In the past we have discussed a lot about safety training in relation to workers, but more importantly, it is crucial to properly train supervisors as well. Supervisors play a key role in creating a safe work culture in the workplace. Having an effective leadership safety training program gives supervisors an upper hand in the workplace as well as arms with the necessary leadership skills to effectively influence culture change.
Why Do Supervisor Training?
Supervisors are much like the quarterbacks on a football team; they are responsible for leading the team toward success through safety compliance hurdles by applying daily safe work practices. With proper training, the quarterback can lead a team to an amazing season. Likewise by training your supervisors, you give your team a better chance at succeeding safely and efficiently.
Key Areas of Proper Training
As with worker safety training, there are 5 key areas an efficient supervisor safety programs should cover. They are:
1) Effective Safety Training
Supervisors should understand the necessary training requirements of their company. In addition, they must understand why workers need to be trained on all applicable compliance standards.
2) Providing Support and Resources.
A supervisor must not only be properly trained in identifying hazards and correcting them, but they must also be trained to watch for any behavioral risks that can impede on workers’ performances. They must also play the role of supporter, a person that workers can rely upon for proper guidance and coaching in almost every situation.
3) Enforcing The Safety Policies and Rules
Ensuring workers follow all of the applicable safety and health regulations is critical part of a supervisor’s responsibilities. Disciplinary action is sometimes necessary when a worker is not complying safety policies and procedures. Disciplinary action should be applied consistently across the company.
4) Provide Adequate Supervision
A supervisor must observe, identify and correct hazards and behaviors not suitable for the work environment before an injury or illness occurs. Hence supervisor training must include how to properly apply hazard identification techniques, safety inspections, behavioral observations, job hazard analysis (JSA), and Incident/Accident analysis.
5) How to Demonstrate Leadership
One of the best ways to teach is to demonstrate. When the end game is safety culture, senior management should be actively coaching supervisors to be great safety leaders by participating all aspects of the safety process. By molding supervisors into safety leaders, they will take the driver seat in shaping your company’s safety culture.
If you are a supervisor, foreman, or up and coming leader in your organization, and want to learn more about the essential skills of a supervisor, SafetyPro Resources is offering a Supervisor Safety Training Workshop on April 30th at our Baton Rouge Office. Supervisors will learn the necessary skills to efficiently lead companies to success.
