|
 |
Responsibility, Authority and Accountability
When you have authority or responsibility, your performance is not
necessarily measured. But when you are held accountable, your performance
is measured in relation to standards or goals that result in certain positive
or negative consequences.
An owner
or top manager of a business delegates certain responsibilities
to other worksite managers or supervisors. The owner must avoid undercutting
the authority of the managers, since that will interfere with their
ability to carry out those responsibilities. At the same time, the owner
wants to demonstrate their own commitment to reducing safety and health
hazards and protecting employees. How can this be done?
Elements of an effective accountability system
Any accountability system should have the following elements to be effective:
-
Established standards in the form of company policies, procedures or rules that
clearly convey standards of performance in safety and health to employees
-
Resources
needed to meet the standards, such as a safe and healthful workplace,
effective training, and adequate oversight of work operations.
-
A measurement system which specifies acceptable performance. Examples
-
Consequences, both positive and negative.
-
Application at all levels
When managers and employees are held accountable for their safety and health responsibilities, they are more likely to press
for solutions to safety and health problems than to present barriers. By implementing an accountability system, positive
involvement in the safety and health program is created.
Think about it. Do you have a safety and health accountability system in
place at your workplace? If so, can it be improved?
|
Back to Top 
www.osha.gov
