In order to establish the safest possible working environment, we must first establish a company culture that promotes and values electrical safety in words and deeds.
       This is not always easy. Resistance to change is often one of the biggest challenges faced by EHS professionals. The manager in charge of the safety plan must overcome this resistance when implementing the new policy. There are actions that can be taken to help minimize concerns about cultural and operational changes. The following steps outline the various stages of cultural change, how to most effectively implement these changes, and how to develop an effective lockout/tagout plan to transform these changes from concept to practice.

       Lead to buy. Without the support or participation of the company's leadership, any plan will fail. Leaders must lead by example and be backed by actions. Leaders should focus on minimizing any actual or perceived negative effects of implementing new security protocols. Any accusation stigma that may be caused by reporting security risks or hazards needs to be eliminated so that employees can be honest when talking with management. As the plan is implemented, employees need to encourage and prove that the new expectations are permanent until further notice. Signage, official announcements and updates can help, as can incentives to reward compliance. Make education and information at your fingertips; if employees feel more prepared, they will be more likely to continue to improve.
       Educate employees why they need to change. In facilities where accidents have occurred recently, this may not be difficult. Factories that have had no recent accidents will better emphasize active prevention and education to understand why safety plans need to be updated regularly. Operator error is a source of risk, especially for novice personnel who are not sufficiently trained and are using unfamiliar equipment or inadequate maintenance. Due to inadequate maintenance, even the most capable personnel are at risk of complacency and mechanical or system failure.
       This article was originally published in the November/December 2019 Occupational Health and Safety Journal.
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