The Safety Role of the Front Line Supervisor

Over the years we have heard the question “who is responsible for safety” many times. Of course there are the normal answers such as “you,” or “the company,” or the all-encompassing “everyone.” Now how about this one: “my supervisor is responsible for safety.”

In my years of working in the safety field, i have learned that safety is not separate from production–it is part of production. So the statement about supervisors being responsible for safety is very true. If supervisors are responsible for production, that means they have a responsibility for safety as well so that production does not suffer. Just look at what happened in 1999 at the Milwaukee Brewers stadium build when they had a crane collapse: it shut the project down for six months. Talk about a slowdown in production.

Yes, i know that actually everyone has a responsibility for safety. Yet employees can often be so focused on their job they get “tunnel vision” and do not see the hazards. So it is up to the front line supervisor to assist their employees in doing their jobs safely.

As a supervisor you need to stop and take a look to see what your employees are doing, and if they are doing it safely and correctly.

Look at a few simple things, such as:

• Where are they standing?  Are they standing out of harm’s way?
• Do they appear to have their mind on the task or are they “spacing” out?
• Do they appear to be frustrated or in a good mood?
• Are they rushed/hurried or are they taking time to do the job correctly?
• Are they wearing PPE like they are supposed to?

If everything looks good you need to tell them. Tell them they are doing a good job and doing things safely. 

Of course if you see things that are incorrect or unsafe, you need to correct those issues on the spot. The best techniques are those that let the employee know that the supervisor is correcting his/her actions because of caring that the employee goes home at night healthy and uninjured. Here again we have found the one-on-one method (with no embarrassment or belittling) to be the most productive.

As a supervisor you must also understand, and stay on top of, the safety rules of both your company and OSHA (or State OSHA). Monitor their websites for updates and online learning opportunities, and know that we are here as a resource for training and consulting.

As a supervisor you should be aware that your employees are looking to you for leadership, and you need to be prepared. Understand the rules and regulations and most importantly communicate with your employees to ensure a safe and productive team.

By Eric Tofte, Director of Training Evergreen Safety Council