This post was originally published by Leif Sandberg on LinkedIn Pulse.
Recently, we had a big family event when my oldest daughter was confirmed at the local church. After the ceremony, some 30 guests were present for a more private celebration at a nearby hotel.
Being the host, I welcomed the guests, starting with an orientation about the escape routes and the muster place. This is for me just common sense, so I thought no more about the issue until one of the guests approached me at the end of the party. I know him to be somewhat critical to this "bureaucratic and inefficient HSE stuff", so in a way it was no surprise when he – in a somewhat sarcastic tone – mentioned my "offshore approach" on the welcome speech.
My response came without thinking: When 30 of the people that are most dear to me and my family are in the same room, it would be irresponsible not to spend a few seconds on what to do in case of an emergency.
One could say a lot about why we do safety moments. Sometimes it feels like we do them just because someone higher up in the system has said that we have to, which is not always the best motivation.
Safety moments are all about caring through sharing. You share your knowledge and expertise to help others stay safe. Just remember that the message has to be brief and to the point in order to be remembered – which is the point with a safety moment.