Do’s and Don’ts of a Great Safety Officer

In many workplaces, safety rules are well documented, procedures are approved, and risk assessments are filed away—yet incidents still happen. The missing link is often not the absence of rules, but the quality of the safety officer’s approach.

A great safety officer is not defined by how many procedures they enforce or how many violations they issue. They are defined by how effectively they influence behavior, build trust, and embed safety into daily operations.

The truth captured in the golden rule below explains why some safety programs fail while others succeed:

People don’t resist safety — they resist poor approach.

Who Is a Safety Officer?

A safety officer is a professional responsible for identifying hazards, managing risks, ensuring compliance, and protecting workers, assets, and the environment. However, beyond technical duties, a safety officer is also:

• A communicator

• A coach

• A leader

• A problem solver

• A culture shaper

Great safety officers understand that safety is about people first, systems second, and documents last.

The DO’s of a Great Safety Officer

1. Be Approachable — Safety Works Better With Trust

Why Approachability Is Critical

Approachability is the foundation of effective safety leadership. When workers feel comfortable around a safety officer, they are more likely to:

• Report hazards early

• Ask safety-related questions

• Admit near-misses

• Follow guidance willingly

An unapproachable safety officer creates fear, silence, and hidden risks.

What Being Approachable Looks Like in Practice

• Greeting workers respectfully

• Using simple, human language instead of technical jargon

• Maintaining calm body language

• Showing empathy instead of authority

Approachability reduces underreporting, which is one of the biggest challenges in safety management.

2. Listen Before Correcting

The Problem With Immediate Correction

Many safety officers rush to correct unsafe acts without understanding:

• Why did the behavior occur

• What constraints is the worker facing

• Whether the system itself is flawed

This leads to resistance, defensiveness, and repeated violations.

The Power of Listening First

Listening allows the safety officer to:

• Identify root causes

• Understand operational realities

• Gain worker cooperation

• Improve procedures

Read Also: 50 Essential Duties of a Safety Officer

A simple question like “Can you walk me through how this job is normally done?” often reveals risks no checklist ever will.

3. Explain the “Why,” Not Just the Rule

Rules Without Reasons Create Resistance

When safety officers only say:

• “It’s the procedure.”

• “That’s company policy.”

• “Management said so.”

Workers comply temporarily, not consistently.

Explaining the “Why” Drives Ownership

Great safety officers explain:

• What can go wrong

• Who could be affected

• How the rule protects lives

For example, instead of saying:

“Wear your harness.”

Say:

“A fall from this height can cause permanent injury. The harness gives you a second chance.”

Understanding why turns compliance into commitment.

4. Be Visible on the Ground

Safety cannot Be Managed From the Office

A safety officer who stays behind a desk becomes disconnected from reality. Visibility on the ground helps to:

• Identify real hazards

• Observe actual work practices

• Build rapport with workers

• Detect unsafe conditions early

What Visibility Means

Being visible means:

• Regular site walks

• Attending toolbox talks

• Engaging with supervisors

• Observing high-risk tasks

When workers see safety officers regularly, safety becomes part of normal work, not a reaction after incidents.

5. Praise Safe Behaviour

Why Recognition Matters

Most workplaces focus heavily on:

• Unsafe acts

• Violations

• Incidents

But safe behavior often goes unnoticed.

Praising safe behavior:

• Reinforces positive actions

• Motivates others

• Builds morale

• Strengthens safety culture

How to Praise Effectively

• Be specific (“Good job using the correct lifting technique”)

• Praise immediately

• Be sincere

• Recognize effort, not just outcomes

Positive reinforcement is one of the most powerful tools a safety officer can use.

The DON’Ts of a Poor Safety Officer

6. Don’t Act Like Safety Police

The “Safety Police” Mentality

Safety officers who behave like law enforcement focus on:

• Catching mistakes

• Issuing warnings

• Exercising authority

This approach creates fear, not safety.

Why This Approach Fails

• Workers hide unsafe acts

• Hazards go unreported

• Trust is destroyed

• Safety becomes a compliance game

Read Also: 10 Practical Roles of a Food Safety Officer

Great safety officers act as partners, not enforcers.

7. Don’t Embarrass People Publicly

Public Shaming Damages Safety Culture

Correcting a worker harshly in front of others:

• Humiliates the individual

• Creates resentment

• Discourages reporting

• Undermines respect

The Right Way to Correct Unsafe Behavior

• Speak privately where possible

• Use respectful language

• Focus on the behavior, not the person

• Offer guidance, not blame

Safety culture thrives in psychological safety, not public humiliation.

8. Don’t Hide Behind Procedures

Procedures Are Tools, Not Shields

Procedures are essential, but hiding behind them signals:

• Lack of practical understanding

• Poor engagement

• Inflexibility

Work environments are dynamic. A rigid, document-only mindset often ignores reality.

What Great Safety Officers Do Instead

• Adapt procedures to real conditions

• Involve workers in reviewing SOPs

• Balance compliance with practicality

A procedure that cannot be followed safely needs improvement, not blind enforcement.

9. Don’t Only Show Up After Incidents

Reactive Safety Is Weak Safety

When safety officers only appear after:

• Accidents

• Near-misses

• Serious incidents

Workers begin to associate safety with punishment and blame.

Proactive Safety Is the Goal

Great safety officers focus on:

• Hazard identification

• Near-miss reporting

• Preventive controls

• Continuous improvement

The best safety officer is the one whose presence prevents incidents before they happen.

10. Don’t Forget the Reality of the Job

The Gap Between Paper and Practice

Many safety rules fail because they ignore:

• Time pressure

• Resource limitations

• Equipment availability

• Environmental conditions

Ignoring these realities leads to unrealistic expectations.

Understanding Work as Done vs Work as Imagined

Great safety officers understand:

• How work is planned

• How work is actually executed

Read Also: 4 Main Qualifications Required for a Safety Officer?

They work with supervisors and workers to close the gap safely.

The Golden Rule

People don’t resist safety — they resist poor approach.

This statement captures the essence of effective safety leadership.

Workers generally want to go home safe. Resistance occurs when safety is:

• Disrespectful

• Authoritarian

• Detached from reality

• Focused only on punishment

Change the approach, and safety resistance disappears.

Core Skills Every Great Safety Officer Must Develop

Communication Skills

• Active listening

• Clear explanations

• Conflict resolution

• Non-verbal awareness

Emotional Intelligence

• Empathy

• Self-control

• Situational awareness

Technical Competence

• Hazard identification

• Risk assessment

• Regulatory knowledge

• Incident investigation

Leadership Mindset

• Influence over authority

• Coaching over policing

• Prevention over reaction

Common Mistakes Safety Officers Should Avoid

• Talking more than listening

• Overusing technical jargon

• Ignoring frontline feedback

• Measuring success only by incident numbers

• Treating safety as a checklist

Avoiding these mistakes accelerates trust and performance.

How Organizations Benefit From Great Safety Officers

Organizations with effective safety officers experience:

• Fewer incidents

• Higher reporting rates

• Stronger safety culture

• Better regulatory compliance

• Improved productivity

Safety done right is not a cost—it is a strategic advantage.

Conclusion: Safety Is About People, Not Power

A great safety officer understands one fundamental truth:
Safety is a people business.

Rules, procedures, and systems matter—but approach determines success. By being approachable, listening, explaining the “why,” staying visible, and reinforcing positive behavior—while avoiding policing, public embarrassment, and reactive practices—safety officers can transform safety from resistance to ownership.

The golden rule remains the compass:

People don’t resist safety — they resist poor approach.

When safety officers get the approach right, safety stops being enforced and starts being embraced.