Lead by Example
Practice safe behaviors yourself and make safety part of your daily conversations with workers.
Safety is the New Leadership
It is important to practice and discuss safety regularly to make sure managers and supervisors are displaying effective leadership.
Ask these important questions to determine if you, as a manager or supervisor, are demonstrating leadership by example:
Supervision: Have I provided adequate safety oversight? I'm not stuck in my office all day. I'm overseeing their work regularly so I'm able to detect and correct unsafe behaviors and hazardous conditions before they cause an injury.
Training: Have I provided (or has the employee received) quality safety training? The employee has the required knowledge and skills to comply. The employee understands the natural and system consequences of noncompliance.
Accountability: Have I applied safety accountability fairly and consistently in the past? The employee knows he or she will be disciplined if caught.
Resources: Have I provided the tools, equipment, PPE, fall protection, and other resources to do that job safely? Tools, equipment, machinery, PPE, etc. are always in good working order.
Support: Have I provided adequate psychosocial support that promotes working safe? Do I give employees enough time to work safely? Do they know I am tough on safety because I care about them and their success?
If you, as managers or supervisors can honestly answer "yes" to each of the above questions, you are fulfilling your very important responsibilities and demonstrating effective leadership by example.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
3-2. If you detect and correct unsafe behaviors and hazardous conditions before they cause an injury, that's good _____.
You forgot to answer the question!