Fall 2007 Safety Network

Supervisors and Safety
It is important for supervisors to lead by example when it comes to safety. If employees notice their supervisor is not following the rules or taking the proper precautions to prevent accidents, chances are, they won't either.

While a supervisor's job is to make sure all of their employees are following the guidelines, it is also essential that they monitor their own behavior and make sure that they are setting a good example for those around them. Supervisors are on hand to guide employees on how best to perform their job duties. If an employee has a supervisor that teaches them to cut corners to get the job done faster, that employee may feel pressure to perform the job the way they were taught, even if they know it's not the safest way to do it.

In some cases, being in a position of authority allows supervisors to control the behavior of their employees. The fear of being reprimanded or even fired can make some employees agree to almost anything. It is important to remember that our behavior and attitude are contagious, even when it comes to safety on the job. A good supervisor knows that even on a bad day or when up against a deadline, safety is the key factor.

While it is important to physically show your employees that you care about safety, sometimes it isn't enough. It is valuable for supervisors to positively reinforce employees safe behaviors. Take note that employees are following the rules by wearing their safety glasses on the production floor, let them know that they are doing a great job, and that it hasn't gone unnoticed. Some companies even choose to have incentive plans for employees that continuously show positive attitudes towards safety. It is important to note however, that rewards must be tied directly to the behavior that the supervisor wants repeated. Make employees aware that these awards are available and how they can obtain them.

By doing this, the behavior is likely to occur in the future because the consequence is related to the behavior. Keep in mind when trying to be a positive influence for your employees that you must take note of all employee behaviors, especially your own. Make sure that you are giving the proper praise or reward for the job and you are not reprimanding someone for something you would do yourself. In order to correct undesirable behavior in employees, sometimes we need to start with ourselves.