Seven safety tips for new supervisors

You were just promoted to a supervisor’s position.  That’s great, congratulations!  Perhaps one of the most critical aspects of your job is setting an example for the people you lead.  According to the bureau of labor statistics, 5,333 workers died from work-related injuries in the U.S. in 2019.  That is a 2% increase from the 2018 total of 5,250.  It’s a staggering number when you think about it.  As a supervisor, you have a lot on your plate with many responsibilities.  Here are seven safety tips that will set you up for success.

1. Learn the company safety manual.  Especially the process for high hazard work, e.g., work at heights – about 400 fatal falls in 2019, working on energized equipment – over 150 fatal electrocutions on the job in that same year.  Knowing how to protect your team is crucial to working within the allotted hours and staying on budget.
2. At a fundamental level, people have a desire to belong.  We need to feel that we add value to our group.  It is important to acknowledge someone working safely publicly as a leader.   Work to give everyone a voice and an opportunity to feel valued.  The morning safety huddle is one way to achieve this.  Every morning, pull your team together for 7-10 minutes; ask what went well the day before and where you can improve.   Tell your team the expectations for the day and talk about how you will all accomplish these goals safely.  Discuss the risk associated with the work and how the team will control it.  Give everyone a chance to provide input.
3. Ensure your team has everything they need to do the job safely when assigning work.  It’s a best practice to get to work early so you can walk the work area to identify potential hazards and determine the best way to control them.  If you don’t walk the worksite, how will you know what’s going on?  Always verify that your team members are trained for the task you assign them.  It’s ok to put an inexperienced person on a task.  That’s how they learn.  Just make sure you or someone you know embraces safety is checking in on them.  Review the procedures for the task, including how to do it safely.  Check all equipment and tools for serviceability.  If something needs to be repaired or is damaged, tag it out and remove it from the work area to avoid accidentally using it.
4. If your work requires personal protective equipment (PPE), ensure that it is readily available.  Show your team how to put on and take off PPE properly.  Teach them how to care for correctly and store required PPE.
5. Empower your team to call a time out and pause work if they identify a safety risk or are unsure how to perform a task safely. 
6. Address all safety concerns brought to your attention.  Always report injuries, no matter how small they may appear, and ensure your team knows they need to do the same.  Ensure that prompt first aid treatment is given by the person nominated to administer first aid.  If that’s you, stay up on your training. 
7. Make frequent inspections of the work area throughout the day.  Not only to ensure production meets your goals but also to ensure unsafe acts and conditions are identified and corrected.  Identifying and correcting unsafe acts and conditions applies to your people and subcontractors performing work for you.  At the root of more than 90% of all incidents are unsafe conditions or unsafe acts, and sometimes both.

Examples of unsafe conditions include:

• Defective equipment.
• Defective electrical components
• Equipment inadequately or improperly guarded.
• Improper storage of incompatible materials, compressed gas cylinders, or flammable liquids
• Unprotected floor penetrations or sidewalls that could lead to falling more than 6 feet
• Poor or no ventilation
• Poor design or construction
• Not implementing a hierarchy of controls.

Examples of unsafe acts include:

• Operating tools and equipment (forklift, skid steer) without training or authorization
• Operating equipment at an unsafe speed
• Working or riding on moving equipment that is not designed for passengers
• Using unsafe equipment or equipment inappropriately
• Manipulating or making safety devices inoperative
• Improper loading or stacking
• Working in a dangerous position
• Working or walking in the line of fire
• Horseplay of any kind
• Not using personal protective equipment when required and provided

In Conclusion

You were probably promoted because you are good at being a leader.  It’s time to coach others to become better at what they do.  Implementing the seven tips suggested in this article will set you off in the right direction as a leader of people.  Being a leader takes many skills.  Managing the safety of others is one of the more essential skills.   One final tip is to praise in public and reprimand in private.  For more leadership information, visit The W. Edwards Deming Institute.