misconception is that safety is an isolated topic pursued by specialists and misunderstood by line management. That is true to the extent that managers have either ignored or been unaware of safety procedures or have chosen to take risks without considering the impact on the total operation. As a manager, you must accurately assess the impact of your decision on the organization and its goals. You must know what steps to take to incorporate safety procedures and processes into the management process. If you decide to take risks, you must do so with full knowledge of the expected impact. Safety is economical. Absolute safety might be achieved by doing nothing, but safety by definition is associated with the pursuance of some endeavor, industry, activity, or operation. Therefore, safety and risk management are part of any operation, whether consciously or unconsciously invoked by management. Safety specialists must advise management/supervisors of how safety will enhance productivity, operational effectiveness, morale, and “safe time” in achieving organizational goals. First-line supervisors are essential to safety SOH management can be enhanced by safety management principles and safety policy statements. You can enhance the safety and occupational health of your unit by observing safety management principles and safety policy statements. Organizations should publish these items as a guide for managers, supervisors, and workers. The actions, processes, evaluations, and corrections prompted by the safety staff, and used by managers, supervisors, and workers, must incorporate safety management techniques. You may find the following SOH principles useful: Good  management  fosters  safety.  Safety management is the part of the management process that watches for and takes steps to prevent potential hazards and failures which could result in injury and property damage. Safety is that part of the decision-making process  which  considers  the  effects  on  workers, material, and organizational relationships. Safety is part of the professional job. SOH concepts and procedures need to be integrated and made part of the professional approach to every job from top management through the first-line supervisor to the worker. SOH should be integrated into all training and apprentice programs. Safety demands cooperation among all levels of management and workers. Top management and command must be involved. Top management must take the lead in organizing  SOH,  setting  policy,  and  assigning accountability. Management must hold intermediate management levels accountable for all preventable mishaps. To be effective, mishap investigators MUST NOT convict or punish managers, supervisors, or workers, but should strive to impartially assess the evidence and develop recommendations to avoid future mishaps. The cause of a mishap may not be the result of one single event or design flaw. Management must work toward a safe and healthful operation or system through effective managerial methods management. First-line supervisors, shop foremen, work center supervisors, and leading petty officers need time to present stand-up safety briefings. They must also have the proper tools and personal protective devices to safely  conduct  operations.  They  should  be  given adequate resources and should be accountable for the safe conduct of production and operation. Eliminate unsafe acts to reduce mishaps. An unsafe act, an unsafe condition, or a mishap is a symptom of problems in the management system. Managers and supervisors should examine these symptoms to find and eliminate their causes. Severe mishaps should receive first priority. Certain unsafe circumstances can be predicted and controlled. The following are some examples: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Unusual, nonroutine activities Nonproductive activities High-energy sources Catastrophic conditions Explosive operations Lack of proper supervision Inadequate operator skill You should manage SOH as you would any other organizational function. Direct the safety effort by setting achievable goals and by planning, organizing, and controlling to achieve them. Workers must participate in goal setting and in developing mishap prevention strategies and actions to reduce injuries and material losses. The safety officer fills a staff position. The SOH staff or the safety professional is an advisor. The manager is responsible for safety and safe decision making, including loss control and risk management. The safety advisor must monitor and assist in the investigation of mishaps. He or she collects data; 5-5