The commitment of management is essential to develop and maintain effective workplace health and safety management systems. Employers/managers can demonstrate their commitment by:
taking every possible opportunity to show their workers that they are committed
to good health and safety practices by becoming actively involved
talking to workers about health and safety
following all company health and safety rules and expecting all workers
to do the same
offering suggestions for improvements and asking workers for suggestions
taking corrective action when issues are identified; i.e., follow up on workers’
suggestions
making workers feel comfortable about coming to them to discuss their concerns
making sure health and safety is on the agenda at meetings
taking an active part in health and safety discussions
making health and safety an integral part of the business operation.
Note: This is not a comprehensive list. It should be considered only an indicator of your commitment to good health and safety practices.
Yes to all of these questions, you are probably very committed and involved in your program.
Yes to only some of these questions, you may need to reassess your commitment in the specific areas where you did not answer yes.
If you wish to avoid potential workplace incidents, change the circumstances that prevented you from answering Yes to the questions. You need to be fully committed and demonstrate your commitment by being involved in all aspects of your health and safety program if it is to be effective.
A written health and safety policy is an important part of managing health and safety in the workplace and an important first step in demonstrating management commitment.
The health and safety policy states:
employer commitment to health and safety
overall goals and objectives for health and safety
responsibilities of management, workers, visitors and contractors.
(Partnerships: Building an Effective Health and Safety Management System, page 8)
Once written, the policy is signed by the owner or chief executive officer of the company and posted prominently throughout the workplace. All workers should know about the policy and what it means to them. New workers should learn about it during their orientation and it should be referenced during health and safety meetings. The policy is often the first page of a company’s health and safety manual. If a company hires subcontractors to work for it, health and safety expectations should be discussed and this policy can be a good starting point.
ACME Explosives Company
Health and Safety Policy
ACME Explosives Company is committed to a health and safety management system that protects our workers, other workers who enter onto our property and the general public.
Employees, at every level, are responsible and accountable for the company’s health and safety performance. Active participation by everyone, every day, in every job is necessary for the health and safety excellence that ACME expects.
Management will:
set an example and provide leadership in health and safety
establish the health and safety policy and procedures
provide proper equipment and training for workers and a safe work environment
respond to all health and safety concerns.
Workers will:
follow all safe work procedures
work with an awareness of health and safety
cooperate with the employer in working towards improved health and safety at work
tell their supervisor if they have any health or safety concerns.
Workers, at every level, must be familiar with the requirements of the Alberta Occupational Health and Safety legislation as it relates to their work.
Our goal is a healthy, injury/illness free workplace for all workers.
By working together, we can achieve this goal.
Signed:_______________________________ Date:____________________________
Title: Owner___________________________ (must be no more than three years old)
Employer’s Responsibilities:
establish the health and safety management system
provide the resources to maintain the system
conduct an annual review of the system
train supervisors
provide a safe and healthy work environment
ensure hazards are adequately controlled
set a good example.
Supervisors’ Responsibilities:
orient new workers
provide ongoing training to all workers
conduct regular staff health and safety meetings
perform inspections and incident investigations
correct hazards or report them to the employer
correct unsafe acts or behaviours by workers
set a good example.
Workers’ Responsibilities:
learn and follow safe work procedures
use any required equipment and tools
correct hazards or report them to supervisors
participate in inspections and investigations
set a good example
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