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121 Introduction to Safety Training
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Supervisor and Manager Safety Training

Some organizations consider the safety and health function as a human resource or staff responsibility. They fail to understand safety as an integrated part of overall operations (production or service). Even worse, they believe safety education is not required for line managers because it's not a "line" responsibility: it's a "staff" function. Consequently, some employers may not adequately educate managers about general safety and health concepts and how to apply them in the workplace.

It's vitally important supervisors and managers understand their safety responsibilities.

Managers who understand both the manner and the extent to which effective safety and health protection impacts the overall effectiveness of the business itself are far more likely to ensure that the necessary safety and health management programs are designed and performed well.

First-line supervisors play a critical role in safety and health protection because of their first-line responsibility for workers and for the work their employees perform. Effective training of supervisors will address their safety and health responsibilities as well as information on hazards, hazard prevention, and response to emergencies.

Topics for supervisor safety training

  • how to conduct a safety inspection
  • hazards in their specific workplace
  • how to conduct an accident investigation
  • how to properly recognize and discipline employees
  • what is safety leadership
  • how to conduct a Job Hazard Analysis
  • how to apply hazard control strategies
  • introduction to the safety management system
  • how to conduct on-the-job training (OJT)

Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.

2-6. Why may management not place adequate emphasis on safety training for managers and supervisors?