R - Provide Physical Resources
Before supervisors are justified in administering consequences, they should first provide their employees with the means and methods to achieve the standards of performance that have been established.
Materials, equipment, the environment, and people are all important physical resources.
In other words, employers and supervisors should provide the necessary physical resources so that employees can work safe and be healthful.
Four general categories of physical resources are found in the workplace:
- Materials: Supervisors have a very important obligation to provide the best materials so employees can efficiently and effectively produce products or provide services. Raw materials include solids, liquids, and gases. If possible the materials provided should be as free from hazards as possible.
- Equipment: Tools, equipment and machinery needs to be designed so that it is properly guarded and has fail-safes to prevent physical exposure to moving parts, etc. They must not be defective and proper for the task for which they are being used. Personal protective equipment, fall prevention and protection devices must be of the best quality possible.
- Environment: The employer must provide a work environment that is safe and healthful for workers in terms of hazardous atmospheres, noise, temperature extremes, humidity, and proper workstation design.
- People: Yes, people are physical resources too. It's important that supervisors make sure workers are in good physical shape, sober at work, not abusing drugs. If they are not, they may be "walking hazardous conditions." Ignoring these important requirements could have devastating effects by increasing the risk of injuries and illnesses in the workplace.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
2-7. How do supervisors ensure employees have the means and methods to work safe in the workplace?
You forgot to answer the question!