Are your safety meetings being heard—or ignored?
Is your team zoning out during pre-start meetings? Are these briefings becoming routine, with little real engagement or impact?
In the mining and resources sector, pre-starts are designed to do more than tick a compliance box. They are meant to help prevent incidents, protect lives, and build a strong safety culture. But when these meetings are poorly delivered—monotone, rushed, or unclear—they lose their power. The message might be correct, but it isn’t landing.
When communication falls flat, safety suffers
Many supervisors and frontline leaders are highly skilled in operations, but not always trained in public speaking. This can lead to low-energy, unclear communication that doesn’t engage the crew. And the cost of that disconnect can be serious.
Poorly delivered safety messages often result in:
- Workers tuning out or missing critical information
- Hazards going unreported or unnoticed
- Low morale and disengagement
- A culture where speaking up doesn’t feel welcome
In high-risk environments, this kind of communication breakdown can have serious consequences.
The role of effective public speaking in safety
Public speaking isn’t about being charismatic or theatrical—it’s about being clear, confident, and purposeful. When leaders communicate well, they give their message the best chance of being understood and acted on.
An effective speaker can:
- Capture the attention of a tired or distracted crew
- Deliver key messages clearly and with impact
- Encourage team participation and questions
- Reinforce the importance of safety in real, human terms
The way something is said often matters just as much as what is said. A clear, direct message delivered with confidence can make all the difference.
Building psychological safety through strong communication
Psychological safety—the belief that it’s safe to speak up, ask questions, and raise concerns without fear of embarrassment or punishment—is critical in any workplace, especially in high-risk industries.
Leaders who communicate effectively contribute to psychological safety by:
- Creating a respectful, inclusive atmosphere
- Inviting open dialogue and input from the team
- Responding to concerns with attentiveness and care
When workers feel heard and valued, they’re more likely to speak up—and that helps everyone stay safer.
Safety culture starts at the front of the room
The tone for every shift is set at the start. When leaders run pre-starts with clarity, confidence, and genuine care, the team notices. It becomes clear that safety isn’t just a policy—it’s a shared value.
Effective communication transforms pre-starts from routine check-ins into meaningful moments of connection and responsibility. Teams become more alert. Hazards are surfaced early. People feel part of something that matters.
In summary
Strong public speaking isn’t just for conference rooms or formal presentations. On site, it’s a safety tool. It ensures that vital messages are heard, that workers feel respected, and that psychological safety is part of the culture, not just a concept.
When leaders speak well, they help create the kind of workplace where people look out for one another, where communication flows freely, and where everyone has a voice. And that’s exactly the kind of environment where people thrive—and go home safe.
If you want to improve your prestart meetings Peter runs a course called Pre-Start Mastery: Driving Safety, Engagement and Change through Confident Public Speaking