21: Managing Safety and Health
“We must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them." – Former U.S. President John F. Kennedy
Overview
Anyone who has ever been under the management or supervision of someone who did not care about the individual, did not care about getting the job done right(effectiveness), or did not care about doing the right thing(compliance), would if given the choice, work for someone else. We instinctively know that care and concern is central to thriving. We see how the effects of a lack of concern for the well being of others show up in all walks of life. When communities are neglected there is poverty, crime, stunted growth, and hopelessness. When workplaces are neglected there are inefficient and ineffective work processes, unsafe and unsanitary working conditions, no motivation, accidents and injuries.
And yet we sometimes also believe that if we manage better, control better we can make things better. Managing Safety and Health is definitely about effective management and control of workplace safety. However, if there is no credibility, integrity, no care and concern in the management approach, if workers do not “see” evidence that worker safety and health is a priority, those same workers will be less likely to make safety a priority as well. They won’t see their value as workers or see themselves as the most important stakeholder in worker safety and workplace safety.
Managing safety and health is about setting and establishing the correct tone. In this chapter, eight core elements will demonstrate how “care and concern” is essential to driving compliance with safety and health standards and programs.
Chapter Objective:
- Discuss seven guiding principles for managing safety and health.
- Discuss current workplace safety issues and concerns requiring effective safety leadership.
Learning Outcome:
- Apply practices for effective safety leadership.
Standards: Top most frequently cited standards
Key Terms:
Credibility, integrity, leadership, management, mitigate, plan, principled, stewardship, strategy
Mini-Lecture: Safety Leadership
Topic Required Time: 2 hrs; Independent Study and reflection 1 3/4 hour.
Thumbnail: Foundations of Safety Leadership, www.cpwr.com free to use