Episode 11: Building a Culture of Safety and Compliance
Episode 11: Building a Culture of Safety and Compliance
Hey there, Assistant Manager! Welcome back to "Smoke Break." I'm Mike Hernandez, and today we're wrapping up our safety series by talking about something that ties everything together - creating a culture where safety and compliance become second nature.
You see, having rules and procedures is great, but what really matters is how your team thinks about safety every single day. It's not about catching people doing something wrong - it's about inspiring them to do things right.
Think about it this way: you can have the best safety manual in the world, but if it's just collecting dust on a shelf, what good is it doing? Safety needs to be part of every conversation, every shift, every decision you make.
Start with your morning meetings. Instead of just going through the motions, share a quick safety tip or ask your team about potential concerns they've noticed. Maybe someone spotted a loose tile near the entrance, or they're worried about that flickering light in the stockroom. These conversations matter.
Training shouldn't be a one-and-done thing. Sure, everyone gets safety training when they're hired, but that's just the beginning. Make it ongoing. See someone using the ladder correctly? Acknowledge it. Notice someone remembering to check IDs consistently? Praise them. Positive reinforcement works wonders.
Documentation is important, but let's make it meaningful. When you're doing your safety checks, don't just tick boxes. Really look at what you're checking. That emergency exit sign that's been working fine for months? Actually test it. That fire extinguisher that's always in the green? Give it a proper inspection.
Here's something I've learned over the years - your newest employee might spot something you've overlooked. Create an environment where everyone feels comfortable speaking up about safety concerns. No eye-rolling, no brushing things off. Every concern deserves attention.
Regular audits aren't just about compliance - they're opportunities to improve. When you find something that needs fixing, don't just correct it. Figure out why it happened and how to prevent it from happening again. That's how you build a stronger safety culture.
Now, here's your challenge for the day: Start a safety suggestion program. Put up a simple board in your break room where team members can write down safety concerns or suggestions. Check it daily and actually follow up on what's written there. Show your team their input matters.
Before we wrap up, let's do a quick check. What's the most effective way to build a safety culture? Is it: A) Creating more rules and procedures B) Punishing safety violations C) Making safety part of daily conversations and decisions
Take a moment to think about it. The correct answer is C - making safety part of daily conversations and decisions. Real change happens when safety becomes a habit, not just a rule.
Remember, as an assistant manager, you're not just enforcing safety policies - you're creating an environment where safety becomes part of your store's DNA.
That's all for today's "Smoke Break." If you found this helpful, don't forget to subscribe to our channel and share with your fellow convenience store leaders. And for more in-depth content, head over to cstorethrive.com.
Until next time, keep building that safety culture, one day at a time. This is Mike Hernandez, signing off!
