ARE YOU ACCOUNTABLE?

ARE YOU ACCOUNTABLE?

The dictionary defines “Accountability as being able to account for or answer to”. The word “Accountable” refers to being responsible or legally bound to giving an account. In the quest to provide and maintain a safe workplace, it is crucial that you and every member of your organization be educated on the relevance of occupational safety and health relevant to their job functions. For anyone to be held accountable, safety policies and disciplinary measures must be stated specifically in written form which must be disseminated to all workers. Safety education informs the worker on why it is vital to engage in safe work procedures. Ask yourself the following questions.

(1)    How do we measure the standards of performance of our employees? Have all employees been  educated on the organization’s policies and safe work procedures?  If, so they have to certify that they have read, they understand and are ready to comply with the company’s safety policies and procedures.

(2)    Have we provided sufficient resources and psychosocial support? Have the employees been provided with safe work tools, equipment, machinery, facilities and environment? Do they also have reasonable work schedules, effective safety education and training, competent management and a leadership that is caring and sincere?

(3)    Is there adequate supervision of workers while they are engaged in the work? If the supervisor is usually in the office all day, how will it be possible for him to oversee the way employees work? It is his responsibility to detect and correct hazardous conditions and unsafe acts before there is an occurrence of injury or illness in the workplace.  It will be inappropriate for the safety supervisor who does not adequately oversee how employees are working, to want to discipline such employees after an accident occurs.

(4)    Is there appropriate disciplinary measures to penalize workers who are caught violating safety rules? Or is it that the supervisor will only threaten the worker with empty words without following through with disciplining defaulters?  If supervisors allow employees to violate safety rules, all justification for discipline disappears

(5)    Is the safety supervisor leading by example? Is he adhering to all the safety rules and policies? Is he setting the right example for his employees?

Note: A basic rule of thumb for any accountability system states that, “a person should be held accountable for a responsibility only if he/she has control or the capacity to fulfill that responsibility” Before you hold your employees accountable in complying with all safety policies and regulations, you and your organization must have first of all done your own part. You can only have answers to all the questions raised above after settling your own part.

In conclusion, everyone one in your organization is to be held accountable in maintaining safe workplace, as long as they have been empowered to do so.

Regards

Goke Akingbade
gokeakingbade2@gmail.com
gokeakingbade.blogspot.com