--- title: Kevin Burns Blog | selling safety (3) description: selling safety | Tools and strategies to build supervisor leadership, clarify the safety message, and get employee buy-in. (3) --- Kevin Burns Blog | selling safety (3) [![KevBurns Learning: We teach industrial supervisors how to be really great leaders.](https://www.kevburns.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Kev-Burns-Learning-white.png?width=240&height=118&name=Kev-Burns-Learning-white.png "KevBurns Learning: We teach industrial supervisors how to be really great leaders.")](https://www.kevburns.com/) - [About](https://www.kevburns.com/about-kevin-burns) - [Supervisor Academy](https://www.kevburns.com/supervisors) - [7 Reasons to Not Work With Us](https://www.kevburns.com/7-reasons-not-to-work-with-us) - [52 Benefits of Safety](https://www.kevburns.com/52-benefits) - [Hope Calculator](https://www.kevburns.com/calculator) - [Issues](https://www.kevburns.com/safety-issues) - [People](https://www.kevburns.com/people-issues) - [Safety](https://www.kevburns.com/safety-issues) - [Escalations](https://www.kevburns.com/escalation-issues) - [Resources](https://www.kevburns.com/books) - [Books](https://www.kevburns.com/books) - [Newsletter](https://www.kevburns.com/newsletter) - [Downloads](https://www.kevburns.com/downloads) - [Case Study NBU](https://www.kevburns.com/nbu-case-study) - [Case Study WCC](https://www.kevburns.com/wcc-case-study-2026) - [ROI Videos](https://www.kevburns.com/videos) - [Speaking](https://www.kevburns.com/speaking) - [Media/Podcast](https://www.kevburns.com/media) - [Blog](https://www.kevburns.com/blog) - [Contact](https://www.kevburns.com/contact-us) - [About](https://www.kevburns.com/about-kevin-burns) - [Supervisor Academy](https://www.kevburns.com/supervisors) - [7 Reasons to Not Work With Us](https://www.kevburns.com/7-reasons-not-to-work-with-us) - [52 Benefits of Safety](https://www.kevburns.com/52-benefits) - [Hope Calculator](https://www.kevburns.com/calculator) - [Issues](https://www.kevburns.com/safety-issues) - [People](https://www.kevburns.com/people-issues) - [Safety](https://www.kevburns.com/safety-issues) - [Escalations](https://www.kevburns.com/escalation-issues) - [Resources](https://www.kevburns.com/books) - [Books](https://www.kevburns.com/books) - [Newsletter](https://www.kevburns.com/newsletter) - [Downloads](https://www.kevburns.com/downloads) - [Case Study NBU](https://www.kevburns.com/nbu-case-study) - [Case Study WCC](https://www.kevburns.com/wcc-case-study-2026) - [ROI Videos](https://www.kevburns.com/videos) - [Speaking](https://www.kevburns.com/speaking) - [Media/Podcast](https://www.kevburns.com/media) - [Blog](https://www.kevburns.com/blog) - [Contact](https://www.kevburns.com/contact-us) # Kevin Burns Blog #### Leadership for frontline industrial supervisors. [Current Articles](https://www.kevburns.com/blog) [RSS](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/rss.xml) [Why Work With Kevin?](https://www.kevburns.com/about-kevin-burns) - [safety leadership (247)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/safety-leadership) - [safety culture (166)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/safety-culture) - [kevin burns (139)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/kevin-burns) - [safety buy-in (125)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/safety-buy-in) - [peoplework (96)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/peoplework) - [the carefull supervisor (90)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/the-carefull-supervisor) - [safety meeting (74)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/safety-meeting) - [supervisor training (66)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/supervisor-training) - [PeopleWork Supervisor Academy (60)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/peoplework-supervisor-academy) - [safety speaker (60)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/safety-speaker) - [safety marketing (59)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/safety-marketing) - 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[workplace wellness (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/workplace-wellness) - [world-class safety program (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/world-class-safety-program) See all ## [4 Reasons You Hate "Selling" Safety But Have To Do It Anyway](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/bid/400890/4-reasons-you-hate-selling-safety-but-have-to-do-it-anyway) Posted by [Kevin Burns](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/author/kevin-burns) on October 1, 2024 [![4 Reasons You Hate ](https://www.kevburns.com/hs-fs/file-2677548054-jpg/images/sellsafety.jpg?width=900&name=sellsafety.jpg)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/bid/400890/4-reasons-you-hate-selling-safety-but-have-to-do-it-anyway) Selling safety meets resistance. It’s not about shoving safety down their throats. It’s about helping them see that safety improves their lives. Use the word "sell" and safety managers get their backs up. The belief is that safety shouldn’t have to be sold. The word “selling” gets in the way of the true purpose of safety. [Read More](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/bid/400890/4-reasons-you-hate-selling-safety-but-have-to-do-it-anyway) ## [Top 3 Arguments For Safety](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/bid/398826/top-3-arguments-for-safety) Posted by [Kevin Burns](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/author/kevin-burns) on October 1, 2024 [![Top 3 Arguments For Safety](https://www.kevburns.com/hs-fs/file-1924791622-png/images/argument.png?width=900&name=argument.png)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/bid/398826/top-3-arguments-for-safety) Here are three compelling arguments for choosing safety. Call it the “Diesel Strategy” because it is powerful and goes a long distance. The safety department complains that it’s difficult to get workers to buy-in to safety. Employees resist buying-in to a program of checks, forms and paperwork. [Read More](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/bid/398826/top-3-arguments-for-safety) ## [3 Benefits Safety Meetings Create ... If You Do Them Right!](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/bid/390745/3-Benefits-Safety-Meetings-Create-If-You-Do-Them-Right) Posted by [Kevin Burns](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/author/kevin-burns) on October 1, 2024 [![3 Benefits Safety Meetings Create ... If You Do Them Right! ](https://www.kevburns.com/hs-fs/file-1152443212-jpg/images/team.jpg?width=900&name=team.jpg)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/bid/390745/3-Benefits-Safety-Meetings-Create-If-You-Do-Them-Right) Have you thought about the value and benefit that a well-run safety meeting can bring to your organization? There is no other department in your organization that brings together every single staff member as often as a safety meeting does. No one should be exempt from attending safety meetings. Safety applies to everyone. Even the receptionist should be involved in safety meetings. The purpose of a safety meeting may have started as a legal requirement but have you thought about the value and the huge benefit that a well-run safety meeting can bring to your organization? Let’s start with three benefits that your safety meetings create ... but only if you do them right: [Read More](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/bid/390745/3-Benefits-Safety-Meetings-Create-If-You-Do-Them-Right) ### Stating The Case For Getting Employees to Buy-in to Safety *Transcript*: Picking the right [safety speaker](https://www.kevburns.com/speaking/) for a safety meeting is a serious responsibility, and there's a lot of pressure to get it right. Not all safety speakers are the same. Not by a longshot. That's why I've made this video, to help you understand what I stand for and what I believe in. In the next five minutes, I am going to state my case as to why I think I am the right choice for your safety meeting. [Read More](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/bid/306230/stating-the-case-for-getting-employees-to-buy-in-to-safety%20title=) ## [Safety Isn’t A Process Problem - It’s A People Problem](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/bid/339729/safety-isn-t-a-process-problem-it-s-a-people-problem) Posted by [Kevin Burns](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/author/kevin-burns) on October 1, 2024 [![Safety Isn’t A Process Problem - It’s A People Problem](https://www.kevburns.com/hs-fs/file-334447840-jpg/images/processproblem1.jpg?width=900&name=processproblem1.jpg)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/bid/339729/safety-isn-t-a-process-problem-it-s-a-people-problem) There is a people problem in safety, a mindset problem in safety and a decision-making problem in safety. Four workers were attempting to lift the fourth wall into place on a home construction project. The wall was too heavy for the four to lift and so three let go crushing the fourth under the weight. The worker died. [Read More](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/bid/339729/safety-isn-t-a-process-problem-it-s-a-people-problem) ## [Make Safety Sexy - Part 1 (in an endless series)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/bid/330593/make-safety-sexy-part-1-in-an-endless-series) Posted by [Kevin Burns](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/author/kevin-burns) on September 17, 2019 [![Make Safety Sexy - Part 1 (in an endless series)](https://www.kevburns.com/hs-fs/file-281111842-jpg/images/safetysexy.jpg?width=900&name=safetysexy.jpg)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/bid/330593/make-safety-sexy-part-1-in-an-endless-series) Stop discussing the negatives of not being safe. Instead, focus on the positives of buying-in to safety. The words “Make Safety Sexy” might conjure up the image in the photo for some. But that’s not at all what the phrase means. [Read More](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/bid/330593/make-safety-sexy-part-1-in-an-endless-series) ## [Why "Be Safe" Is A Terrible Safety Message](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/bid/314174/why-be-safe-is-a-terrible-safety-message) Posted by [Kevin Burns](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/author/kevin-burns) on October 1, 2024 [![Why ](https://www.kevburns.com/hs-fs/file-216395139-jpg/images/dr_suess.jpg?width=900&name=dr_suess.jpg)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/bid/314174/why-be-safe-is-a-terrible-safety-message) Safety managers and safety supervisors complain that their employees won't buy-in to safety. They also complain about employees' lack of engagement and a lack of accountability in the safety program. [Read More](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/bid/314174/why-be-safe-is-a-terrible-safety-message) ## [5 Reasons Why Poor Safety Promotion Increases Incident Numbers](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/bid/290657/5-reasons-why-poor-safety-promotion-increases-incident-numbers) Posted by [Kevin Burns](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/author/kevin-burns) on October 1, 2024 [![5 Reasons Why Poor Safety Promotion Increases Incident Numbers](https://www.kevburns.com/hs-fs/file-50620831-jpg/images/safety_sign.jpg?width=900&name=safety_sign.jpg)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/bid/290657/5-reasons-why-poor-safety-promotion-increases-incident-numbers) When marketing of safety goes up, safety-incident numbers go down. Plain and simple, this works. Raise awareness of safety, sell the idea of safety and you will increase safety results. People choose safety when asked to. [Read More](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/bid/290657/5-reasons-why-poor-safety-promotion-increases-incident-numbers) ## [Brute Force Doesn't Change Safety Values](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/bid/287296/brute-force-doesn-t-change-safety-values) Posted by [Kevin Burns](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/author/kevin-burns) on October 1, 2024 [![Brute Force Doesn't Change Safety Values](https://www.kevburns.com/hs-fs/file-45958746-jpg/images/speeding_ticket2.jpg?width=900&name=speeding_ticket2.jpg)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/bid/287296/brute-force-doesn-t-change-safety-values) Just because they wear safety gear doesn't mean they will choose safety in every moment. Do not confuse an employee's willingness to abide by safety rules as proof that they accept safety as a personal value. Just because they have never had an incident doesn't mean they choose to buy-in to safety. [Read More](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/bid/287296/brute-force-doesn-t-change-safety-values) ## [Selling Safety To Senior Management](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/bid/282534/selling-safety-to-senior-management) Posted by [Kevin Burns](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/author/kevin-burns) on March 30, 2021 [![Selling Safety To Senior Management](https://www.kevburns.com/hs-fs/file-38763239-jpg/images/coworker3-2.jpg?width=900&name=coworker3-2.jpg)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/bid/282534/selling-safety-to-senior-management) Senior managers who only want to put in an appearance at safety meetings should just stay away. Senior managers can't just show up halfway through a safety meeting, glad-hand a bit and then leave in favour of a meeting that is supposedly "more important." If safety is not the most important meeting for senior managers, then it sends a terrible message to employees. [Read More](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/bid/282534/selling-safety-to-senior-management) [Previous](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/selling-safety/page/2) [All posts](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/all) [Next](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/selling-safety/page/4) ### Subscribe to Kevin's Blog Get insights and strategies to build the leadership skills employees want their supervisors to have! Subscribe now. --- Kevin Burns' newest book, **The CareFull Supervisor**. This is the book that every frontline supervisor should read.   ![carefull-supervisor-3d-covers-400-1](https://www.kevburns.com/hs-fs/hubfs/carefull-supervisor-3d-covers-400-1.png?width=253&height=253&name=carefull-supervisor-3d-covers-400-1.png)   **BUY NOW:** [Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/CareFull-Supervisor-Tools-Succeed-Employees/dp/1039197256)| [B&N](https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-carefull-supervisor-kevin-burns/1144577942) | [Indigo](https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/the-carefull-supervisor-the-tools-to-succeed-and-be-the-supervisor-employees-want-to-have/9781039197268.html)| [FreisenPress](https://books.friesenpress.com/store/title/119734000383321344)| [Kobo](https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/the-carefull-supervisor)| Audible --- ### Recent Posts - [About](https://www.kevburns.com/about-kevin-burns) - [Supervisor Academy](https://www.kevburns.com/supervisors) - [Blog](https://www.kevburns.com/blog) #### © 2026 PeopleWork Align Inc. 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