Do you know the key qualities of a good prevention advisor?

A safety manager must be able to cope with pressure. It is important to keep a cool head in any situation to be able to make the right decisions. Stress impairs thinking and leads to the wrong decisions being made. Stress should not affect their thinking and actions, because a decision reached under stress can make the situation worse. We call this the 'cobra effect'. In this case, you try to remedy a situation, but you end up making it worse by taking the wrong approach. In addition, poor handling of stress creates long-term problems. Someone who is constantly under pressure will, over time, develop a constricted attitude in their general thinking and reasoning. This can lead to situations where safety is the first casualty. A prevention advisor can only handle an emergency situation if they have their own stress levels under control: "If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen".

A good prevention advisor has excellent people skills. Communication plays an important role in workplace safety. It is not just about communicating information, policies and precautions. The prevention advisor also knows how to involve and empower employees in a way that is effective.

It is not just about what the say, but more importantly how they say it. They can enter the workplace like Sergeant Hartman from the film Full Metal Jacket and make sure everyone is immediately intimidated by their menacing presence. Alternatively, they can be approachable and get people enthusiastic. The second approach requires much less effort to maintain the right attitude in the workplace. By being open to employees' input, the message will find its way into the workplace faster and become permanent.

What's more, people in the workplace are an invaluable source of information. Many have enough experience to know exactly what can go wrong in their work. The key is to listen carefully to their experiences and insights and to adapt precautions accordingly.

A sense of responsibility is a positive character trait and a valuable talent. A person with an innate sense of responsibility will always focus on the well-being of those around them. A good prevention advisor will radiate this quality and lead by example. Of course, you cannot expect to find a sense of responsibility from others if you have a casual attitude yourself. A message delivered enthusiastically and with enthusiasm will stay in the mind for longer than one delivered in a stern manner. Click here for safety presentation tips.

In critical situations, a firm, straightforward stance can save lives. This also applies to the preventive approach to safety hazards. Not every precaution will please everyone. A good prevention advisor is prepared for possible resistance from employees and managers. They back up their proposals with clear arguments and emphasise their importance so that everyone understands them.

Straightforwardness in communicating and implementing a safety plan is also important. The health and safety of workers is paramount, and a health and safety manager will never subordinate it to a deadline or a limited budget. An incident is their responsibility, so they need to make sure their priorities are right.

Safety and efficiency are not mutually exclusive. On the contrary, a process can be considered efficient only if it is undertaken under secure conditions. As a prevention advisor, it is advantagenous to have a clear view of business processes. A technical background or experience in another position in the company can help, but it is not essential. In fact, the people on the shop floor have the technical expertise to assist the advisor and work together to improve safety in the workplace.

Safety also applies to forklift and pedestrian traffic inside and outside an industrial building. Knowing where forklifts travel and in which zones they cross pedestrians can be anticipated when installing polymer safety barriers.

This may seem like a negative character trait, but it is actually essential in a prevention-based role. Someone who sees danger everywhere is more likely to ensure a safe workplace than someone who is resigned to everything. In fact, a pessimist is probably better prepared for the worst-case scenario than an optimist.

There are different kinds of pessimism. One is risk aversion. As the phrase suggests, the person is averse to any decision or situation that might involve risk. This is an attitude that can clearly come in handy for a safety manager. Another form is defensive pessimism. Unlike an ordinary pessimist, a defensive pessimist prepares for possible setbacks. Where others do not see the possibility of a poor outcome, someone with this trait may identify possible dangers and take immediate precautionary measures.

Note: pessimism should not be stifling. This trait is useful only when it is within reason. If not, it can seriously affect the efficiency of processes or, worse, have the opposite effect.

A prevention advisor cannot avoid working in a planned manner. Prevention is a matter of planning: a traffic plan, a corporate emergency (or contingency) plan, a safety plan, a health plan, and so on.

A good plan begins with a thorough analysis. A risk analysis allows the prevention advisor to understand the risks. If they can clearly identify this, they can greatly increase the chances of success of the resulting transport or safety plan. This type of analysis and safety measure also ensures that the company is prepared for safety inspections.

A traffic plan is especially necessary in an environment with rolling stock such as forklifts and trucks. One of the main purposes is to separate traffic flows. You don't want pedestrians and forklifts getting in each other's way. Among other things, the traffic plan determines where polymer safety barriers for columns apply, where bollards or tall posts are required or where handrails provide additional protection for workers.

Don't forget the best source of information in your company: your employees. Not only can they assess the risk, but they often have a good idea of how to translate the risk into a precautionary measure. For example, they may be able to point out where polymer safety barriers are appropriate in areas and aisles with forklift traffic.