Keeping Safety Messages Fresh When it comes to designing effective safety training programmes, looking for fresh ways to engage with people is vital to success. making new connections The cry of ‘Not another new initiative’ used to be the fear of many organisations when attempting to introduce new tools or approaches in safety. With the current environment of shortage of skilled workers, high-turnover of people and more individuals from overseas working in multi-lingual teams, there is a continual emphasis on ensuring effective induction into safe operating practices on the shop-floor and on platforms and rigs. Increasingly, we are being asked to help safety professionals and champions to re-energise their safety training and induction programmes. Our experience within other sectors in the UK, Rail, construction and transport, provides a pool of ideas that can be drawn on.  Messages may remain constant, but finding new ways of helping individuals make them relevant to their own personal experience requires innovative thinking. In people=positive™ we have always encouraged our team to‘re-invent’ the processes and activities we use regularly. This not only keeps them fresh and motivated, but also encourages continuous improvement in our product. In jazz music, soloists improvise on the theme of the tune which is always ‘standard’.  If they find themselves playing the same ’improvisation’ all the time then they are ‘stuck’.  The first step is to recognise and accept this, then experiment with new ways of approaching the same theme – change the picture you’re trying to create with the notes / change the dynamics / change the mood etc. Some of the innovations we’ve brought to safety training and safety forums over the years: ‘Spot the Difference’ – taking a routine activity where violations are known to occur regularly and re-drawing the picture with some key changes - simple but effective.  Video-diaries – many variations, from recorded messages made offshore played during onshore safety forums to ‘connect’ with more people and their issues / site visits in small groups shipyard to modules in shipyard under construction recording observations on the journey around then sharing different Perspectives – Oscar for the best danger highlighted or best improvement to build-in safety / to creating short induction messages in ‘advert’ style format highlighting golden rules. The Personal Safety Case – taking the idea of identifying risks and measures associated with plant and machinery,  and applying this to the individual – what makes you a risk and how will you manage this when working with others? ‘Near Myths’ – card game taking well-known viewpoints on safety-related themes, and arguing the opposite viewpoint to explore different perspectives. Each of these activities of course, is only a vehicle to surface issues for discussion and reflection. The real learning begins when people identify ways to apply these new insights into their day-to-day working environment.