Risk-Sharing
Workplace Safety: Management Responsibilities
I was recently asked to speak at a conference on “Supervisor Responsibilities for Safety.” While preparing my presentation, I recalled a management training seminar that I attended several years ago. The speaker talked about “Theories of Negligence” as it deals with employees. He covered five issues: negligent hiring, negligent retention, failure to direct, failure to train and failure to supervise. I would like to focus on the last three of these issues as they pertain to safety. As you read this article, please take a few minutes and self-reflect on how each of these pertain to you and your entity.
Employers have a legal and moral obligation to provide a safe and healthful work environment for their employees. Safety is a top-down process that starts with the Mayor and governing board along with the department heads. Oftentimes, the key to the success of your safety program rests with your mid-level supervisors. They are the ones that are going to make sure that the elements of your safety program are followed. As the governing board, have you provided your department heads and mid-level supervisors with the tools necessary to provide that safe and healthful work environment for your employees? Each level of management needs to be responsible and held accountable for your safety program.
Failure To Direct As you review your safety program, one of the first questions you should ask deals with the issue of “failure to direct.” What direction do you provide your mid-level supervisors and employees? Do you have written safety rules and have they been updated recently? One of our consultants recently reviewed a safety manual that hadn’t been updated since 2008. One can only imagine how the job tasks and procedures have changed since then. Has that entity provided proper direction for their employees?
You can ensure your employees are receiving proper direction when you have written rules that: • Inform employees of the hazards associated with the work they perform and how to safely perform those tasks; • Inform employees of the required use of personal protective equipment such as respirators, safety glasses, fall protection, head or foot protection, etc.; • Inform employees of the procedures to follow in the event of an emergency; 26
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Inform employees of any unique hazards in the workplace and how to identify them; Inform employees of how to report unsafe or unhealthful conditions; and Inform employees of actions to take in the event of a work-related injury.
Failure To Train What type of training do you provide new employees or existing employees that are performing new tasks? Training must: • Create an awareness of safe behavior; • Teach required skills for working safely; • Increase knowledge by providing accurate, up-todate information about workplace hazards and safe work practices and procedures; and • Shape employee attitudes toward workplace safety.
You need to ensure employees are adequately trained to perform the work safely by: • Requiring specialized training prior to permitting employees to work with machines, chemicals, operate powered equipment, enter confined spaces or trenches, work in elevated locations or perform similar hazardous work; and • Informing employees of the hazards associated with the work they are to perform prior to beginning the work.
Failure To Supervise What tools have you provided your mid-level supervisors so they can be successful? Oftentimes, employees are promoted to supervisory positions because they were good at their jobs. Too often the resources, training and support they were provided to become good employees are not provided so they can become successful supervisors.
Keeping workplaces free from hazards is one of the most critical aspects of a comprehensive safety program. To ensure employees are adequately protected from hazards, supervisors must: • Monitor their workplaces frequently to identify unsafe or unhealthful conditions and to ensure that work is being performed safely; • Take prompt action to correct hazardous conditions and any unsafe or unhealthful actions or behaviors; • If a serious hazard is detected, take immediate action to safeguard employees; • Encourage employees to report unsafe or unhealthful conditions; • Seek suggestions from employees for improvement of workplace conditions; • Investigate workplace mishaps and take prompt corrective action necessary to ensure the safety and health of employees; and • Institute actions to prevent recurrence of accidents.
A good safety supervisor: • Takes the initiative in telling management about SOUTH DAKOTA MUNICIPALITIES
