Six keys to having good safety supervision
Safety supervision means supervision concerning safety. More so, supervision means watching a person or activity and ensuring that the person does those things correctly or safely.
Supervision is one aspect every safety officer, supervisor or even manager must embark on in their day-to-day roles. If you do not supervise enough, you will not know the improvement you need in your work activities.
Through supervision, a lot can be revealed to you, like the unsafe acts of workers, Unsafe machine operations, and poor job conditions of workers, and even see safe practices that are commendable.
The summary of what a safety professional does lies in supervision because supervising lets you know how far the safety procedures and plans have been correctly followed and obeyed by everyone in the organization.
For example, a procedure for working at height says all ladders must extend at least three rungs away from the landing edge. During supervision, you can immediately correct any unsafe practice when it does not comply with the procedure.
Follow the six tips below to guide you in having good safety supervision.
#1.Set good examples
Setting good examples is not difficult to so do. As a safety leader, manager or supervisor, the workers working with you look to you for direction and guidance. Most times, what they see you do is what they will find comfortable doing. In order words, your behaviours can influence the workers. So you’ll need to be an example for them even during your supervision activities. Also, encourage other employees to set a better example in the company and even reward them for doing so.
#2.Know the operation
You can’t supervise well if you don’t know the operations of your activity. If things are not done right or done unsafely, you may not be able to decipher that easily. Know your work operation to spot things that are out of place.
#3. Check out for unsafe conditions.
Unsafe conditions are a precursor for accidents on site. For your supervision to be good, you have to have an eye to observe the Unsafe conditions no matter how negligible they may look. The unsafe conditions include working with a damaged ladder, defective tools and slippery floors.
#4. Have a routine inspection regime.
You have to create a schedule for your inspection routines. It can be either daily, weekly or monthly. With this, you will observe any abnormality before it causes accidents in the workplace.
#5. Do corrective actions.
Corrective actions are actions to correct any non-compliance on-site or in the workplace. Any unsafe conditions or hazards that are spotted need action to control them
Ensure that you take corrective actions to prevent such from occurring again while supervising.
Ensure that any proposed corrective actions are timely and done correctly. Your hazard control management is incomplete if you don’t enforce Corrective actions.
#6.Know your employees
Get to know your employees and know what they can do. Their character can be a good lead for you on how to relate to them. During your safety supervision, you can know who to rely upon in your decisions. Then it will be easy for you to address and close out any hazard observations.
Read also:
- Tips to bear in mind when interviewing witnesses during incident investigation.
- Stop work authority safety toolbox talk
- How to encourage workers to use PPE at work
- Toolbox talk on Wheelbarrow safety.
- 5 ways to promote effective safety leadership
- How to use PDCA cycle in occupational health and safety standard ISO 45001:2018.
- 6 Smart Ways to Boost Forklift Safety and Increase Efficiency at Loading Docks & Worksites
- Toolbox talk on leg safety
- What are the effects of an accident on the life of an employee?
Onyeka Emma is a QHSE Professional with more than 10 years of experience in occupational health and safety, which spans many industries such as construction, beverage, oil and gas, etc. He has many health and safety certifications, including NEBOSH IGC, ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015, and ISO 45001:2018 Lead auditor certificate. A member of IOSH, ISPON, and Nigeria Red Cross Society. He is interested in business, entrepreneurship, Speaking, and motivating people to do better for themselves. He enjoys leisure with a good motivational book.
