SUPERVISOR SAFETY

TRAINING

What it Takes to Inspire Your

People to Work Safe

Steve Wise – June 2010 / 2011

 SUPERVISOR SAFETY
TRAINING
 Keeping your People safe at work is a never
ending process – and one that can easily consume
most of your time.
 As Safety Leaders – it must be our daily mission to
ensure that our People complete what we ask of
them – without mishap or incident.
 This presentation is being offered to give
Supervisors from various Industries – ideas or
guidance in carrying out their mission...of Keeping
Their People Safe. 2
 SUPERVISOR SAFETY
TRAINING
 What a Safety Leader / Supervisor
is to Me

 Supervisor Safety Challenges

 My Safety Offerings to Supervisors

 My Safety History / Background

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 What a Safety Leader is to
Me?
A SAFETY LEADER –
 Is the ONE RESPONSIBLE for the safety of his
/ her work group and the safe performance and
execution of work group operations.
 ACTS ON all safety Issues that are raised –
ensures their completion – and communicates
their status to their people.
 CONDUCTS SAFETY TRAINING that is
needed and applicable to a work group – that
includes involvement and safety takeaways.
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 What a Safety Leader is to
Me?
A SAFETY LEADER –
 COMMUNICATES SAFETY INFORMATION in
various forms not only to their work group, but
up the chain of command as well.
 ENCOURAGES and EXPECTS his / her people
to be part of the company safety process and
takes action to involve them in it.
 KNOWS HOW safety requirements and
performance fit into the organizations business
strategy and relates such to his / her people.
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 What a Supervisor is to Me?

Leader Communicator Planner

Administrator Well Organized Coach

Disciplinarian Time Manager Co-Worker

Counselor Employee Change Agent

Safety Flexible /
Learner / Teacher
Champion Adaptable
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 Supervisor Safety Challenges
Supervisors can face various and many Safety Challenges including –

 People Issues: sub-par performance, relationships,

attitude, injury prone, discipline, new / transferred
employees, etc.

 Conflicting Priorities: production vs. safety, using

defective equipment to complete a task, management
single focus, etc.

 Communication Breakdowns: mis-understandings,

unclear directions, language barriers, outdated
procedures, etc.

 Managing Time: deadlines, schedule changes,

manpower differences, production vs. administrative
functions, etc. 7
 Supervisor Safety Challenges
Supervisors can face various and many Safety Challenges including –

 Tool & Equipment Issues: T&E inspections, lack of the

right / proper T&E, improper maintenance, breakdowns /
downtime, lacking of proper training to use, etc.

 Work Environment: poor housekeeping, union vs.

management differences, stress from possible layoffs, off
shift differences, hazardous working conditions, etc.
 Training Issues: lack of supervisory training, limited time
for training, outdated training methods, providing safety
takeaways, etc.
 Work Group Involvement: lack of employee safety
involvement / interest, being part of the process, promoting
active participation, etc. 8
 Supervisor Safety Challenges
Supervisors can face various and many Safety Challenges including –

 Compliance Issues: internal and external safety

requirements, how they differ and are similar, what actions
are needed to attain, etc.
 Sharing Responsibility: encouraging work group
employees that safety is their responsibility too and that
they should watch out for the safety of their co-workers.
 Safety Time: knowing what time the organization affords
to safety, and maximizing it to provide the most safety
impact to work group.
 Accident Investigation: knowing how to conduct that
properly identifies the root cause and taking actions to
prevent its reoccurrence. 9
Supervisor Safety
Training
What are ways
in which You
the Safety Leader
can keep
your People Safe?
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 My Safety Offerings for Supervisors
Supervisor – Safety Actions

 Your People’s Safety must be your top priority.

 Start each Shift with a Safety Message.
 Act on all Safety Concerns raised to you – and
as quickly as you can.
 Make sure to follow-up on outstanding safety
concerns.
 Ensure that Safety Rules are understood and
followed by all.
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 My Safety Offerings for Supervisors
Supervisor – Safety Actions

 Always have your “Safety Eyes” on.

 When you see a Safety concern, infraction,
hazard – deal with it right away.
 Promote good housekeeping – it should be done
daily – and by all members of your work group.
 “Walk Your Safety Talk” – make sure that your
actions match the words that you say.
 Listen to your People – often times they are the
best to know.
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 My Safety Offerings for Supervisors
Supervisor – Safety Actions

 Encourage your People to report their Near Misses.

 Such are great live and learn examples – that can result
in action to prevent their reoccurrence – and an actual
injury from happening.
 Employees should never be disciplined for reporting a
Near Miss.
 Ensure that Workplace Inspections (i.e., Vehicle,
Equipment Logs) are completed daily and acted on
when non-conformances are identified.
 Encourage your People to have a Safety Voice.

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 My Safety Offerings for Supervisors
Supervisor – When You Witness an Unsafe Act

 Stop the action right away.

 NEVER LOOK THE OTHER WAY!
 Ask them if they know and understand how to perform
the operation safely.
 If not, explain it to them or have another Co-Worker
that knows how – show them how to perform it safely.
 Ask them if there is anything that is preventing them
from following the procedure safely.
 Act on any issue from this discussion that needs to be
addressed. 14
 My Safety Offerings for Supervisors
Supervisor – Actions to Involve Your Employees in
Safety
 Rotate the responsibility for reviewing your
organizational Safety Bulletins / Briefings /
Communications – with your People.
 Assign someone to select a Safety Rule from your
organizations Safety Handbook to read and discuss it
with your Work Group.
 Review Safety Accidents or Incidents that have
occurred in or outside your work group / organization.
 Have your People come up with recommendations on
why it happened and how it could have been prevented.
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 My Safety Offerings for Supervisors
Supervisor – Actions to Involve Your Employees in Safety

 Openly discuss Employee Safety Concerns that have

been raised – and advise your People of their status
and actions taken / to be taken – to address them.

 Conduct Workplace Safety Audits on a frequent

basis, using your Safety Reps to identify non-
conformances in both operations and plant facilities –
and see to it that they are corrected timely.

 When approached by your People regarding a Safety

Concern or Problem – ask them how they would
recommend to solve it.
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 My Safety Offerings for Supervisors
Supervisor – Actions to Involve Your Employees in Safety

 Get back to your People on their Safety Concerns.

 One of the worst actions for a Supervisor – is to listen to
their Employees Safety Concerns or Issues – and then
do nothing about them.
 A second action that can impede a Supervisors Efforts
to Improve Safety – is not getting back to their People
on what actions have been taken to address their Safety
issues and concerns.
 If you as a Supervisor take such action to address them
– then communicate what actions were taken to Your
People.
 Such will show Your People that you care about them
and Their Safety. 17
 My Safety Offerings to Supervisors
Supervisor - Safety Postings

 The posting of a simple Safety Picture in your workplace – can send a

strong Safety Message.

 Pictures of Safety Incidents including Injuries – not only get your

People’s attention – but can be used to get them thinking – “Could it
happen to Them?”

 The use of such Safety Pictures will have to be tailored to your work
environment –
 Heavy Manufacturing Plant – My experience is that the use of very dramatic
and graphic pictures, especially those pertaining to similar operations that are
performed – work the best.

 Office Environment – The above pictures will not work, nor are they suitable for
such a working environment.

 Such Pictures can be used in Safety Meetings – simply by displaying

it and asking your People what actions could have been taken to
avoid such incidents – or avoid getting
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injured from.
 Safety Pictures & Their Message

A SAFETY PICTURE
CAN BE WORTH
1,000 WORDS
What does this Picture
tell us?

How can you use this

Picture to Help your
People work Safe?
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 OH SHIX! – Lessons to be Learned
from the proceeding Picture
 Inspect your Tools & Equipment daily.
 Do not use T&E that are found to be unsafe and in poor
condition.
 Be prepared for the unexpected.
 Don’t take chances / risks / shortcuts.
 Make sure that you wear the appropriate PPE –
Personal Protective Equipment for the job that you are
performing.
 Always expect your T&E to fail – and position your body
accordingly.
 Always follow the Safety Rules that pertain to the task at
hand. 20
 Safety Training
If you conduct Safety Training –
Your goal should be
to ensure that your People
take something away
that they can
use and benefit from – either in their
Workplace or at Home
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 My Safety Offerings for Supervisors
Supervisor – Safety Training

 Make sure that you know and understand the Safety

Topic prior to conducting / presenting.
 Encourage and expect 2-way communication when
conducting Work Group Safety Training.
Get your People involved!
 Frequently use Visual Aides to communicate your
Safety Message. Used correctly, it is a great Safety
Training Tool.
 Train your People in Safety Topics that apply directly
to what they do and what they need to know in order
to perform their job safely.
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 My Safety Offerings for Supervisors
Supervisor – Safety Training

 Recognize Safety Performance – both Individually

and as a Team.
 Supplement your Safety Training with outside Safety
Experts – such as local Vendors, Fire Department,
Safety Instructors, etc.
 Use your most experienced People as a Safety
Leader and Teacher…Use their Knowledge!

CONDUCT SAFETY
TRAINING.....WITH A
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 My Safety Offerings to Supervisors
Supervisor – Safety Communications

 Walk your Safety Talk – Your People must see you do

what you say.

 How you communicate with your People regarding

Safety – will determine the type of Safety Message
your People hear and how well they accept it.

 If you promise one of your People that you will look

into their Safety Concern – then do so & timely.

 Be a frequent Safety Voice – talk about Safety often

and tell your People how they can benefit from it.

 Talk about Safety from your Heart – and mean it!

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 My Safety History
 Safety Leader of both Repair Division and HQ Office.
 Taught many Safety Topics including – Pinch Point Safety, LOTO,
PPE, Ergonomics, Welding and Electrical Safety, and Accident
Investigation.
 Conducted numerous Accident Investigations attaining the goal of
finding Root Cause(s) and prevented any reoccurrence.
 Established working Safety relationships with Supervisors, Union
Safety Reps, and Workers – and including them as part of the
Company Safety Process.
 Produced many Job Hazard Analysis in conjunction with Workforce –
to identify and control all applicable job hazards.
 Extensive experience in complying with California Environmental
Rules & Regulations, and their impact on the workforce.
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Questions or Comments?

I hope that this Safety

Presentation has helped

You in some way to –

KEEP YOUR PEOPLE SAFE!

steve.wise@ttx.com
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