Your Workplace as a Fish Tank

Crafting a culture of safety is no easy feat. In fact, it might be the hardest part of the job. But with a million moving parts, it can be helpful to view the challenge through a different lens. Sometimes, a good analogy really helps. 

So, poof 🪄 Your workplace is now a fish tank. 

Think of your organisation as a closed-loop fish tank ecosystem, and the fish are your employees. You can hire the best, most capable fish, but if the conditions in the tank are wrong; if the water is polluted, the temperature is off, or the filter is broken, the fish won't survive. The same is true for your business.

Creating an ecosystem where safety can thrive relies on all its components working together to maintain  stability. Your safety ecosystem has its own key elements that must be in harmony to thrive:

The Water (Culture): This is the medium where everything operates. A toxic culture is like polluted water; no matter what else you do, safety won't take hold. A healthy culture, on the other hand, is clear and supportive, encouraging open communication and trust.

The Filter (Leadership): Leaders are the filters of the organisation. They remove barriers, address issues, and ensure the entire system runs smoothly. Their actions and commitment are what keep the environment healthy.

The Temperature (Psychological Safety): This is the "feeling" of the environment. Is it too cold and hostile, or is it warm and welcoming? When psychological safety is high, people feel secure enough to report near misses, ask questions, and admit mistakes without fear of punishment.

The Food and Oxygen (Resources and Communication): Resources are the nutrients that sustain the system, including adequate staffing, training, and equipment. Communication is the oxygen, ensuring information flows freely and keeps the entire system alive and connected.

Building a culture of safety means becoming your organisation's "aquarium keeper". This isn't just about reacting to problems; it's about getting proactive, moving from a reactive mindset to one that actively creates and maintains the perfect conditions for safety to flourish.

To start, take a hard look at your own organisation:

What's the water quality in your workplace? Do people genuinely feel comfortable raising concerns, or do they fear repercussions?

What's your leadership filter like? Do they actively remove obstacles to safety, or do they inadvertently create them?

What's the temperature of your team? Do people feel safe admitting a mistake or reporting a near miss, or are they more likely to hide it?

Is your team's food supply consistent? Do they have the time, training, and tools they need to do their jobs safely?

By digging into these questions, you empower yourself to look past the surface of rules and procedures. You’ll start focusing on the real health of your entire safety ecosystem and create the right conditions for safety to thrive.

This short and snappy read is part of our Safety Snacks^© series, made for busy safety pros who like their insights one bite at a time.