Risk Management: Involve Members in Safety Planning

Involving members in the safety planning process creates ownership, enhances risk assessment and mitigation, and improves real-time risk awareness.

Why this is important

When members are involved in the risk assessment process, they are more likely to feel a sense of pride or ownership in protecting people and resources. Awareness of hazards and how they can be mitigated benefits from a diverse range of perspectives, and improves the quality of the planning and execution of a mission or activity.

Do this

• Do ask for members' inputs on the hazards, risks, and mitigation

• Do talk to them about their role and responsibility for safety -- for themselves and each other

• Do always encourage members to speak up immediately when they notice an unmitigated hazard

Not this

• Don't complete risk management in a vacuum: involve others and invite their advice and feedback

• Don't treat risk management as a "paperwork exercise."

• Don't ignore important safety information when raised by members