Safety is a “People” issue. If employees follow the Safety Rules in place and do so correctly accidents would be dramatically reduced. Most accidents are caused by employees failing to follow process.
The question becomes how do you correct that issue? The one thing that would improve your company Safety is training. Who do you train? The most important person in this process is the Supervisor!
Most Supervisors are promoted through the organization as they understand the process of production but frequently are not committed to the “Culture of Safety”. Often they view Safety as a “Hindrance” to production. Many Supervisors are rated on their ability to produce from their team and anything that interferes with that production is not readily accepted. To make matters worse they often are not trained in OSHA regulations or EEO requirements. If trained that training has not been updated.
I do not want to make the Supervisor the “bad guy” but the actions of the Supervisor set the tone for the employee and the responsibility for the Supervisor falls on Management.
We know the problem, where do you start do find the solution? The term “Culture of Safety” does have meaning and that is put in place by management. People management skills must be taught to the Supervisor along with Safety Techniques. If the Supervisor is to have an influence on their staff, he/she must understand how to develop that “Culture of Safety”. The training for a Supervisor should contain the following:
- EEO training
- Safety Training (job specific)
- OSHA regulations and safety procedure (minimum of OSHA 10 certification) OSHA Recordkeeping
- People Management (develop as part of EEO training)
- First Aid Training including CPR
- Accident Management (addresses injured workers and return to work as well as outlining process for prompt treatment)
- Safety Committee Management (Required per OSHA regulations for many Employers)
- FMLA (Family Medical Leave Training)
Why does this improve profitability? A very basic question but the answer is not without challenges.
- Improved Safety saves lost time, disruption of work environment. A minor cut that requires a clinic visit will cost hundreds of dollars in direct cost and production.
- EEO training eliminates costly challenges and improves morale in workplace. A single unfounded claim will cost thousands to defend.
- People management will assist in every aspect of the risks that challenge all employers.
The “One” thing actually is to develop the “Culture of Safety” and it is made up of many individual components. I concentrated on the Supervisor in developing that Culture. The Supervisor controls the daily environment but he is “enabled” by his managers and ultimately the General Management of each company. That culture must start at the top and if present this next year may be accident free and profitable.