Management functions related professionals

Equally important is the need for effective communication among the professionals involved in each hazards-related function. A case can be made for a unified management that includes all hazards-related professionals. 

Employees generally come to the realization that they are expected to listen to their supervisors and seldom express their thoughts and ideas in the workplace. Safety and health professionals should create opportunities for every employee to share their safety-related ideas as well as their specialized expertise in their individual job function. Who knows the job better than the individual who performs the job on a daily basis Who knows the equipment, risks, and short-cuts in the job better than the individual performing the job When was the last time anyone within the organization stopped and simply listened to the individual and permitted the individual to share his or her knowledge and expertise with management ... 

Safety and health professionals are aware of the issues that generally make an employee unhappy— namely, lack of perceived adequate compensation levels, too few or too many work hours, unsafe working environments, rigid management, and little or no say as to their job functions or activities. Safety and health professionals are also aware that outside influences such as a labor disputes, workers compensation claim disputes, disciplinary actions, and related activities can also impact the employee s satisfaction in the workplace. 

As part of their positions, safety professionals must plan for and manage resources and funds related to their functions. They may be responsible for supervising a diverse staff of professionals. 

In the area of workers compensation, safety professionals with responsibilities in the management of the workers compensation function should be aware that many of the employees who incurred a work-related injury or illness may also quaUly for protections under the ADA. Utilizing the three-prong test for an individual with a disability to qualify under the ADA, employees who incur a work-related injury or illness often meet the initial prong of a permanent mental or physical disability. 

Safety professionals often have to be generalists to undertake the tasks involved in their positions. Many organizations have combined various safety-related functions into one organizational unit. Some still have specialized positions and some contract for specialized services. Consider a smaller company that has only one position devoted to safety, health and environmental matters. A person filling the position must have knowledge in all three or even more areas to manage the role effectively. 

The safety and health function is in the unique position of having a product that everyone wants and everyone needs. From the top to the bottom in every organization, virtually every employee at every level will say that safety and health are very important and a priority. However, although employees say safety and health are important to them, the day-to-day activities and the continued resulting work-related injuries and illnesses say otherwise. Management often states that safety and health are priorities, however provides minimal financial and other support. It is our responsibility as safety and health professionals to ingrain and empower each and every employee with the skills and abilities to perform their job in a safe and healthful manner, as well as motivate each employee to take possession of his or her own safety and health, as well as the safety and health of his or her fellow employees, in order to truly achieve the cultural shift necessary within the workplace. 

Occupational health professionals and hazard control managers must coordinate and communicate issues on a continuous basis. Provide prompt emergency treatment of all injuries and illnesses. The coordination of safety and health functions helps workers learn how to protect themselves from hazards. Recommend a multidisciplinary approach to manage health, risks, and costs. Report all work-related incidents of injury and exposure allegations immediately to employee health. Employee health should monitor, manage, or coordinate all workers compensation injuries, reports on progress, imposition of necessary work restrictions, and return to work evaluations. Pre-employment placement evaluations should focus on job-related issues with a thorough job analysis as part of... 

Non-job-related discussions are not to detract from operations personnel s professional responsibilities. Computers are required to be used only for company work activities. The Shift Manager is assigned the responsibility for maintaining control room decorum. The Shift Manager is also responsible for overseeing operating functions at the reactor to assure safe, efficient operation in compliance with DOE requirements, WSRC requirements, and WSRC commitments. 

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