Prepare a Safety and Health Policy
Does your company have a written safety and health policy? It should.
A written policy reflects commitment to a safe, healthful workplace, summarizes management and employee responsibilities, and emphasizes the safety and health program's role in achieving that goal. It allows managers and supervisors to make decisions about working at elevation without having to check with the employer. Keep the policy brief, commit to it, and enforce it.
Sample Fall Protection Policy
Business Policy: Our company is committed to achieving and maintaining a safe, healthful workplace for all its employees. We base our commitment on a safety and health program that involves all employees in the effort to eliminate or control workplace hazards. All employees, including managers and supervisors, will be held accountable for following this policy.
Management Responsibilities: Managers are responsible for preventing workplace injuries and illnesses and will consider all employee suggestions for achieving a safe, healthful workplace. Managers will stay informed about workplace hazards and will review the safety and health program at least once a year.
Supervisor Responsibilities: Supervisors are responsible for supervising and training employees to work safely. Supervisors must enforce safe work practices and correct hazardous conditions.
Safety committee responsibilities: The safety committee includes managers and other employees who are responsible for identifying hazardous conditions and unsafe conditions, and recommending how to eliminate, prevent, or control them. The committee is also responsible for helping managers review the safety and health program's strengths and weaknesses.
Employees' responsibilities: Our safety and health program achieves success through our employees. All employees are responsible for identifying and reporting hazards immediately to their supervisors or safety committee representatives, for following safe work practices, and for using required personal protective equipment.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
2-4. Which of the following allows managers, supervisors, and employees to make decisions about work without having to check with the employer?
You forgot to answer the question!