- Lead by example — follow the same safety rules you expect from others.
- Praise and recognise safe behaviour when you see it happening on site.
- Encourage workers to report hazards and near misses without fear of blame.
- Listen to safety concerns raised by any member of the team and act on them.
- Share lessons from incidents openly and constructively with the whole team.
- Include safety as the first item on every meeting agenda.
- Invest time in safety conversations — they build trust and engagement.
- Support workers who use stop work authority when conditions are unsafe.
- Treat every person on site with respect regardless of their role or employer.
- Celebrate safety milestones and improvements as a team achievement.
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- DON'T blame individuals for incidents without examining the systems that failed.
- DON'T ignore safety concerns raised by workers — that destroys trust instantly.
- DON'T walk past unsafe conditions without acting — silence implies acceptance.
- DON'T treat safety as a burden that slows the project down.
- DON'T expect culture change from a single poster campaign or one-off event.
- DON'T punish workers for reporting incidents or near misses honestly.
- DON'T allow different safety standards for different trades or subcontractors.
- DON'T undermine stop work authority — support it every single time.
- DON'T hide behind paperwork — culture is built through actions, not documents.
- DON'T assume your safety culture is strong because you have not had an incident.
See also: Behavioural Safety Awareness | Safety Observations and Conversations
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