November 27 2016
By: Terry L. Mathis
Is safety owned by your organizational leaders, the safety department or the average worker? The best answer is "all of the above." But the ownership must be divided. Workers can't own the engineering budget and priorities, just as the leaders can't own the day-to-day decisions that impact safety. Most safety departments cannot supervise daily safety nor determine the organizational strategy for safety.
Safety coaching defines targeted ownership for each group, provides feedback on performance, and facilitates by removing or reducing barriers and obstacles to safety. Creating ownership drives meaningful and sustainable change. If coaching is not the style of interaction at all levels in your organization (leadership, supervisory and peer-to-peer), consider making it so.
Terry Mathis, Founder and retired CEO of ProAct Safety, has served as a consultant and advisor for top organizations the world over. A respected strategist and thought leader, Terry has authored five books, numerous articles, videos and blogs, and is known for his dynamic and engaging presentations. EHS Today has named him one of the '50 People Who Most Influenced EHS' four consecutive times. Business leaders and safety professionals seek Terry's practical insight and unique ability to introduce new perspectives that lead to real change.
