Management Support and Commitment
Management support of safety involves providing assistance to the safety committee, while commitment involves more: it is management's dedication of serious time and money.
"Let's do it!" (Commitment)
The main difference between support and commitment is that support involves providing assistance, while commitment involves dedicated action by managers or employees towards safety.
How Do We Show Support?
Support is shown by expressing a willingness to assist, encouraging, approving, and recognizing employees for safety performance. Below are some examples of how management can show support for safety:
- Encouraging open communication about safety concerns and hazards without fear of negative consequences.
- Providing resources to support safety initiatives.
- Celebrating safety successes: Management can celebrate when the company reaches milestones or achieves a certain level of safety performance.
- Recognizing safe behavior and rewarding employees who consistently demonstrate safe behavior.
- Encouraging participation in safety programs such as safety training or safety committees.
- Providing leadership and guidance by setting a positive example for employees to follow.
How Do We Show Commitment?
Commitment is related to support, but it is more: it is shown by dedicated action and follow-through. Below are some examples that show management commitment to safety:
- Establishing clear safety policies and procedures that promote safety as a core value.
- Providing regular safety training to help employees gain the necessary safety knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs).
- Providing personal protective equipment (PPE) such as hard hats, gloves, and safety goggles to protect employees.
- Conducting regular safety audits and inspections to identify potential safety hazards and take corrective action.
- Responding promptly to safety concerns raised by employees and taking appropriate measures to address them.
- Leading by example by following safety protocols, participating in safety activities, and complying with all safety requirements.
- Establishing a safety committee composed of managers and employees from different departments.
- Allocating resources, such as funding and personnel, to support safety initiatives and activities.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
3-6. How is a commitment to the safety committee different than mere support?
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