Jargon-less safety talk
Recent article by Trinette Jaeschke on the Your safety Mentor blog.
A little extract:
We have our own language in safety. In fact, even different industries have their own safety words. Are these acronyms familiar to you?
SWMS, JSA, OHS, WHS, WHSMS, SMS, ALARP, KPI, HAZOP, LOTO, EWP, HSR
What about these safety words…. Safety Management System, root cause analysis, risk assessment, reasonably practicable, best practice.
Are these acronyms and safety words created to help the elite group of safety professionals (who understand the language) stay in business? I would hope not.
I’m not about to enter the debate about whether we need the acronyms or words, but we do need to keep the safety language we use in business as clear as possible. Without effective communication, the message can become lost and unheard by our workers. Previously I have written about speaking so people listen, today I’d like to draw your attention to helping people understand what we’ve said so they can ACT on it.
How do we do this? READ THE REST OF THE ARTICLE HERE
More Safety Jargon and Safety Talk Articles and Resources:
- They’re Only Words….Aren’t They? – by Rob Sams
- Jargon Killed the Astronauts – by Phil LaDuke
- WHS Harmonisation Jargon – by The Safety Nerd
- OHS and WHS ACRONYMS – Our list of safety acronyms and their meaning (well some of them)
- The Crazy Words of Health and Safety – by Mark Taylor
- The Workers Compensation Discourse – by James Ellis
- How Can I Get The Boss To Listen – by Sheri Suckling
- Your Safety Talk Matters – by Rob Long
