Safety Supervision and Leadership

Safety Supervision and Leadership
 

The supervisor is the one person who can take immediate, direct action to make sure that his or her work area is safe and healthful for all employees. Russell DeReamer, author of Modern Safety Practices, considers the supervisor the only person who can control employees, machines, and working conditions on a daily, full-time basis. In his text, Occupational Safety and Health Management, Thomas Anton relates that the supervisor bears the greatest responsibility and accountability for implementing the safety and health program because it is he or she who works most directly with the employee.
 

 It is important that the supervisor understands and applies successful management and leadership principles to safety and health to make sure employees enjoy an injury- and illness-free work environment. Supervisors can demonstrate leadership by directly providing employees with the resources, motivation, priorities, and accountability for ensuring their safety and health.
 

 Enlightened supervisors understand the value of creating and fostering a strong safety culture within their department. Safety is elevated so that it is a value as opposed to something that must be done or accomplished. Integrating safety and health concerns into the everyday supervision allows for a proactive approach to accident prevention and demonstrates the importance of working safely. 

This course introduces you to key elements that help the supervisor demonstrate "5-STARS" supervision and leadership within the safety and health function.
 

 The key 5-STARS of safety supervision and leadership are: Supervision - overseeing work activities to make sure employees are safe. Training - conducting safety education and training. 
 

 Accountability - insisting everyone complies with company safety policies and rules. Resources - providing physical resources (tools, equipment, materials, etc.) so employees can work safely. Support - creating a supportive and psychosocial work environment (schedules, workloads, recognition, etc.) so employees do not work under undue stress.