The Power of Teams in Workplace Safety: Insights from Peter Berry | Scratchie Safety Podcast | Episode 9

The Scratchie Safety Podcast

In this episode of the Scratchie Safety Podcast, host James Kell sits down with Peter Berry, Managing Director at Peter Berry Consultancy and a global leader in workplace safety and engagement. With decades of experience in organisational psychology and safety management, Peter shares invaluable insights that could change how we approach safety in the workplace. The conversation covers topics such as the link between employee engagement and safety performance, the impact of leadership on workplace culture, and the often-overlooked importance of teams in driving safety and performance.

Peter emphasises that safety is not an isolated concept but a critical component of overall workplace culture. He shares fascinating case studies, including his work with Shell, demonstrating how engagement directly correlates with improved safety performance and reduced turnover. The discussion also delves into the use of personality assessments in hiring for safety-conscious traits, explaining how characteristics like adjustment (ability to handle stress) and prudence (rule-following tendency) are strong predictors of safe behavior.

James shares how these insights align with Scratchie's innovative approach to safety, particularly their on-the-spot, categorised rewards system for safe behavior. The potential for evolving the Scratchie platform to focus more on team-based rewards emerges as a key takeaway from the conversation. Peter emphasizes that prioritizing safety and engagement isn't just about avoiding accidents – it's good for business, pointing out benefits including increased productivity, lower workers' compensation costs, reduced employee turnover, and enhanced reputation.

This episode offers valuable insights into the interconnected nature of safety, culture, leadership, and team dynamics in the workplace. It underscores the potential for innovative approaches to drive meaningful improvements in safety outcomes. Whether you're a safety professional, a business leader, or someone interested in workplace culture and performance, this episode provides thought-provoking ideas and practical strategies for improving safety and engagement in your organization.

Ready to take the next step? Visit https://www.scratchie.com/book-a-demo to see how Scratchie can help you recognise and reward safe behaviour on your projects. The future of construction safety starts here.