Who is a supervisor? A supervisor is a manager and leader who is responsible for the production and performance of employees. In addition, a supervisor should realize that they are also responsible for health and safety of those they are supervising. The supervisor should be equally concerned with safety of the worker as they are in quality and production of the work. A Supervisor may also be responsible for providing safety training that is needed and applicable to work that is being performed.
Here are some of the challenges and areas of responsibility for a supervisor:
· People Issues: Attitudes, different levels of performance, new employee on boarding, disciplinary action.
· Communication Issues: Misunderstandings, language barriers, unclear directives.
· Time Management: Production deadlines, different levels of skillsets, changes in schedule, productivity goals.
· Conflicting Priorities: Safety vs. production, utilizing equipment that is defective to complete job, not inspecting equipment and a lack of equipment maintenance due to time constraints.
· Working Challenges: Poor work environment and housekeeping, hazardous working conditions, stress to meet deadlines.
So, what can the safety leader do to keep employees safe?
· Conduct safety meetings prior to starting each shift. Act on all safety concerns that are observed or brought to leadership level.
· Follow through on safety violations and ensure that safety rules are understood and followed.
As a Safety Leader, the Supervisor should practice what they preach and make sure their actions match what they are saying. Listen to the employees, they are the ones on the front line and can provide great “hands on” insight to a problem or hazardous process. Always make sure that a job hazard assessment is conducted for the assignment and to certify necessary personal protective equipment.
The Supervisor should be prepared for the unexpected. They should never take chances, shortcuts, or risks. If you witness unsafe behaviors, do not look the other way, immediately act upon the situation. You may save a life.
For more information on Supervising Safety, or other safety questions or concerns, please contact PGM Safety Services, an affiliate company of Pro Group Management. We will be happy to assist when you visit us at www.pgmnv.com or call (800) 859-3177.
