A recent IBM poll of 1,500 CEOs identified creativity as the No. 1 “leadership competency” of the future, and one of the most crucial factors of future success. With this wholehearted pursuit for creativity in business and elsewhere, what is the impact on the safety of those who create it? Creativity on a larger scale promotes the art of ‘risk-taking’, which is essentially the antithesis of what ‘safety’ implicates.
Although interestingly, when partnered, creativity can enhance the safe running of procedures, and vice versa can work too.
What happens in work places which demand creativity in their day-to-day practices?
As operations begin to exclusively rely on electricity and technology, workers are in fact hooked up to, or engaging with one element of electricity and technology at all times of the day. The repercussions if a problem of any size arose could be catastrophic for those who are dependent on the smooth running of these devices to get jobs done. So what happens if a creative endeavour threatens the safety of the electrical supply on site?
Creative individuals are often directly associated with qualities such as absent-mindedness, clumsiness and the ability to get unequivocally immersed in a project. The latter can hardly be considered a negative attribute, but all of the aforementioned can be hazardous when general safety is involved. Of course all of these are massive generalisations to make, but the entire concept of creativity does promote ambition, and lack of logic, while largely encouraging you to push the boundaries. The boundaries don’t take safety or logic into consideration at all, because a premise of a good idea isn’t always practical. Those logistics form later on. When creativity is required under pressure, (which is the case in fast paced jobs), does safety even cross the minds of those involved?
Safety is integral to everything we do. Creative thinking is no exception to this.
How creativity has been used to solve safety issues:
Creative solutions are used every day to resolve safety issues at work and at home, and can sometimes be the most effective solution to issues that arise, because a creative response to an issue is usually one which thinks outside the box. Different industries are each employing creative and unique approaches to safety which works best to the specific work they do. For example, Fluke Productions, an independent recording studio in London constantly keeps their equipment up to date, and layout minimal and streamlines to limit health and safety hazards which could include obstruction of any sort. Offices, kitchens, and other disciplines are thinking more and more creatively to formulate long and short term solutions to safety concerns.
Brainstorming: A group brainstorming session of any size can be beneficial to solving safety issues. When an environment is created where any idea, good or bad is welcomed, you never know what may be thought up. Discussing short and long term solutions to the issue can be productive, as the short term solutions can prove to be successful and can be modified to be sustainable over a longer period of time.
Creative approach to training so staff are more inclined to remember the facts.
If routine procedures and general safety precautions are initially introduced in a presentation form and then the employees are tested via an interactive quiz of some sort, where practical and theoretical practices are encouraged, then it is more likely these facts will be more memorable.
Limit Clutter: An overload of equipment or paper can be unproductive as well as unsafe. Limited space to conduct the work in your company or workspace can prevent you from carrying out procedures correctly. An apt example of this is areas where food production takes place. Obviously hygiene is a must here, as well an open space to prepare large quantities of food, depending on the size of the restaurant or facility you work in. An overspill of knives, or sharp objects, is naturally a hazard. Magnetic knife boards are a creative way to limit clutter and keep all sharp objects in one attainable and organised space.
