Explain the difference between authority, responsibility, and accountability as they apply to OSH program management. In your discussion, provide examples of how your current organization implements these concepts. Is it effective? How can you tell? What recommendations do you have for improvement?
Total Environmental Health and Safety Management
There is a tremendous amount of difference between authority, responsibility, and accountability as they apply to the OSH program management. As read in the textbook by Manuele (2008 p. 86) and under the section 3.1.3, Responsibility And Authority of the Z10, requires that management define the roles, assign responsibilities and the authority, provide the necessary resources, and establish accountability. He states too that if a management accountability system for safety, health, and environmental results is not in place that the management commitment to attaining superior results is doubtful. Manuele even mentions that management’s accountability without its consequences isn’t accountability.
Employers must flex their authority in their safety program and pen who has what role; assign who has what responsibility and who has what accountability of particular items or actions. Management is to provide the leadership and assume the responsibility of integrating safety, health and environmental aspects for a total effect for their safety management system. Management sets the safety culture for the remaining employees to follow. Lead from the front and the rear will follow. Superior results will occur if superior leadership initiates.
The Research paper on Medisys – Responsibility Without Authority
How has MediSys ended up where it is now? While MediSys had grown to become a $400m firm with 1,750 employees, in 2008, it was at a crossroads. The firm’s highly effective entrepreneurial culture had been stymied by size and bureaucracy. At about this time, the firm hired a new President, Art Beaumont, who instituted a change in the New Product Development process. Instead of a traditional linear ...
Reflecting on the Z10 Guide would assist someone on setting up the authority, responsibility and accountability of a safety program. Referencing the Appendix B, Roles and Responsibilities, of the Z10 Guide mentions too that employees shall assume responsibility for aspects of health and safety over which they have control. So, Joe the Plumber can’t skate out on all of his responsibility by saying that the employer was supposed to do so-and-so. Joe also has his fair share of authority by speaking up when he sees or feels like he’s in an unsafe condition. He also has the responsibility of informing the safety committee or representative of his possible unsafe conditions. And he is held accountable in that management expects him to be active informing management of any unsafe actions or conditions.
My past and present employer ought to take heed of what Manuele and his cohorts have to say. Most of my employers may spout off what they desire in their safety program but don’t have the least bit of concern to lead by example, much less show that they are truly concerned about the safety program for their employees. They have shown blatant disregard for their safety policies and practices to include their lack of flexing of authority to ensure that a safety program is followed, for their lack of taking responsibility incorporating the safety program into all aspects of the business and being accountable for their lack of actions. Needless to say, the more I learn about how my past and present management is supposed to mold themselves, the more focused I become to try to get ‘them’ on the correct tangent.
My current employer assumes no responsibility of safety. He speaks of being safety conscience and this is pretty much the end of the conversation. He, my present employer, uses intimidation and threatens myself and the other employees about how much being out of work will cost us when we’re at home without a paycheck if we’re injured. His scare tactics absolutely do not help us to be safer. If anything, if we get hurt or need minor medical attention, we simply don’t bring him up the conversation and tend to our cuts and scrapes as needed. We find more compassion amongst ourselves. Fortunately, we haven’t needed any major medical attention and hopefully we’ll never need it as long as he’s still in his position. I would recommend ditching the Tyrant-a-Saurus Wrecks because he’s already failed three attempts to passing anger management courses. Megalomaniacs will not accept constructive criticism.
The Term Paper on Develop Health And Safety And Risk Management
1.1 Explain the legislative framework for health, safety and risk management in the work setting. Answer – The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 is the main piece of the health and safety legislation in Great Britain. It provides the legal framework to promote and encourage high standards in the workplace. The Act, when first introduced, provided an integrated system dealing with workplace health ...
Somewhat on the contrary though, my previous employers didn’t speak at all about policies and procedures of safety, but there again; this has been some years ago before the latest of being mindful of safety policies and procedure has come about. As far as I can remember though, he let us work regardless of being injured. If a workman’s comp slip was filed, then he would get involved but other than that, he didn’t mention safety at all; good, bad, or indifferent. Hindsight on my part, I wished that he and I had an active conversation about safety and how being aware of how it affects the employees.
References
Manuele, F. A. (2008).
Advanced safety management focusing on Z10 and serious injury prevention. Hoboken, N.J: John Wiley & Sons.
