Hey There Safety Stuff Subscriber,

I hope you're having a refreshing day.

Tuesday, I hosted a video conference for Montana State Fund. It was an unusual experience but fun. I was in Philadelphia and my audiences (six different locations) were in Montana. Thanks Wayne for choosing me. It was great to see you again (even if it was via a large screen).

Tonight, I'm giving a talk at a local Human Resource Association. Next week, I'll be working on an upcoming webinar series and a new talk about helping employees (and yourself) focus better during trying times.

You did it Ysidro "Sonny" Ramon from DuPont! You sent in this week's winning safety and health meeting/promotion idea!

Safety & health meeting/promotion idea winners get 25 Safety & Health Puzzles on CD which they can copy and give out to their employees. They also get a copy of Spice It Up! 52 Easy Ways to Turn Your Safety Meetings From Bland to Grand! If you'd like to purchase these helpful products just go to: www.makesafetyfun.com or click on the picture of the product on the left.

If I publish your idea on how to use a prop to make a point, or some way to get your audience involved in a safety & health meeting, or an innovative way to promote safety & health on and off the job you'll win the puzzles and booklet.

Send your ideas to me at richard@richardhawkinc.com or click on the link at the bottom of this message.

Now, on to Ysidro's idea:

During a Hand Safety Program, I showed a PowerPoint presentation and discussed the importance of " Awareness of Hand Safety."

Halfway through the program, I included this "game show," that's short and easy.

DEAL or No DEAL

• Have Hand Safety related question and answers available.
• Collect badge # or names, to chose a person randomly.
• Draw or select a # or name, and ask that person, if they would like to have a safety question read to them for a prize--DEAL or No DEAL?
• A person wanting to make a "DEAL," needs to answer the question correctly, and give a best practice example.
• Let the audience give their input.
• Reward the person who answers correctly with a prize.

VACUUMING MAN SHOOTS HIMSELF
St Cloud (MN) Times, April 11, 2005

GERMAN POLICE RESCUE 91-YEAR-OLD MAN GLUED TO ROOF
Reuters, March 13, 2007

PATROL CAR HIT BY FLYING OUTHOUSE
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, October 3, 2003

TWO JAILED AFTER BRIDGE BUILT BY BLIND MAN COLLAPSES
Reuters, June 11 2007

TEEN GOLFERS CHARGED WITH GIVING THEIR TEAMMATE A WEDGIE
USA Today, March 28, 2007

Hi Richard,

I felt I needed to share a couple more things with you regarding the meetings yesterday where the video presentation of your talk was shown.

The ladies who were hosting the meeting actually served water and fresh fruit as a complimentary touch to go along with the presentation. The other interesting thing I found out later was they had door prizes which consisted of one of the books you recommended during your talk! Now I thought that was absolutely IDEAL! The recipients were totally excited!

So there again, you've made a very powerful impact! Keep up the awesome work!!!

Wyvette McLendon
JSAT Deputy
Safety, Health & Environmental Office (SHEO)
Wyle/JSC/NASA

If you'd like the same kind of results at your next convention or employee day (or are looking for ways to improve your safety & health culture) contact Michele Lucia (972-899-3411 michele@richardhawkinc.com) or click on the link at the end of this email message.

If you'd like to see a video of yours truly go to my safety website www.makesafetyfun.com

A man is standing on the bathroom scales desperately sucking in his stomach. "That's not going to help," says his wife. "Yes, it will," replies the man. "It's the only way I can see the numbers."

Sometimes during my "Spice It Up!" talk I use cockroaches as a metaphor for things everyone dislikes during safety meetings/training. Well here are seven roaches presenters should squash:

********************************

#1 Pontificating

Nobody cares about the rules--not really. Pontificating means to spew out doctrine. "Do this, don't do that" or "According to procedure TW42 section III you are required to . . . blah, blah, blah." It's a waste of time. (Of course you may have to explain a rule sometimes, especially to new employees.) Instead, let your audience know what benefit they'll get from following whatever it is you're trying to get them to follow.

#2 Sterilizing the Topic

Yes, yes, we all know that "Safety Is Our Number One Priority." Or that it's always "Safety First." These aren't bad things to pronounce and follow. It's just that in the real world there are times when "safety" is ignored-- on the job and at home. There are times when production schedules cause supervisors to overlook precautions. There are times when all of us rush. Include discussions on these type of problems. Don't chastise. Instead, use all the gray matter in the room to come up with solutions.

#3 Doing the Same Thing at Every Meeting

If you do this please stop--starting all of your meetings with your safety statistics. Also, is the room set up the same way every time? Yes! Well start rearranging it now and again. Why not have a meeting outside or perhaps at a work site where you can use the site as a meeting prop to discuss safe behaviors. Since you are a Safety Stuff subscriber there is no excuse for doing the same thing at every meeting! Each week you get a new idea. Be sure to use them. (Soon you'll be able to purchase my new book 250 Super Bright Safety Meeting and Promotion Ideas with 5 years worth of ideas from Safety Stuff subscribers.)

#4 Rambling

I like to call it vocal sauntering--speaking as if your voice is taking a slow meaningless walk in a park. Like the steady hum of a fan it puts people's minds to sleep. Wake them up with your voice! Vary the power, pitch and speed of your words.

How do you react when you're watching a sporting event and your team pulls off a spectacular play? Bring that kind of vocal excitement to your meetings. Don't be fake. Act the way you act naturally (don't imitate somebody you admire as a presenter) when you are excited.

#5 Hollering or Chastising Your Audience

This is the best way to ruin your rapport with an audience. Even if the crew has a horrible safety record, work with them to find out ways to improve their performance. Save any reproof for private one-on-one situations.

#6 Regularly Stating the Obvious

I have a cartoon I display on occasions. It shows a man sitting below a Risk Management plaque, he's obviously a risk management consultant and across from him sits another man who say's "'Be careful. All you can tell me is 'Be Careful!'" I find it amusing and sometimes my audience does too. Unless you're speaking to new employees, try not to repeat the same obvious "make sure you wear your goggles" statements. That doesn't mean you shouldn't constantly remind employees to wear their PPE. I'm suggesting you vary the what, how and words when you do.

#7 Reading to Your Audience

This is the biggest fattest roach of them all. Everybody hates this one. Whenever I go to a meeting and the presenter displays a slide filled with text and starts to read it to me I can feel energy quickly leaving my body and mind. It's especially painful when I have the material right in front of me. I can read! You don't have to read things to me.

Unless you're a story teller and you're going to entertain me with some action and adventure don't read to me please. Better: Pass out the information and have your audience read it over, than discuss what they've read. If you want to use PowerPoint simply include a word or two or a picture to keep you on track.