The Need for a Safe Workplace
Safety at work is an ever-growing concern. In recent years, workplace accidents account for nearly 5,000 deaths annually. Although this number is outrageously high, it’s still an improvement from the past.
Up until the 1970s, safety measures were a low priority in the workplace. Most companies didn’t implement safety plans or purchase protective equipment. It simply wasn’t common practice and was viewed by employers as a waste of time and money.
When the U.S. government established the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in 1972, things began to change for the better. Mortality rates in America dropped from nearly 14,000 deaths per year to only 5,000.
Although mortality rates are much better now than they used to be, we still have a long way to go to fully fix the safety crisis in workplaces around the world. In order to continue seeing progress, managers and employees share the responsibility to establish and follow a safety management system.
Safety management systems (SMS) are a list of policies and procedures written by an employer to protect employees as they work.
Who’s Responsible For Workplace Safety?
The employer is primarily responsible for workplace safety and creating an SMS. Although, employees also have a responsibility to carry out their employer’s SMS and follow the guidelines that have been set.
Picture this scenario: A construction worker was walking along the roof of a house. He works for a small roofing company owned by a close friend and has been there for several years. However, he has never received safety training or protective equipment. On a particularly windy day, the employee was advised to maintain caution while on the roof. Halfway through his shift, a strong gust of wind caused the employee to lose his footing and fall from the two-story building. He died on impact after landing on his neck.
Who is responsible for this incident? One could argue it was the employee’s fault considering he was operating under risky conditions. However, the employee wasn’t given any resources to stay safe! Employee safety begins with managers who are willing to put in time and resources to make sure their employees are safe.
That’s not to say that employers hold full responsibility under every circumstance. Some employers work hard to implement safety programs in their companies. They provide training, equip employees with protective gear, and establish a culture of safety. However, many workplaces still see accidents occur from time to time. This is because once an employer has provided employees with every means to be safe, it’s up to the employees to carefully implement what they’ve learned.
In these next sections, we’ll discuss the responsibilities of employers and employees when it comes to following a safety management system.
Employer Responsibility
Create a Safety Management System
As we discussed, it’s up to employers to create a safety management system. This entails signing safety policies and procedures into effect. To do this effectively, managers must have a sufficient understanding of all the hazards that may be present onsite. For the manager of a construction company, this could include taking online safety courses, reading the driver manuals for each machine on site, or reading OSHA safety laws.
Lead By Example
After a system is created, it’s important for management to lead by example. This includes spending sufficient time on the floor alongside employees and teaching them proper procedures. While in a management position, a “do as I say, not as I do” attitude won’t be very helpful in inspiring employees to follow the safety plan; therefore, as employers demonstrate an urgency to uphold safety procedures, they’ll notice employees developing the same attitude.
Allocate Resources
Employees are a company’s most important asset. Putting forth time and resources to keep them safe is the most worthwhile investment any manager could make. Managers should create a spending plan outlining what they need to purchase in order to make a safe environment. Expenses can include online safety training for new employees, refresher courses for veteran employees, personal protective equipment, signs, posters, etc. Making these purchases a priority will not only protect employers from the reparation costs and hefty fines that come from an employee’s death, but will allow employees to return home to their families each night.
Enforce Performance
After a complete plan has been put into motion, employers then have the responsibility to continually reinforce the regulations they’ve set. They should remind employees about the rules and standards they are expected to follow on a regular basis. This also includes taking disciplinary measures against employees who act recklessly, or contrary to the safety program. By maintaining high expectations of employees and leading by example, employers can create a culture of safety among their employees. The safety plan then becomes a natural part of the work environment, and employees will begin to complete tasks safely time and time again.
Employee Responsibility
Unfortunately, even after doing everything in their power, employers can’t always prevent accidents. For this reason, employees share a measure of responsibility in maintaining a safe work environment. A safety management system is most effective when managers and employees work together to create and execute the plan. The following are some things employees can do to help in the process.
Identify Hazards
Generally speaking, employees spend more time working in their environment than managers do. Therefore, employees often understand the dangers associated with their job better than their employers. It’s important for employees, as new hazards present themselves, to inform their manager of the danger. This way, the manager can update the safety management system to fit their employee’s needs.
Report concerns
Ideally, a company should make their employees feel valued and safe. In order to do so, employers should accept and consider any employee concerns. Companies function best when managers and employees cooperate to create a safe and productive environment. As a leader, employers need to be open to feedback from those they lead. As employees openly share their concerns with their manager, they can begin to see the needed improvement to provide a safe, comfortable environment.
Employee Leadership
As stated previously, employers can’t always be there to supervise operations. To help with this issue, it would be smart for employers to dedicate team leaders to oversee risky operations. This way, employees with the proper experience can practice leading a team and help enforce safety measures. This provides a level of authority to employees, allowing them to make important decisions. For example, if a team leader notices conditions aren’t safe, they can delay the operation until further notice. Giving trust to competent employees not only gives the employee experience as a leader, but it allows the employer to devote more time and attention to other areas of the company.
Take Responsibility
Taking responsibility means not only being responsible for one’s self but for their coworkers as well. After an employee receives safety training and understands the safety management system, they have an obligation to follow it. They should spend time reviewing the material and discussing it with others on site. They should also do all they can to follow safety procedures and make sure their coworkers are adhering to the same standards.
Creating a Successful Plan For Your Business
Often, when employers set out to create a safety management system, they are unsure of where to begin. A safety plan can actually be counterproductive if done incorrectly. Plans that exclude important information or give false procedures on how to be safe can cause more accidents than they prevent.
Creating a successful safety plan is a collaborative effort that:
- Involves everyone
- Identifies hazards
- Creates actionable items
- Follows up
Involve Everyone
Managers should start by scheduling a meeting involving the whole company. If a company is too large, they should select representatives from the employees to attend. This means selecting employees from every department, skill level, education, and language. The more voices a manager can use as input during the meeting, the more thorough the safety management system will be by the end of it.
Identify Hazards
To start the meeting, it’s a good idea to review the hazards found within the workplace. This includes dangerous machinery, tools, or areas on the site. It can also include dangerous chemicals, unclean air, or even the strain of sitting at a desk all day. It’s also a good time to review the company’s past accident reports. This can give a manager a good idea of where the most hazardous areas lie.
Create Actionable Items
The effectiveness of a meeting is determined by the action that’s taken afterwards. After identifying hazards, the team should discuss ways to mitigate the hazards. Managers might assign employees to oversee certain parts of the plan to make sure everything that was discussed can be implemented. This is also a good time to decide on any additional training the employees may require.
Follow Up
After a determined amount of time has passed and the plan has had some time to be put into effect, the same group should come back together for another meeting. The purpose and format of this meeting should be nearly identical to the first. It starts with reviewing the plan and the assignments given, discussing hazards and the overall effectiveness of the plan, and finding solutions for things that may not be working. This meeting should also end with more assignments and modifications to the plan as the manager sees necessary. These meetings should continue to happen in a cycle until everyone is in agreement that the plan is working and there are no more hazards that need to be addressed.
Common Questions:
Q: What is OSHA?
A: The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is a government organization made to create and uphold safety laws in the United States.
Q: Who’s responsible for safety in the workplace?
A: The primary responsibility for everyone’s safety belongs to the hiring manager. However, employees are also accountable when it comes to obeying the company’s safety rules and wearing protective equipment
Q: How do I create a safety management system?
A: Ask your employees about their safety concerns and identify hazards within the company. During a company meeting, discuss ways to resolve concerns and mitigate hazards. Follow up on your plans, and continually look for ways to improve your safety management system..
Q: Is online safety training required for employees?
A: OSHA requires safety training for any hazard that may be present in your workplace. Safety Provisions provides OSHA Aligned training online or in person.
Q: Does OSHA require a safety management system?
A: Though OSHA doesn’t require companies to have a safety management system, it does highly recommend it. Implementing one is a good way to ensure employee safety.