The Safety Manager, the unsung heroes, who ensure accidents don’t happen and employees go home safe. They have a vital role without which everything else onsite cannot happen. But what does that role really entail? It goes beyond just nagging employees about wearing their PPE properly.
- Regulatory Compliance – Safety Managers must have extensive knowledge about regulations relevant to their industry and how they apply to every situation onsite. They decipher the sometimes confusing language of OSHA, EPA, ANSI, and other regulating bodies. If an OSHA violation leads to an accident, the safety manager is held accountable.
- Training – Safety Managers must make training interesting and accessible to all employees, ensuring they have a clear and deep understanding.
- Instilling a Safety Culture – It’s not just about training. Safety Managers must motivate their team to WANT TO follow the rules, wear PPE, and look out for their coworkers. They need to impart knowledge and motivation.
- Data Analyst – Safety programs are supported by data. Safety Managers know what data to collect, how to collect it, and how to analyze and create reports from it.
- Investigations – If an accident occurs, the safety manager leads the investigation, creates reports, and troubleshoots to prevent a recurrence.
- Marketing – Safety programs involve logos, posters, events, and cheerleading. Safety Managers get creative, creating contests and incentives to keep people engaged and motivated.
- Purchaser – Safety Managers oversee purchasing PPE for their team, considering the hazards present and ensuring adequate protection. They know how employees can get hurt and make sure they have the necessary safeguards.
Safety managers have a pivotal role that affects the health and wellbeing of those working in the industry. It is much more than just enforcing safety rules and regulations, it’s a demanding job that requires a diverse set of skills including regulatory compliance, training, instilling a strong safety culture, data analysis, investigations of accidents and creative marketing. You must be motivated to take on this challenging position and stay focused on protecting all employees from potential workplace hazards.
