What Are My Health and Safety Responsibilities as a Manager (9 Step Guide):
Managers and Supervisors care for many responsibilities as part of their daily work load. Not only do you have your own work to attend to, but also targets and goals to reach.
You’ve got to liaise with Senior Management as well as making sure your team is completing the work set for them.
When working with your team, you are required to manage them, ensure they’re working efficiently, check in on them and look after them.
Whilst we can appreciate that Managers and Supervisors are busy people, and may not always have health and safety at the top of their priority list, the law is very clear on what is required from Middle Management from a Health and Safety point of view.
Even if you’re aware of its importance, what exactly do you need to do and implement?
As a Manager or Supervisor, you are responsible for the day-to-day health and safety of your team, as well as ensuring operatives are working safely and according to Method Statements and Risk Assessments.
In this blog, we will help Managers and Supervisors understand their Health and Safety responsibilities under Health and Safety law, and assist you to understand how you can begin to take on these responsibilities and ensure the physical safety and mental well-being of your team.
Who Is Responsible for Health and Safety in the Workplace?
As we mentioned, as a Manager you are legally responsible to ensure your team’s Health and Safety is protected.
Directors and Senior Managers are in charge of the company’s Health and Safety policy, which helps to protect their employees.
The Company’s Employees also shoulder the responsibility of adhering to those guidelines, while taking measures to safeguard their own and their colleagues’ welfare.
As a Manager, you are therefore responsible for not only your own personal safety, but also that of all personnel under your authority, including others who may be affected by the company’s activities.
9 Health and Safety Steps for Managers and Supervisors to Follow:
Here are nine items for a Manager or Supervisor to have on their mind when it comes to their health and safety responsibilities.
-
Understand and Implement the Company’s Safety Policy
As a Manager, you must fully understand the company’s safety policy and ensure these policies are implemented throughout your team. It is your responsibility to ensure that your team understands and adheres to these guidelines.
-
Clarify Team Responsibilities
Every Team Member has a role to play regarding their health and safety responsibilities. Clearly communicate to each team member their specific Health and Safety duties to ensure everyone understands their individual roles. By laying out these duties, you create accountability and ensure everyone understands what they should be doing.
-
Conduct Risk Assessments
Risk assessments allow you to identify and control potential hazards before they cause harm. As a Manager, you should regularly assess the risks associated with activities involving you and your team. This involves examining the workplace to identify and evaluate potential hazards and implement control measures to mitigate them. Getting team members involved who carry out the work is also important.
-
Provide Written Work Instructions
Supply your team with detailed written instructions on work methods, highlighting potential hazards and risks, and ensure adherence to these guidelines. Ensuring that these instructions are easily accessible and regularly updated helps your team perform their duties safely and effectively.
-
Enforce Accident and Near-Miss Reporting
No matter how minor an incident may seem, make sure your team understands and complies with procedures for reporting these accidents and near-misses. This reporting allows you to investigate, understand the causes and implement corrective actions.
-
Ensure Adequate Training
Verify that all team members, including sub-contractors, are suitably trained or competent to carry out their work and that the necessary licences or certificates of competence are in force and appropriate.
-
Display Important Information
Ensure that statutory notices, the safety policy, insurance certificates, and names of appointed first aiders are prominently displayed and kept up-to-date. These displays can serve as constant reminders to your team of the importance of health and safety and provide essential information in the event of an emergency.
-
Provide Induction for New Employees
A thorough induction process is critical for instilling a culture of safety from the start. Make sure all new hires receive a copy of the policy statement, necessary induction training, required personal protective equipment, and are aware of their responsibilities.
-
Lead by Example
As a Manager, your actions speak louder than words. Demonstrate your commitment to Health and Safety by consistently following best practices yourself and setting a strong example for your team.
Health and Safety Training for Managers and Supervisors
In this blog, we have touched on the different questions you must have in mind when managing your team.
You can see that as a Manager or Supervisor you hold a special position within your organisation when it comes to health and safety.
At Altruisk, we teach the IOSH Managing Safely® course which is designed to educate you on your health and safety responsibilities as a Manager.
The course teaches you what your Health and Safety responsibilities are and what the law says regarding Health and Safety. We teach you how to carry out risk assessments, in addition to looking at accident investigation and auditing and lots more.
If you’re required to manage Health and Safety and wish to do so effectively and in compliance with your company’s policies, current health and safety legislation and industry best practice, you can learn more about the course and when it is next running using this link.