There’s been pushback on companies saying “safety first” when that obviously isn’t the case in many businesses. There is also an appreciation of the fact that slogans don’t make people safer, and haphazard safety warnings aren’t good enough. While installing safety equipment, like different forms of roof fall protection, for example, will help keep workers safe, education and training are typically the best ways of protecting workers. The solution is the implementation of safety management systems and Building Analytics Automation Systems that parallel the quality management systems that are the key to truly systemic quality in an organization.
What Is Safety Management?
Safety management goes well beyond having a health inspector or safety coordinator walk through the building and report health hazards and safety violations, though that is part of the system safety management seeks to put in place. Safety management systems are truly systemic. It is a combination of company policies, plans, procedures, dedicated support personnel and assigned responsibilities to keep everyone safe.
For example, every job has known risks identified and assigned to it in the Human Resources database. Anyone hired for that job must either have the requisite safety credentials such as fall protection or hazmat training or they must be given that training before they step onto the shop floor. Human Resources learning management systems track the training taken by everyone and when it is completed. Safety training that has to be retaken periodically is tracked, whether it is blood born pathogen training for nurses or lead remediation training for home renovators.
Safety management systems don’t just issue company policies and enforce them. It includes a review of company policies as business processes and manufacturing systems change. There’s no point forcing people to take safety training for CNC machines when you introduce 3D printers, but they do need to take safety training for the new manufacturing technology. Safety requirements may change in response to government mandates, as well.
What Is the Value of a Safety Management System?
A safety management system has been linked to a lower rate of workplace injuries and accidents. That reduces the insurance costs and healthcare costs paid by the company. It also improves workplace productivity, since every injury interrupts operations and can sideline the injured person for days. A safety management system reduces the odds that your company will be cited for workplace safety violations or something as simple as lapses in recordkeeping.
Safety management systems have become routine or even legally required in industries with significant safety risks such as aviation, chemical processing, power generation, and construction sites where people work at great heights. In every industry and business site, it is imperative to ensure the safety of workers and follow all legal requirements. If your business is focused on people who need to work at heights, say the construction industry, for example, you should not overlook safety precautions, processes, or industry standards. It may also be your responsibility to ensure there are roof anchors and other safety systems in place, to ensure workers are securely connected to the building. By setting up a comprehensive system for managing safety risks, employees and the public at large are much safer. That improves the industry’s image as well as reduces its legal liability.
How Do You Implement a Safety Management System? A safety management system is truly all-inclusive. Hiring a dedicated safety manager is but the start of the process. You should work with a safety system consulting service to help you set up the initial set of company policies and procedures, record-keeping systems, and controlled change processes to create a true safety management system. Click here to visit this website to learn more about how a safety management system can be set up. If you already have a safety program, learn about how you can create a reinforcing safety culture and a complete system to sustain it even as your business model changes or your workforce turns over.
