For some employees, paying attention to a rundown of safety and emergency protocols feels like trying to listen to a flight attendant telling passengers when to keep their seat belts on. Easy to tune out, in part, because it rings of familiarity.

The parallel points to how important it is for companies to engage employees in workplace safety and crisis training. Doing so enables more listening and increases learning opportunities for employees — and ultimately helps protect them from harm and injury on the job.

Here are a few ideas on ways your small business can increase employee interest in learning about safety and emergency procedures.

Make it Catchy

Try to convert key safety concepts into catchy phrases, acronyms, or mnemonic-worthy lists —to boost engagement and make the information easier to retain.

Oft-used options include a variation of The 3 C's of Safety, an expression whose interpretations vary according to a business or agency defining the phrase and the intentions behind it. 

For example, when used as guidance for a first aid crisis, the C's can stand for Check, Call and Care — the priority action steps outlined by the Red Cross for emergencies. 

Another version labels the C's as Compliance, Competence and Commitment, a framework to build and maintain a safe working environment, or a similar theme with a different letter is The 3 E's of Workplace Safety — Evaluation, Education and Enforcement.

Try Something New

While printed materials and PowerPoints may be necessary, consider presenting information in different formats, too, specifically in ways that will prompt, even require, employee participation, such as workshops or e-learning modules in a group setting.

Or, turn safety training into a game, a popular means of engagement and learning.

"Challenge employees to identify potential safety issues and create a contest to see who can identify and solve the most safety issues," suggests an article by OH&S, a news site for occupational health and safety professionals.

Make Safety Part of Your Culture

Communicating about workplace safety shouldn't be a one-off, i.e., when training a new employee. 

Open and ongoing conversations can help demonstrate your company's commitment to safety and employee wellbeing. That doesn't mean a continuous information dump — keep  communications "bite-sized" and relevant.

Inviting employees to be involved and speak up with concerns can also boost engagement, and further show your support for an environment that values not only physical safety but feelings of safety.

"Psychological safety  —defined as the ability to speak up without fear of retribution or ridicule — is now a fundamental component of a healthy work culture," explains the OH&S post.

"For younger generations, being heard and feeling valued is just as crucial as wearing the correct safety equipment."

Invest in Safety

Your investment in workplace safety, from proper equipment to first aid training, will help protect your employees from harm and injury, but the commitment — or lack of — can also impact your business in other ways.

For example, effective safety precautions and training result in a happier work environment, increasing productivity, employee trust, loyalty, and job satisfaction. 

On the flip side, "When safety protocols are ignored, the consequences can be severe for your employees and your bottom line," says a blog by EBN, a workplace benefits news site. "From legal claims to reduced productivity, unsafe environments result in costly setbacks."

Also, see this advice on how to make your workplace safer, including tips from the National Safety Council.