Safety Manager

What Does Safety Manager Mean?

A safety manager is a qualified and competent employee who is responsible for the preparation, execution and continuous improvement of the safety management system (SMS) within an organization. This individual is the prime mover of all safety related issues in the organization.

Safeopedia Explains Safety Manager

A safety manager is the key person in the safety management system (SMS) of the organization. The major job of a safety manager is to ensure a safe workplace by planning and executing safety practices by preventive measures, training and educating the employees as required by local law, compliance and best practices in the industry. This individual is generally responsible for the following:

• Promoting safety awareness among the employees

• Arranges and coordinates safety training and exercises

• Suggest departmental heads on safety issues and corrective actions to be taken

• Ensure that safety has the priority over all operation Investigate and report accidents and near misses

• Follow up post injury procedures

• Convener of the safety meetings

• Assists safety inspections and audits

Manage all aspects of the SMS including:

• Providing safety advices to the top management

• Monitoring and controlling for the effective SMS

• Proposing corrective actions and improvements

• Producing safety reports

• Preparing and updating safety-related documents and records

The above responsibilities may vary depending on the type, size, goal, environment and operations of the organization as following:

In a large organization: The safety manager is appointed exclusively for safety management with staff and a separate office. He or she acts as the focal point for safety reports and information. He or she provides guidance and expertise on safety related issues.

In a small organization: One manager is additionally tasked with these duties. No separate department exists and the safety-related functions are delegated to the concerned managers. A safety manager needs to have professional certificate on industrial health and safety. He or she needs to have a working knowledge of the following:

• OSHA and other local or federal safety standards

• Environmental safety standards

• Occupational and emergency safety procedures

• Construction safety standards

• Labor and environmental laws

• Other safety related issues