Line management safety-related responsibilities

In addition to the training and implementation roles described in Section IV, line management has the following safety-related responsibilities. 

In anECSC/BCC study (Mason et al., 1995) examining the supervisory attitudes to safety two particularly relevant points emerged in relation to deputies perception of their role as the front-line management staff with responsibility for safety inspections ... 

Line managers, SHE personnel (including safety representatives) and decision-makers responsible for design, procurement, training and education, etc. have access to the database for queries. This possibility is utilised infrequently. When used, the majority of the questions are relatively uncomplicated. They mainly concern information on individual accident cases relating to a specific type of machine or job, type of hazard, etc. The database is well suited for the retrieval and summarisation of relevant accident cases. Data on accidents are also used in special studies such as risk analyses and accident concentration analyses. 

Training, especially in relation to safety responsibilities, is essential. The process outhned in Section 7.2.1 above provides a sound and systematic basis on which to define the (safety) training needs analysis for all those supervisory and first-line management roles allocated safety responsibihties. 

The level of responsibility and accountability of the fire safety manager will need to reflect the organisation however, any safety management structure should provide for clear lines of responsibility, authority, accountability and resources, in particular in relation to common areas within multiple occupied buildings/premises. 

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