Eight basic practices can lead to a safer work environment.

Is safety a “norm” in your workplace? Does everyone pull together to make each job safe? Ask your coworkers who they think is responsible for safety. Their answers may surprise you.

Some may say safety is the safety manager’s job. Others may say a supervisor is responsible for keeping the workplace safe. Others may say corporate executives are ultimately responsible. Indisputably, these people play important roles as leaders and role models and have critical responsibilities, including implementing a safety program that adheres to government regulations. They cannot, however, be entirely responsible for each worker’s individual safety all of the time. It is physically impossible for anyone to know if you are adhering to your part in maintaining a safe work environment. If managers assume a purely parental role and try to dictate and enforce safety without obtaining employee buy-in, employees could possibly become resentful and balk at the rules, even flagrantly defy safety guidelines.

Reverence for safety and a true culture of safety must rest with each employee — equipment operators, miners, and managers alike. Every member of the team is equally responsible for safety. Everyone must conscientiously pull together to keep the mine safe. You may want to cut corners and blame someone else when accidents and errors occur in your area, but safety usually doesn’t rest solely at the manager level or with a single unsafe colleague — every team member must participate if everyone is going to be safe. A strong commitment from each worker to combat hazards and manage risk in every way humanly possible will help the team achieve a good safety record.

Every shift and every activity of your operations should incorporate open communications, best practices, and safe operating procedures. It definitely helps to have strong leadership from the top and throughout your organization, but individual workers must take responsibility for their personal attitude and work habits.

Following are a few safety basics for every employee.

Look for hazards.

While executing routine tasks, look for safety and health hazards, even if you are not in your work area. A fresh set of eyes may see a safety or health hazard that isn’t obvious to those close to it.

Report hazards.

Take the time to report the hazards you identify to your supervisor and correct them if you can. If a hazard cannot be corrected immediately, warn co-workers about the hazard and barricade it, if possible, to prevent accidents.

Stop unsafe actions.

If you see another employee doing something unsafe, intervene. Gently remind the worker of the consequences of not following safety rules. Ask, “Would you let a family member or close friend do it this way?” We need to watch out for each other. Don’t be afraid of an angry rebuttal. Eventually, everyone will be willing to intervene to prevent accidents.

Avoid horseplay.

The workplace is not the place for playing games. Practical jokes may divert attention from dangerous work. Someone could be seriously injured while goofing around.