The first important step in creating a psychologically safe workplace is to make it as physically safe as possible.
Speaking with Trolex, Occupational Psychologist Catherine Dobson told us, “If an environment is not physically safe, if it’s too hot, too cold, or if it feels too dangerous people feel stressed. We must ask ourselves how do we get the right environment for people with the right kind of training, the right kind of cooperation to make it healthier?
Which is what contributes to making our range of particulate monitors, such an important development. These include the Air XD, the XD One – our new wearable dust monitoring technology, and coming soon, our Air XS for real-time silica monitoring.
Not simply because it protects workers from the physical dangers of dust and particulate inhalation, but because armed with the knowledge that they are working safely, people feel psychologically safer too.
Catherine explains how: “In relation to silica and dust monitoring. Because the Air XS is new there’s scope for demonstrating that it works. And people can see that.
Also, because all the monitors work in real time, it gives people the trust that an intervention will take place should they be in danger. They can trust in the environment being safe.”
A very good thing for workers on both a physical and emotional level.
And great news, too, for the mining, tunnelling, quarrying, manufacturing and construction companies invested in fulfilling their side of the psychological contract with advanced particulate detection.
Businesses can then reap the rewards of improved production and better worker retention, so everybody wins.