ANN ARBOR, MI — Ken Zans made one point very clear during the Conference on Worker Safety and OSHA Compliance: “Businesses need to create a corporate culture of safety.”
He asked attendees, “Can an outsider or visitor to your business recognize your corporate culture of safety, i.e., signage or employees wearing protective clothing?” He pointed to signs listing the number of accident-free workdays and safety glasses as examples.
This “culture” must also be supported by written policies and procedures, according to Zans. The policies should include a named person for the company’s safety and health program, although it is not necessary to have an employee dedicated full time to this department, he noted. The company also must delineate accountability and responsibility for safety, with the ultimate responsibility lying with the supervisors. This should be written into their job descriptions, Zans asserted.