It is essential for every organization to implement an effective occupational health and safety (OHS) policy in order to reduce the risk of workplace accidents. Frontline teams, who are the true pillars of this approach, need an OHS leader to guide them and promote best practices on a daily basis.
What type of leadership should you adopt, and how can you put it into practice?
Find the answers in this article.
What is leadership?
Leadership can take many forms, but it always comes down to a person’s ability to influence, motivate, and guide others toward achieving shared goals. It’s about giving meaning to the process by engaging teams and getting them involved in the initiative.
Therefore, being a “leader” is not just a matter of position or title—it is demonstrated through one’s actions, behaviours, and attitudes.
Main forms of leadership
There are several types of leadership, each with its own characteristics and approaches. Here are a few examples:
Autocratic Leadership
Autocratic leadership is a directive style, based on the traditional model of the “boss” who gives orders to their team.
This type of leader seeks to maintain control over team members to ensure that tasks are completed efficiently and, above all, within the shortest possible timeframes. There is little room for individual initiative, since procedures are already established and formalized.
This style can be effective in crisis situations where quick decisions are needed, but it tends to demotivate teams over the long term.
Democratic or Participative Leadership
Democratic leadership encourages collaboration and active listening, as team members are involved in the decision-making process. Each person feels valued and included, which, over time, helps boost overall performance.
This style promotes collaboration and engagement, but it can sometimes slow down the decision-making process.
Visionary Leadership
A visionary leader is distinguished by their ability to communicate a clear and inspiring vision for the future. They focus on long-term strategy, setting goals to be achieved over time and sharing these objectives with their teams.
The visionary leader is often charismatic and able to rally others around their vision. Team members feel inspired and have confidence in the leader, which motivates them to get involved and support the project.
Visionary leadership is ideal in situations that require clear direction and significant change.
Collaborative Leadership
Collaborative leadership is based on cooperation and the active participation of all team members. This type of leader values everyone’s contributions and fosters an inclusive, respectful work environment.
Collaborative leaders encourage open communication, shared decision-making, and collective problem-solving by implementing initiatives that support workplace well-being, such as workshops and team-building activities.
This type of leadership is especially effective in strengthening team cohesion and encouraging collective innovation.
Discover the best apps for your OHS management systems
Practical tips for integrating OHS leadership
There are various forms of leadership, and each leader has their own way of managing their team. Similarly, there are several approaches to establishing a strong OHS culture.
The importance of OHS culture
The culture of occupational health and safety is constantly evolving within every organization, and it is essential to keep team members engaged throughout the change process.
To communicate effectively about OHS, it’s not enough to use posters on a bulletin board, speeches, or basic paper documents. You need to go further and innovate in order to stand out from the competition.
Corporate culture can be reflected in hiring criteria, by bringing on people who share the organization’s vision and values.
It can also be seen in internal management practices, helping each team member become aware of the risks they are exposed to.
Motivating teams in the process
It’s crucial to motivate team members and encourage their involvement, while also adding value to their work. To achieve this, it’s important that they understand OHS initiatives and feel valued in their day-to-day tasks.
During team meetings, the leader should encourage members to ask questions rather than simply sharing results. The goal is to involve them, give them autonomy, and stimulate reflection on their activities.
Developing internal processes
To better identify risks internally, it’s essential to involve teams in developing processes. Simple, clear, and accessible protocols and procedures will be used more effectively in the field.
In addition, conducting an annual review of protocols and procedures ensures they remain relevant and suited to current needs.
Electronic document management (EDMS) systems now make it possible to access all documents with a single click and review the history of different versions associated with them.
These dedicated tools also make it possible to create digital OHS inspection checklists, for example, using a cellphone or tablet. With the digital form, you can take photos or videos to enhance the report. It’s crucial that these inspection checklists be updated regularly and that field teams are actively involved in their development.
In fact, creating inspection checklists shouldn’t be the sole responsibility of the quality department!
Key success factors in OHS
According to the Commission for Standards, Equity, Health and Safety at Work (CNESST), effective management of occupational health and safety in the workplace depends on five key factors:
- Commitment and support from senior management
- Participation of workers
- Responsibility shared by both workers and employers
- Organization of prevention efforts
- Evaluation of the company’s OHS performance
In addition to promoting the health and safety of workers, taking charge of OHS in the workplace offers many benefits, including greater employee engagement and participation, higher retention rates, and easier recruitment.
It also improves productivity, product quality, on-time delivery, as well as planning and predictability. Furthermore, it contributes to a positive brand image and recognition from clients and suppliers, while reducing absenteeism, costs, wasted time, and unexpected interruptions.
OHS leadership is essential for promoting best practices within the company. The OHS leader plays a crucial role in motivating and engaging teams to achieve set objectives. Their personal commitment to this process is key to earning everyone’s trust and creating a safe, collaborative work environment.
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