Security and Safety

What is security and safety?

Security and safety involves supporting a safe environment through proactive, prompt and effective responses to any threats to psychological and physical safety.

Why is security and safety important?

There are many benefits to having people leaders effectively trained in security and safety:

  • Reduce or eliminate the risk of critical incidents.
  • Prevent stress-related absences, illnesses and injuries.
  • Enhance loyalty from workers and improve retention rates.
  • Grows trust in leadership.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Recognize everyone has multiple roles in life (as workers, parents, partners, colleagues, students). When appropriate, ask workers how you can best support their other personal roles and commitments.
  • Offer flexible hours and work arrangements, when possible and reasonable.
  • Encourage leaders to focus on productivity and results, rather than just time spent working.
  • Check in regularly with direct reports during one-on-ones to review workloads and priorities.
  • Discuss the types of potential crises that could occur and help employees learn how to understand and plan for their own emotional responses.
  • Prepare, distribute and discuss emergency response plans.
  • Create a list of crisis response contacts (distress hotlines, substance use supports, poison control, etc.). Post distress hotline numbers in workplace washrooms or other private spaces, where they are easy to find in a crisis.
  • Give employees a detailed workplace tour, showing all potential entry and exit points, fire extinguishers and first aid kids and providers as per regulation 2004-130. Ensure workers know how to operate equipment safely.
  • Create and provide zero-tolerance bullying and harassment policies, focusing on preventing and responding to offensive or potentially harmful behaviours.
  • Encourage workers to intervene in situations of bullying and/or harassment, if they feel it is appropriate and the situation does not pose any personal danger (if you see something, say something). Note: If a worker has concerns for their safety and chooses not to intervene, they should report the incident to their supervisor or JHSC.
  • Positive conflict resolution should focus on the solution rather than the problem, instead of placing blame and making those involved feel ashamed.
  • Appoint a contact person for informal questions, concerns or complaints so incidents can be addressed early, before they escalate. Make sure everyone knows who to speak to if they are being harassed or bullied.

Action

Next steps: Committing to enhancing security and safety as a leader

We invite you to complete the Psychologically Safe Leader Assessment (PSLA) to learn more about your current leadership skills with respect to security and safety. By completing this confidential self-assessment, you can identify key areas to improve your psychologically safe leadership skills.

▸ For security and safety, here are some ways you can improve and expand your skills:
  • Actively listen and follow up with workers who are distressed or in crisis.
  • Foster a culture where workplace issues, challenges and problems can be openly raised and discussed.
  • Educate all workers on how to recognize signs and symptoms of mental health challenges (including anxiety, depression, substance use and burnout).
  • Proactively address and respond to bullying and harassment concerns and behaviours.
  • Respond to traumatic incidents quickly, to help reduce the potential negative effect on mental health.
  • Take thoughtful action and preventive measures to develop the best possible responses to serious incidents and occurrences, to reduce stress for all involved.
  • Take proactive steps to reduce the impact of burnout on workers and workplaces by recognizing workplace factors that contribute to burnout and being aware of worker signs and symptoms.
  • Proactively develop an effective workplace plan to support employee success in case of potential incidents.
  • Enhance resilience and skills to manage emotions to better deal with stressed out, angry or emotional workers.