Implementation
Tools provided by management include budget, assigned responsibilities, adequate expertise and authority and accountability. Implementation of the program should include the following.
- Work site policy (including how policy is communicated to workers)
- Current year’s goals, objectives, action plans, and program evaluation
- Job descriptions that include safety and health responsibilities
- Performance evaluations that include an evaluation of safety and health responsibilities
- Budget showing money allocated to safety and health
- Evidence of employee involvement, such as committee minutes or other records of employee participation in safety and health program decisions
Responsibility for health and safety falls to the manager/supervisor and employees. Managers/supervisors are responsible for assigning responsibilities, communicating with employees about the program and defining the consequences of non-compliance. Employees are responsible for complying with the employers program. Implementation of health and safety programs is not necessarily expensive, but it does require some resources. Low and no cost interventions are addressed in Hazard Control & Maintenance. However, planning and defining implementation strategies is essential for a successful program.
Recommendations
- Use qualitative assessment information to identify priority safety and health hazards.
- All hazards are eliminated or controlled
- Analyze health and safety hazards inherent in each job
- Directions to employees when changes in work process are made
- Employees are trained to recognize and report hazards
- Encourage safety suggestion on a regular basis (weekly)
- Safety work orders take priority over all other work orders
- Conduct weekly site inspections (management and employee representative chosen by lot), inspections are monthly with rotating members. Describe all hazards found and location.
- Near misses, first aid incident or accident is investigated by the trained team.
- Annual review of weekly reports and incident investigation reports.
