Safetydude's Safety Tip of the Week
Are Your Supervisors Competent?
Are you as the Owner/Operator Competent?
This weeks Safety Tip is written in response to a request from a "follower". Please let me know if you have a topic of interest that you would like me to write on.
According to the Ontario Occupational Health & Safety Act, Employers are required to hire "competent" persons to supervise their workers. The word competent has a very specific meaning under the Act.
The definition section of the Act defines a competent person as a person who:
a) is qualified because of knowledge, training and experience to organize the work and its performance,
b) is familiar with this Act and the regulations that apply to the work, and
c) has knowledge of any potential or actual danger to health or safety in the workplace.
It can be argued that, Supervisors who truly are competent generally have better injury statistics associated with their personnel, higher production rates, higher levels of employee morale, and are seen as positive contributors to the safety of employees.
Unfortunately, there isn't a formal test to take, or one particular course that a Supervisor must enroll in to prove that they are competent. Every workplace should be considered different and unique from all others. Just because you recruit an experienced Supervisor away from another Employer with lots of Health & Safety training doesn't mean that they should be considered as competent within your workplace.
The following is not meant to be legal advise, but a suggestion of ideas for you to consider in determining if your Supervisors (or yourself) are competent. By no means should the list below be considered complete. It's a starting point for your consideration.
Are they (you) qualified to organize the work and its performance because of their knowledge, training and experience:
I found the following a few years ago on the internet and still feel that it is still applicable. In your role as a supervisor, are you able to:
Carry on with a positive attitude at all times?
Observe operations and stay informed?
Motivate employees by setting an example?
Plan and prioritize your actions?
Employ the right people for the job?
Take care of problems and conflicts before they worsen?
Express your expectations clearly and make sure they are understood?
Not hesitate to delegate?
Co-ordinate and guide your team by building upon individual strengths so they will succeed?
Immediately take action to ensure employee satisfaction?
Evaluate the achievement of performance objectives?
See your own stress factors and find ways to reduce them?
Can they demonstrate that they can and have properly managed the following situations:
Are they (you) familiar with the Occupational Health and Safety Act and the regulations that apply to the workplace:
Can they explain without coaching or referencing any material, the following basic elements of the Act:
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Their Duties and Responsibilities as set forth in the Act
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The Duties and Responsibilities of the Employer and their role in supporting the Employers initiatives to comply with the legislation The proper steps that must be followed in the case of a Work Refusal
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What is a Critical Accident and what is the requirement for reporting
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The required steps in performing an accident investigation and workplace inspection
Can they explain without coaching or referencing any material, the following:
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What Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is required to be worn within the workplace, any why
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How to effectively perform a Lock Out procedure on equipment located within the workplace
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How to properly perform Pre-Use Inspections (as required) on equipment within the workplace
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Any requirements within the workplace for specialized training such as for Forklifts and Fall Arrest
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How to determine equipment is properly guarded
Are they (you) knowledgeable of any potential or actual danger to health or safety in the workplace:
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Do your supervisors know the actual or potential hazards associated with the work?
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Are they aware of the contents of the Workplace Hazard Assessment?
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Do they receive some form of training on topics such as hazard awareness, machine guarding, ergonomics, lockout, etc.
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Do they know the Safe Operating Procedures for all the equipment, machinery, hazards that their employees are exposed to?
From the Courts (Ontario Newsroom)
A automotive part supplier was fined $120,000 on May 11, 2011, for a violation of the Occupational Health and Safety Act after a worker was seriously injured.
On April 20, 2010, a worker at the manufacturing plant attempted to clear a clog in a picker, a machine with a large spiked roller used to mulch materials. The worker locked out the energy source of the machine before opening an access window to reach the clog. However, the roller was still in motion, requiring several minutes to slow down even after the power was turned off. The worker's hand was caught by the roller and drawn into the machine, causing serious injuries.
The Company pleaded guilty, as an employer, to failing to ensure that the rotating roller on the picker was cleaned or adjusted only when motion that may endanger a worker had been stopped.
In addition to the fine, the court imposed a 25-per-cent victim fine surcharge, as required by the Provincial Offences Act.
Picture of the Week
Someone couldn't make up their minds if they were to stay to the right or left of this navigation marker.
Imagine the "sudden stop" of the boat, and the increased momentum of the boats occupants as the boat stopped.
