Safety is paramount. No matter the line of work you’re in, it’s critical to do everything in your power to keep employees protected from accidents and injuries. The best way to do this is to make safety a part of your culture.

In other words, Safety shouldn’t be its own department, separate from your other endeavors. It should be woven into everything your company touches. It should be something all of your employees are aware of.

How can you turn your workplace culture into a safety-centric one? Here are a few guidelines.

1. Tie safety to service

The primary mission of your company is to serve customers in the most effective way possible, and that means keeping prices competitive and quality high. Workplace injuries can compromise both of these goals. They lead to waste, drive up prices, and can impair the workmanship you offer. Remind everyone on your team that safety is a boon to the customers as much as the employees.

2. Make it an investment

In keeping with the previous point, remember that safety is an investment — something that can reduce waste and increase efficiency over time. As such, it may be worthwhile to put some money into safety on the front end, bringing in safety instructors or replacing unsafe equipment with something more secure. These safety investments will pay for themselves over time.

3. Make good use of technology

You might be amazed by the number of online training courses you can find to school your employees in safety standards at a minimal cost. Make sure you use online resources to your full advantage. Additionally, there are a variety of programs that can track safety initiatives and will help guide you to becoming efficient and effective in this area.

Don’t try to go at safety alone. Use whatever enhanced resources are available to you as it can make the process easier overall. There could even be added perks offered by your insurance company if you implement some of these tools at your business.

4. Solicit feedback from your team

Do the members of your team have specific safety concerns or parts of the job that worry them? You won’t know unless you ask them. Ask for insights and opinions from your team, and listen to what they tell you. Creating a culture of safety will require their buy-in. Moreover, you are likely to create renewed loyalty and appreciation when your employees realize that you have their best interests at heart.

5. Pay attention to industry standards

Look at how the best companies in the pumping industry do safety. Engage in research and possibly think about asking for mentorship pertaining to best practices and techniques. Take notes from them, and implement strategies that seem to get good results.

6. Seek help from a consultant

Again, it’s an investment. Bringing in a safety expert can be a really smart one to make if you have serious concerns about workplace accidents. Yes, there is probably an up-front cost, but the benefit to your business can pay off in the long run.

7. Do right by your employees

By thinking of your team members as a family, and seeking what’s in their best interests, you really can’t go wrong. And by the way, this sort of involvement with your people rarely goes unnoticed. Doubling down on safe work conditions can really be a powerful tool in employee retention and overall morale.

A safe culture doesn’t happen on its own — you have to create it. These tips will help you to do just that, and additionally, to show employees and customers alike where your true priorities fall. Start building your culture of workplace safety today, and be sure to get everyone on your team on board.