Have you dedicated the time and resources necessary to achieve your business safety and health goals? Does your written policy state how supervisors and employees will be held accountable for their safety and health responsibilities? All employees, including supervisors, must have a clear understanding of the consequences for failing to perform their safety and health responsibilities. You can strengthen accountability by doing the following:
- Develop a written disciplinary policy that has clear workplace safety expectations for all employees: it’s fair, applies equally to everyone, and is understood by all.
- Hold supervisors responsible for developing proper attitudes for workplace safety and health, for enforcing safety and health rules, and for the safety record of those they supervise.
- Include employees’ safety and health responsibilities in their job descriptions and performance evaluations. Ensure that they understand fulfilling those responsibilities is a condition of employment. Give them enough authority and training to fulfill their responsibilities.
- Develop workplace rules that address safety at your business and enforce them.
- Establish a recognition program that rewards employees for their contributions to the safety effort.
