A9: Enhancing Safety Culture Through Soft Skills and Meaningful Messaging
Mon, 6/1: 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM CDT
Education Sessions
Education Sessions
Ernest N. Morial New Orleans Convention Center
Room: 295
CM Credit Hours: 1
Description
In industrial hygiene and occupational safety, technical expertise alone is not enough to drive meaningful change. OEHS professionals must routinely engage in difficult conversations between corporate management and boots on the ground covering topics such as addressing unsafe behaviors, discussing exposure risks, challenging noncompliance, and navigating resistance to protocols. These conversations are often emotionally charged, avoided due to fear of conflict, and complicated by tiered structures and production pressures. Yet, when approached with clarity and structure, they can become powerful tools for strengthening safety culture and protecting worker health.
This presentation explores the critical role of soft skills in facilitating high-stakes safety and industrial hygiene conversations. Observers will understand how to identify common barriers to open communication, including fear, defensiveness, and cultural dynamics. Through real-world examples and interactive exercises, attendees will practice initiating and navigating difficult dialogues with frontline workers, supervisors, and contractors.
The session also addresses how communication strategies must adapt to diverse workforces, language barriers, and varying levels of safety literacy. These exercises will help safety professionals deliver feedback, assert boundaries, and foster collaboration without escalating tension.
This presentation explores the critical role of soft skills in facilitating high-stakes safety and industrial hygiene conversations. Observers will understand how to identify common barriers to open communication, including fear, defensiveness, and cultural dynamics. Through real-world examples and interactive exercises, attendees will practice initiating and navigating difficult dialogues with frontline workers, supervisors, and contractors.
The session also addresses how communication strategies must adapt to diverse workforces, language barriers, and varying levels of safety literacy. These exercises will help safety professionals deliver feedback, assert boundaries, and foster collaboration without escalating tension.
Learning Outcomes
Upon completion, the participant will be able to:
• Transform discomfort into dialogue, and dialogue into action.
• Speak up with confidence, listen deeply, and lead with both technical precision and human connection.
• Transform discomfort into dialogue, and dialogue into action.
• Speak up with confidence, listen deeply, and lead with both technical precision and human connection.
Content Level
Introductory
Core Competencies
Functional Core Competencies
IH/OH Program Management
Work Environments, Occupations, and Industrial Processes
Keywords
Consulting
Hazard Communication
OHS Management systems, auditing, and compliance
Session Availability
In-person
OnDemand
Virtual
Specialized Tracks
Student and Early Career Professional Track
Targeted Audience
Practitioner
Transfer of Knowledge
Practical Application
Problem Solving /Practice Exercises
Small Group Discussion