Safety and the Supervisor

1. Safety and the
Supervisor
How to effectively fulfill your safety supervisor responsibilities
Welcome!

2. 2
Goals
1. Describe and discuss responsibilities related to leadership.
2. Detail supervisor responsibilities to provide resources and support.
3. Define "adequate supervision" and describe how supervisors can
meet this requirement.
4. Discuss the benefits and nature of supervisor involvement in safety
training.
5. Describe supervisor responsibilities for holding employees
accountable for safety.
© 2003 Steven J. Geigle. All rights reserved.
This material, or any other material used to inform employers of compliance requirements of OSHA standards through simplification of the regulations should not be considered a substitute for
any provisions of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 or for any standards issued by OSHA. The information in this publication is intended for training purposes only.

3. 3
Form teams

4. 4
Demonstrate Leadership by Example
1
OSHA Act of 1970
Public Law 91-596, 91st Congress, S.2193, December 29, 1970.
5. Duties
(a) Each employer --
(1) should furnish to each of his employees employment and a place of
employment which are free from recognized hazards that are causing or are
likely to cause death or serious physical harm to his employees;
(2) should comply with occupational safety and health standards promulgated under
this Act.
(b) Each employee should comply with occupational safety and health
standards and all rules, regulations, and orders issued pursuant to this Act
which are applicable to his own actions and conduct.
OSHA Act of 1970
Public Law 91-596, 91st Congress, S.2193, December 29, 1970.
5. Duties
(a) Each employer --
(1) should furnish to each of his employees employment and a place of
employment which are free from recognized hazards that are causing or are
likely to cause death or serious physical harm to his employees;
(2) should comply with occupational safety and health standards promulgated under
this Act.
(b) Each employee should comply with occupational safety and health
standards and all rules, regulations, and orders issued pursuant to this Act
which are applicable to his own actions and conduct.
What is the supervisor’s first and most important accountability to the law?
What is the employee’s first and most important accountability to the
employer?

5. 5
Furnish safe work and a safe workplace
2
Providing a safe and healthful work environment
What can the supervisor and manager do to make the physical environment
safe?
What can the supervisor and manager do to reduce unhealthful worker
stress?

6. 6
The workplace should be inspected by a qualified person as often as the type of operation
or the character of the equipment requires. Defective equipment or unsafe conditions found
by these inspections should be replaced or repaired or remedied promptly.
The workplace should be inspected by a qualified person as often as the type of operation
or the character of the equipment requires. Defective equipment or unsafe conditions found
by these inspections should be replaced or repaired or remedied promptly.
The Safety Inspection
Who is a qualified person?
"Qualified" means one who, by possession of a recognized degree, certificate, or
professional standing, or who by extensive knowledge, training, and experience, has
successfully demonstrated his ability to solve or resolve problems relating to the subject
matter, the work, or the project.
"Competent person" means one who is capable of identifying existing and
predictable hazards in the surroundings or working conditions which are un-sanitary,
hazardous, or dangerous to employees, and who has authorization to take prompt
corrective measures to eliminate them.
What are inherent weaknesses in the walkaround inspection?

7. 7
Observation.
Supervisors can overcome the weaknesses of the walkaround inspection by
regularly observing employee performance. Informal observation provides an
effective method to detect and correct hazardous conditions and unsafe
behaviors before they result in an accident.
• Informal observation is conducted continually by employees and
supervisors.
• Formal observation procedures can be developed as an analysis tool to
assist safety staff in determining safety related trends. A safety committee
observation process and job hazard analysis are forms of formal observation.

8. 8
Job Hazard Analysis
Effective use of JHAs will do the following:
• Provide the supervisor with a clear understanding of what the
employee
does and does not know about the task;
• Recognize needed changes in the equipment or procedures; and
• Provide a way to increase employee involvement.
What are inherent strengths of a Job Hazard Analysis?

9. 9
The employer should analyze incident and injury accident that workers suffer in connection
with their employment, to determine the root causes and preventive measures that should be
taken to prevent recurrence. The employer should promptly install any safeguard to take
any corrective measure indicated or found advisable.
The employer should analyze incident and injury accident that workers suffer in connection
with their employment, to determine the root causes and preventive measures that should be
taken to prevent recurrence. The employer should promptly install any safeguard to take
any corrective measure indicated or found advisable.
Incident/Accident Analysis
Why is it smart to investigate incidents as well as accidents? Why?
What is the purpose of conducting an accident investigation?
Accident
investigation
is
“fact-finding”
not
“fault-finding.”

10. 10
Have you ever seen "blame game" accident reports that claim the following
personal causes?
The investigator who quickly arrives at the following "causes" for an accident
is most likely committing attribution error.
Was lazy Lacked common sense
Was careless Should have known
Was stupid Was inattentive
Was accident-prone Had a poor attitude
• A thorough incident/accident analysis will try to uncover why the above
conditions exist.
• Discipline will occur only after it can be demonstrated that root causes did
not contribute to the surface causes of the incident/accident.

11. 11
The Effective Incident/Accident Investigation Process
• Gather the information. Secure the scene and collect facts about what
happened. The first two steps ensure the accident scene does not change
and information is gathered immediately.
• Analyze the facts. Develop the sequence of steps leading up to and
including the injury event. Determine the surface and root causes for the
accident.
• Implement solutions. The final phase of the process is to develop and
recommend corrective actions and management solutions to make sure
similar incidents/accidents do not recur. If an honest evaluation determines
that no root causes exist, then disciplinary actions may be justified.

12. 12
Fails to inspect
No recognition planInadequate training plan
No accountability policy No inspection policy
No discipline procedures
Outdated hazcom programNo orientation process
U
n
g
u
a
rd
e
d
m
a
c
h
in
e
Horseplay
Fails to trainTo much work
Defective PPE
Fails to report injury
Inadequate training
Create a hazard
Fails to enforce
Untrained worker
Broken
tools
Ignore a hazard
Lack of time
Inadequate labeling
No recognition
Cuts
Burns
Lackofvision
Strains
Nomissionstatement
Chemical spill
17

13. 13
What caused the accident?
What actions are appropriate?
Just another day at work
Read the following OSHA accident synopsis and answer the
questions:

14. 14
Controlling Hazards
Engineering Controls
Management Controls
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Interim Measures
Why are engineering controls considered superior to management controls?
What might be some of the drawbacks of reliance solely on PPE to protect
workers?

15. 15
Who is best suited to train employees on specific safe work procedures?
How do you know safety training is effective ?
What is the difference between education and training?
Education... tells why...
Training... shows how ...
Provide Effective Safety Training
The employer should see that workers are properly instructed and supervised in the safe
operation of any machinery, tools, equipment, process, or practice which they are
authorized to use or apply.
The employer should see that workers are properly instructed and supervised in the safe
operation of any machinery, tools, equipment, process, or practice which they are
authorized to use or apply.
3

16. 16
Mager’s Decision Tree
Improving
Safety
Performance
No
Yes
Describe the
Safety Performance
Discrepancy
(The Gap)
Is
There
a deficiency in
knowledge,
ability or
skill?

17. 17
The basic steps in On The Job training are:
Step 1. Introduction
Step 2. Trainer show and tell
Step 3. Trainer show and ask
Step 4. Trainee tell and show
Step 5. Conclusion
Step 6. Document
If it isn't in writing, it didn't get done!
What is On-the-Job Training?

18. 18
What’s the criteria for “adequate” safety supervision?
Provide Adequate Supervision4
What’s the definition of “adequate” safety supervision?
The employer should see that workers are properly supervised in the safe operation of any
machinery, tools, equipment, process, or practice which they are authorized to use or
apply. Every employer should provide the health hazard control measures necessary to
prevent employee exposure to harmful or hazardous conditions. They should inform the
employees regarding the known health hazards to which they are exposed, the measures
which have been taken for the prevention and control of such hazards, and the proper
methods for utilizing such control measures. The employer should see that workers are
properly supervised in the safe operation of any machinery, tools, equipment, process, or
practice which they are authorized to use or apply. Every employer should provide the
health hazard control measures necessary to prevent employee exposure to harmful or
hazardous conditions. They should inform the employees regarding the known health
hazards to which they are exposed, the measures which have been taken for the
prevention and control of such hazards, and the proper methods for utilizing such control
measures.
The employer should see that workers are properly supervised in the safe operation of any
machinery, tools, equipment, process, or practice which they are authorized to use or
apply. Every employer should provide the health hazard control measures necessary to
prevent employee exposure to harmful or hazardous conditions. They should inform the
employees regarding the known health hazards to which they are exposed, the measures
which have been taken for the prevention and control of such hazards, and the proper
methods for utilizing such control measures. The employer should see that workers are
properly supervised in the safe operation of any machinery, tools, equipment, process, or
practice which they are authorized to use or apply. Every employer should provide the
health hazard control measures necessary to prevent employee exposure to harmful or
hazardous conditions. They should inform the employees regarding the known health
hazards to which they are exposed, the measures which have been taken for the
prevention and control of such hazards, and the proper methods for utilizing such control
measures.
What the rules say…

19. 19
The supervisor must D_________ and C_________
Hazards before they cause I________ or I__________
to an employee.
The key to safety supervision is super...visionThe key to safety supervision is super...vision
List manager and supervisor activities that help to ensure effective
supervision is occurring daily in the workplace.

20. 20
John Smith
John’s
Co-workers
John’s family
You, the
Supervisor
The
Company
Critical Decision Point:
Understanding the impact of safety
leadership
What is the impact of your decision on...

21. 21
Employer Responsibilities
Every employer should do everything necessary or proper in order to hold employees
accountable for complying with safety policies and practices. The employer should take
all reasonable means to require employees to:
• work and act in a safe and healthful manner;
• conduct their work in compliance with all applicable safety and health rules;
• use all means and methods, including but not limited to, ladders, scaffolds,
guardrails, machine guards, safety belts and lifelines, that are necessary to
safely accomplish all work where employees are exposed to a hazard; and
• not to remove, displace, damage, destroy or carry off any safety device, guard,
notice or warning provided for use in any employment or place of employment
while such use is required by applicable safety and health rules.
Employer Responsibilities
Every employer should do everything necessary or proper in order to hold employees
accountable for complying with safety policies and practices. The employer should take
all reasonable means to require employees to:
• work and act in a safe and healthful manner;
• conduct their work in compliance with all applicable safety and health rules;
• use all means and methods, including but not limited to, ladders, scaffolds,
guardrails, machine guards, safety belts and lifelines, that are necessary to
safely accomplish all work where employees are exposed to a hazard; and
• not to remove, displace, damage, destroy or carry off any safety device, guard,
notice or warning provided for use in any employment or place of employment
while such use is required by applicable safety and health rules.
Ensure Accountability5

22. 22
Employees’ Responsibilities
Employees should conduct their work in compliance with the employer's safety policies
and rules. They should report all injuries immediately to the person in charge or other
responsible representative of the employer. The should warn other employees and
report any hazards they see as soon as possible to the appropriate party.
Employees’ Responsibilities
Employees should conduct their work in compliance with the employer's safety policies
and rules. They should report all injuries immediately to the person in charge or other
responsible representative of the employer. The should warn other employees and
report any hazards they see as soon as possible to the appropriate party.
The "Chain of Accountability"
The employer is accountable to the ___________ and the employee is
accountable to the __________.
The "Chain of Accountability"
The employer is accountable to the ___________ and the employee is
accountable to the __________.

23. 23
W
hat does the
supervisor control?
What does the
employee control
Accountability follows control

24. 24
 Supervisor accountabilities
Comply with OSHA standards
Maintain a safe and healthful workplace
Provide effective safety training
Oversee work operations
Ensure accountability
Comply with employer's standards
Report hazards
Report injuries immediately
 Employee accountabilities

25. 25
Before a supervisor administers discipline to an
employee for failure to meet safety standards...
…what five questions should he or she first ask?

26. 26
Once you're justified, leadership demands
action
Keys to appropriate discipline
• Discipline is based on fact not feeling.
How can we make sure this is achieved?
__________________________
• Consistent throughout the organization: top to bottom and laterally
• Applied only after it's determined management has met obligations to
employee
• Appropriate to the severity of the infraction and impact on the
organization

27. 27
Should employees, supervisors and managers all receive the same
disciplinary action for a given infraction? Why or why not.
Yes No Why?
Motivation is key to effective discipline
The supervisor's motivation can make the difference between success and
failure when disciplining.

28. 28
Which stated reason (motivation) below is more likely perceived as
leadership by the employee?
___ "I'm disciplining you because I have to…it's policy…If I don't I might get in
trouble."
___ "I'm disciplining you because I want to…you're important…I don't want
you to get hurt. I want to make sure you understand I insist on safe
performance."

29. 29
Best Practice: Regular Recognition
Regularly Recognize and Reward and you'll
Rarely have to Reprimand!
Recognition acknowledges behavior/results.
Reward is a positive recognition that increases desired behaviors.
Incentives influence future behavior by offering a reward.
Criteria for effective recognition:
• Must be soon -
• Must be certain -
• Must be significant -
• Must be sincere -
What are appropriate safety behaviors to recognize and reward?
What inappropriate safety behavior do we most frequently recognize and
reward?
!

30. 30
Let's Review