Key Steps to Building a Safety Work Culture
Posted on May 8, 2025
From improving worker well-being to enhancing productivity and, most importantly, saving lives – a good workplace safety culture is crucial for all.
As leaders in our field, Sydney Safety Training provides exceptional work safety training courses that help keep workers accredited, aware and up-to-date. However, we recognise these courses represent just one piece of the puzzle – truly responsible workplaces employ multiple strategies to ensure safety becomes both top-of-mind and second nature for all.
In this article, we explore the key steps your business or organisation can take to cultivate a genuine health and safety culture in the workplace.
What Is Workplace Safety in Australia?
For the purposes of this article (and Sydney Safety Training’s services), we refer to physical workplace safety, as opposed to workplace well-being. Also known as Occupational Health and Safety (OHS), Work Health and Safety is the NSW legal framework that eliminates or minimises risks and protects workers from physical harm.
Why Is Workplace Safety Important in Australia?
Many compelling reasons make workplace safety in Australia important:
- Workplace training is a legal necessity for any environment that poses a physical risk.
- It’s also a moral obligation – you should genuinely want to care for your workers’ well-being.
- Employees feeling comfortable and safe can improve staff morale and well-being.
- It leads to fewer workplace injuries and, therefore, fewer compensation payouts and less downtime.
- It makes your workplace more attractive to potential talent.
- It can have a positive effect on brand reputation.
7 Ways to Build a Culture of Safety In the Workplace
There is no single silver bullet for encouraging and creating a strong safety environment in the workplace. Responsible management will look at a comprehensive range of measures they can implement to foster and develop a genuine safety-first culture. If you genuinely want to create a safer workplace, we encourage the following steps in no order of priority:
1.
Provide Accredited Safety Training and Refresher Courses
Of course, we’re biased starting with this safety work culture point, but it is crucial. NSW law mandates that any workplace with inherent safety risks must implement appropriate, accredited and adequate training.
Sydney Safety offers a wide variety of courses, including:
- Confined Space Training courses
- Working at Heights training courses
- Asbestos Removal training courses
- Other worksafe training courses, such as CPR, breathing apparatus, manual handling, gas detection and more
Proper training is not a box-ticking exercise. It should be followed up with refresher courses whether required legally or not.
2.
Include Safety in Your Company Values
Building safety into your company values clearly demonstrates what truly matters to your business. This communicates to your workforce, stakeholders, clients and the public that safety work culture is a priority. A safety-related value gives authority to implement policies, procedures and practices that make this concept tangible and valuable.
3.
Establish Clear Workplace Safety Policies
A workplace policy is an official mandate or blueprint that sets clear guidelines and expectations around workplace behaviour and procedure. In short, this is where workplace safety transitions from theory into practice.
4.
Lead by Example
A business leader sets examples for others to follow.
If you’re a leader who follows safety protocols, you’re showing the workforce that you don’t just talk the talk; work safety is an inherent and valued part of the business or organisation. Seeing the CEO or leadership management set the tone sends a clear message to others — this is not lip service or box-ticking. It is a real priority.
And don’t hesitate to promote whatever it is you do to encourage a safer workplace. The more vocal and demonstrative you are, the stronger this message becomes.
How can you demonstrate your commitment to work safety?
- Participate in safety inspections or incident investigations.
- Attend or contribute to worksafe meetings.
- Wear the appropriate PPE gear when required.
- Never take safety shortcuts – always follow protocol.
- Ensure an adequate and reasonable budget goes towards safety development.
- Invest in quality training and refresher courses like those offered by Sydney Safety Training.
- Recognise and reward safety contributions (see more on this below).
- Communicate any safety lessons learned from reporting or responding to hazards.
- Participate in Australia’s National Work Safe Month.
5.
Encourage Workers to Report Potential Hazards
A big part of workplace safety is mitigation. No business is perfect and mistakes can happen. However, it’s crucial that anyone in the workforce feels safe to report a potential hazard. An open, encouraging culture to report should never be seen as disruptive. Instead, it should be regarded as an opportunity for the business to address issues before they escalate.
6.
Form a Safety Leadership Committee That Meets Regularly
A Safety Leadership Committee serves as a powerful catalyst for channelling worker enthusiasm and motivation toward meaningful health and safety improvements. Members of this strategic body can act as ‘safety champions’ who influence their peers, increase workforce buy-in for safety initiatives, help establish and deploy meaningful safety culture at work practices and policies, and act as conduits between management and workers on certain matters.
7.
Embed Safety into Professional Development
Professional development, also referred to as ‘PD’, encompasses activities that help workers enhance their knowledge, skills and competencies to further their professional pathway and career prospects. It might include formal training, courses, conferences and workshops.
Sydney Safety Training courses contribute three Continuing Professional Development (CPD) points to every hour of training, which can contribute to the annual 12-point target.
Contact Us About Training to Enhance Your Safety Work Culture
A strong safety workplace environment starts with proper training. Speak to our friendly team today about the right courses for you and others in your workplace.
Building a safety culture in the workplace must never be a ‘nice-to-have’.