Lessons in safety - February 25

SUPERVISORS ARE uniquely placed to influence safety performance. If they demonstrate they prioritise safety, they show what is expected and how it’s done! So, what can stop safety from being a supervisor’s priority, and what can we do as safety professionals to make sure this doesn’t happen?

First, it’s crucial that the organisation’s safety culture is a positive one; research has found strong evidence for the profound moderating influence of group safety climate on the relationship between the leadership practices of the front-line supervisor and employee safety compliance behaviour.¹ Similarly, lack of top management commitment was identified as one of three key barriers to workplace health and safety management, the other two being a lack of employee’s safety awareness and insufficient organisational resources.²

Of course, there are likely to be other factors that limit your supervisors' influence. Identify, document, and address them. But also put in place supporting strategies that realise your supervisors' safety potential… 

Strategies for supporting supervisors

1. Training and development: Provide comprehensive safety and leadership training. This is essential for supervisors to fulfil any sort of safety leadership role and deliver the following suggestions. Equipping supervisors with these skills helps them handle difficult conversations, recognise when something isn't right, and support their teams effectively.
2. Accountability and visibility: Supervisors should be accountable for the safety performance of their work area. They should lead by example, be visible in their commitment to safety, and actively participate in safety activities.
3. Communication and feedback: Supervisors should regularly check in with their teams, listen to their concerns, and provide clear, detailed explanations about the importance and benefits of safety protocols. 
4. Empower supervisors: Give supervisors the time to explain the benefits of prioritizing safety to their teams. This involves providing them with the information they need to communicate effectively and ensuring they have the authority to make decisions that enhance safety.
5. Creating a supportive environment: Create an environment where supervisors feel supported in their efforts to prioritise safety. This includes providing the necessary resources, tools, and support systems to help them succeed. Additionally, fostering a culture of psychological safety, where employees feel respected, valued, and accepted, is crucial for effective safety leadership.

Before you begin…

Remember that your supervisors need to be on board with safety too. Make time for genuine conversations with them, giving clear, detailed explanations about the rationale behind new activities and potential benefits to alleviate apprehensions and build trust. Ask for their opinions and ideas, and most importantly, listen to their answers. Don’t forget to establish a feedback loop for continuous monitoring and adjustment.

NEBOSH offers a range of qualifications for people at all stages of their career. These include the NEBOSH Health and Safety at Work Award - a best practice introduction to workplace health, safety, and risk – and the NEBOSH HSE Certificate in Health and Safety Leadership Excellence which shows how leaders can influence health and safety performance and culture through their actions and behaviours.

References

¹ E.A. Knapp, The influence of supervisor leadership practices and perceived group safety climate on employee safety performance, Safety Science, Volume 50, Issue 4, April 2012, https://www.academia.edu/28491952/The_influence_of_supervisor_leadership_practices_and_perceived_group_safety_climate_on_employee_safety_performance 

² M Tsai, F Chen, P Hsu, C Chen, The barriers of workplace safety and health management: from the supervisor’s perspective, European Journal of Public Health, Volume 29, Issue Supplement_4, November 2019, ckz186.326, https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckz186.326 

Dee Arp is chief operating officer at NEBOSH. For more information, visit www.nebosh.org.uk/qualifications