying. They're tolerating safety rules. What you say and how you say it matters. You need to maximize your Zero-Speak opportunities. Here are four solid ways to begin implementing a Zero-Speak philosophy in your safety program: [Read More](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/zerospeak-4-ways-to-improve-safety-communication) ## [Stop Doing Negative Things To Your Safety Culture](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/bid/404180/Stop-Doing-Negative-Things-To-Your-Safety-Culture) Posted by [Kevin Burns](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/author/kevin-burns) on October 1, 2024 [![Stop Doing Negative Things To Your Safety Culture](https://www.kevburns.com/hs-fs/file-2679218022-jpg/images/positive02.jpg?width=900&name=positive02.jpg)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/bid/404180/Stop-Doing-Negative-Things-To-Your-Safety-Culture) Here are 7 changes you must make immediately to begin to shift away from a negative-based approach to safety. The headline to this post is negative. Stop, never or don’t are not positive. Telling people what not to do isn’t a plan for positive action because it’s not a complete set of instructions. It’s like scolding. It’s easy to point out what not to do. A successful trip to the grocery store doesn’t include a list of what not to buy. Focusing on what-not-to-do is not a blueprint to safety success. [Read More](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/bid/404180/Stop-Doing-Negative-Things-To-Your-Safety-Culture) ## [Top 5 Strategies To Inspire Safety Performance](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/bid/403795/top-5-strategies-to-inspire-safety-performance) Posted by [Kevin Burns](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/author/kevin-burns) on October 1, 2024 [![Top 5 Strategies To Inspire Safety Performance](https://www.kevburns.com/hs-fs/file-2679217697-jpg/images/inspire.jpg?width=900&name=inspire.jpg)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/bid/403795/top-5-strategies-to-inspire-safety-performance) To inspire your people to buy-in to safety, you must make safety inspiring. “If you want to your safety program to run like a well-oiled machine, consider your people as “moving parts.” Parts need maintenance for best performance. Coach, communicate and inspire their best. It’s safety after all.” - Kevin Burns [Read More](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/bid/403795/top-5-strategies-to-inspire-safety-performance) ## [To Increase Safety Engagement You Must Say This](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/bid/403536/to-increase-safety-engagement-you-must-say-this) Posted by [Kevin Burns](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/author/kevin-burns) on October 1, 2024 [![To Increase Safety Engagement You Must Say This](https://www.kevburns.com/hs-fs/file-2679217537-jpg/images/onething.jpg?width=900&name=onething.jpg)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/bid/403536/to-increase-safety-engagement-you-must-say-this) Flippant answers must stop immediately. Dismissing concerns as unimportant, disengages people from the job and safety. “Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply.” ― Stephen R. Covey, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People [Read More](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/bid/403536/to-increase-safety-engagement-you-must-say-this) ## [Top 3 Safety Communications You Must Change Now](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/bid/403360/top-3-safety-communications-you-must-change-now) Posted by [Kevin Burns](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/author/kevin-burns) on October 1, 2024 [![Top 3 Safety Communications You Must Change Now](https://www.kevburns.com/hs-fs/file-2679217352-jpg/images/communications.jpg?width=900&name=communications.jpg)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/bid/403360/top-3-safety-communications-you-must-change-now) The biggest issue uncovered is poor communication. Safety managers are concerned that employees will lose respect because of their communications skills. Having mission and values statements are useless without communication. Building and authoring a safety program is useless without communication to tell others what is in it. Safety certification is useless without communication skills to pass along what they know. [Read More](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/bid/403360/top-3-safety-communications-you-must-change-now) [Previous](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/safety-communications/page/5) [All posts](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/all) ### 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**. 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