Develop a management safety policy

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A loss prevention program is driven by the desire of management to operate a safe and successful organization. A management safety policy is a directive that will define an organization's commitment. It is this commitment that will have the greatest impact on the safety performance and the success of the organization.

Make safety a priority

Managers need to demonstrate that the safety and health of all employees is a priority. A directive should state exactly how management wants the supervisors and employees in the organization to approach safety, and thereby define the culture that is intended for the organization.

The directive may be referred to as a management safety policy, or safety statement. It can be a simply stated paragraph or an elaborate document outlining the responsibilities of all the members of the organization. Either type may be equally as effective, depending on the structure of the organization. The goal is communication, and therefore, the medium is not as important as the message that is received.

Is your policy successful?

When evaluating the success of a management safety policy, the focus is on how well employees receive the message and their perception of the commitment from top management to support it. The best policy is one that states the company's desire to make safety a part of everything it does. It should leave no doubt that managers, supervisors and employees are expected to follow safe work procedures and ensure safe working conditions.

An example of a management safety policy

The following is an example of a management safety policy. The message is clear and it briefly describes the importance of working safely.

The safety of employees at our company is of primary importance. It is the company's goal to provide safe working conditions and operating procedures that will ensure a safe work environment for all employees.

Accidents represent a needless waste of human resources and economic loss. A safe operation conserves human and material resources and is essential to efficient production.

All levels of management and supervision have a primary responsibility to determine safe work procedures and ensure safe working conditions. Supervisors and employees are expected to follow the work methods and procedures established by the company.

These responsibilities can be met only by working continuously to promote safe work practices among all employees and to maintain property and equipment in a safe operating condition. By working together, we can maintain a safe and efficient organization.

Signature

Owner, Manager, Administrator, etc.

Developing a safety culture

The challenge then becomes making the management policy directive a living document and developing a culture that recognizes that working safely is not only possible, but essential to the ultimate success of the organization. Once all levels of the organization are assigned specific safety activities and held accountable for completing those activities,the organization will be well on its way to maintaining what is known as a safety culture.

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