Accountability for Safety
Don Fronk, Safety Programs Manager
Susan Rutan, Manager Human Resources
Office of Physical Plant, The Pennsylvania State University
Objectives
• Provide a framework for developing a safety accountability program
• Share our story – what we have done, the impact & lessons learned
• Motivate YOU to enhance or develop a safety accountability program
Program Agenda
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Create a common understanding of accountability (What?)
The case for safety accountability (Why?)
The basic steps for growing safety accountability (How?)
The players (Who?)
Our Story
Discussion
Understanding Accountability (The What)
• Personal accountability
• Workplace accountability
• Safety accountability
The Case for Safety Accountability (The Why)
• Safety accountability helps protect people
• Accountability for safety moves the culture forward
Basic framework for safety accountability
(The How)
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Leadership commitment
Safety programs
THE FOUNDATION-
Robust training & education
SAFETY CULTURE
Employee involvement
Clear expectations and roles
Encouragement and enforcement
SAFETY ACCOUNTABILITY
MODEL
Players in developing safety accountability
(The Who)
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Senior management
HR management – if not part of senior management
Safety management & staff
Mid-management
Front line supervisors
Union – depending on contractual language
Employee (safety committees)
THE PENN STATE STORY
Penn State Office of Physical Plant Story
• The foundation – growing our safety culture
• Senior leadership focused on safety & communication of the commitment
• Safety programs developed, documented, communicated & available
• Robust training & informational programs
• Employee involvement
Senior Leadership Commitment
• OPP Vision Statement – We are recognized nationally for excellence in
facilities, environmental & safety management.
• OPP Guiding Principles – We provide an enjoyable, healthy, and safe work
environment.
• OPP Quality Service Action Plan – Safe Environment (Providing for the
health and safety of people and the environment through daily work
processes, environmental protection, maintenance practices, and facilities
design.
Senior Leadership Commitment
Office of Physical Plant
Safety Mission Statement
OPP’s employees are its cornerstone. Employee safety is a core value of OPP and is crucial to
its success. It is every employee’s responsibility to help create and foster a proactive safety
mindset while actively working to make OPP a safer place to work. All employees must
embrace the idea of working safely at all times. Expectations to accomplish this mission are:
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All employees will be involved and actively participate in our safety programs.
Each employee must make safety planning a significant part of any job process, before
the work starts.
All employees will be responsible and accountable for their personal safety, as well as
the safety of those around them.
Every employee is empowered and encouraged to speak up when encountering an
unsafe situation or act.
Every leader will provide necessary safety resources and take responsibility for making
improvements to the workplace so work can be performed safely.
These efforts will foster a safety culture throughout the organization and result in fewer
employees being injured at work.
Senior Leadership Commitment
• OPP Performance Criteria
• Resource Commitment
• 4 full-time safety professionals (for 1300 FTE workforce)
• Org-wide funding set-aside for safety (programmatic & facilities)
• Unit operational budgets funded for safety training
Safety Programs
• Safety program development and review teams include employees
• Safety programs accessible on the web upon implementation
Safety Programs
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Electrical Safety / Arc Flash
Control of Hazardous Energy
Excavation Safety
Confined Space
Fall Protection
Scaffolding
Robust Safety Training & Information
• OSHA awareness training for all employees
• OSHA 30 hour outreach training for all trades supervisors, managers and
project leaders
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OSHA 10 hour outreach training for design staff
Safety awareness training for new employees
Ongoing programmatic training (trade specific) and annual refreshers
Supervisor’s toolbox talks and bi-monthly safety training topics
New Employee Awareness Training
Trade-specific training matrix
Core Training Matrix Input Form
Assessment Team
Trade Code
Job Title
Tim Zerby, Mike Kelleher, Wes Kaluzny, Mike Tepsic
323, 423, 923
Heating + Ventilation
Course / Topic Area
S-Lock Out/Tag Out
S-Confined Space
S-Fall Protection
S-PPE Safety/Guidelines
S-Back Safety and Lifting
S-Aerial Lift Certification
S-Hand Tool Safety
S-Asbestros Awareness
S-Respiratory Proetction/Fit Testing
S-Hot Work Permit
S-Chemical Waste Management
S-NFPA 70E
Frequency
I,A
I,A
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I, 3 yrs
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Employee Involvement
• ISP Participation
• 92 hourly employees involved
• Employees empowered to make decisions regarding safe work
• Hazard assessments
• Safety improvements to the work environment
• PPE selection
The Foundation is Built
THE OPP SAFETY ACCOUNTABILTY
MODEL
• The Safety Accountability Matrix
• The Mechanism for Accountability
Building the Model of Safety Accountability
• The Safety Accountability Matrix - Clarify expectations & roles
• Identified the roles & expectations for each safety program area
• Developed matrix
Program Area
HR / Safety Office
Manager
Personal Protective Equipment Program
-Eye / face protection
-Head protection
-Respiratory protection
-Hearing protection
-Flash Gear
-Protective footwear
Develop, revise and evaluate
program, develop and provide
training, spec and approve
PPE, work with OPP Stores
to stock needed equipment,
evaluate effectiveness of
equipment, consult with
Managers, Supervisors as the
subject area expert.
Have a thorough
understanding of PPE
requirements, conduct PPE
Hold supervisors accountable Hazard assessments, assist
for ensuring compliance with with training, ensure
program and other safety
compliance with the program,
responsibilities, provide
and hold employees
funding.
accountable.
Who?
All employees
Driver Safety
Who?
All Employees
Injury Reporting / Accident Investigation
Who? All Employees
Supervisor
Employee
Utilize appropriate PPE for
task as identified in hazard
assessment, complete medical
surveillances as needed,
maintain PPE in good
condition, provide feedback
on PPE type and styles.
Develop and revise vehicle
operation safety guidelines,
consult with equipment
custodian on vehicle
Support guidelines, hold
purchases, safety mechanism supervisors accountable for
installs, review and track all
ensuring compliance with
vehicle accidents and work
program and other safety
with Risk Mgmt. on corrective responsibilities, provide
actions.
funding as needed.
Ensure compliance with
policies, wearing seatbelts, cell
phone policy and other MV
laws and hold employees
accountable, file accident
reports.
Wear seatbelts, and follow
OPP Vehicle safety guidelines.
Comply with cell phone
policy, report accidents and
near misses.
Review and approve all injury
reports, assign / participate in
accident investigations as
necessary, perform trending Hold Supervisors accountable
analysis, track injury data and for timely filing, and for
provide to Managers,
investigations, provide
Supervisors for their units,
funding for corrective action
work with Supervisors on
items that are within their area
modified duty assignments.
of responsibility.
Report injury electronically
within 24 hours, complete
accident investigations assist
in getting corrective action
items completed, provide
modified work assignments
where possible.
Report all injuries to
Supervisor immediately when
it occurs. Participate in the
investigation and
recommendations for
corrective action.
Program Area
HR / Safety Office
Electrical Safety Program (Mechanical Trades)
Lock out Tag Out (All Trades)
Manager
Supervisor
Employee
Develop, revise and
evaluate program develop
Hold supervisors
and provide training, work
accountable for ensuring
with electrical engineering
compliance with program
to determine hazard
and other safety
categories of electrical
responsibilities, provide
systems, spec, approve and
funding, support de‐
purchase PPE, consult with
energized work.
Managers, Supervisors as
the subject area expert.
Have a thorough
understanding of the
program and consult with
employees on basic safety
questions, provide tools
and equipment necessary
for safe electrical work,
ensure compliance with
program, hold employees
accountable.
Understand and comply
with program, wear
appropriate clothing and
PPE for troubleshooting.
De‐ energize prior to
working.
Develop, revise and
evaluate program, develop
and provide training, issue
locks and track lock
assignments, consult with
Managers, Supervisors as
the subject area expert.
Have a thorough
understanding of the
program and consult with
employees on basic safety
questions, provide
equipment, ensure
compliance with program
and hold employees
accountable, notify safety
office of lock assignments.
Understand and comply
with program, wear
appropriate PPE, verify
energy sources are de‐
energized.
Hold supervisors
accountable for ensuring
compliance with program
and other safety
responsibilities, provide
funding.
Building the Model of Safety Accountability
• Develop mechanisms for accountability
• Developed parameters for enforcement
• Utilized existing employee recognition program
• Get senior leadership buy-in on model & parameters for enforcement
OPP Parameters for Enforcement
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Conversation (undocumented)
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1st violation of most PPE usage (except Flash gear and Fall Protection)
Letter of conversation
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2nd violation of most PPE usage (accumulated for any type of PPE violation)
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Failure to follow safety policy or procedure
Warning letter
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Failure to wear PPE to that could result in serious injury or death (w/ last chance warning)
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Failure to follow safety procedures that could result in serious injury or death (w/ last chance warning)
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Repeated or willful violations of safety policies or procedures (accumulated for any type of violation)
Summary dismissal/dismissal
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Willfully engaging in behavior that creates a life/safety hazard for themselves or others
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Repeat violations of safety policies or procedures (3 active WL language)
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Repeat violation of those things listed under W.L. with last chance warning
Launching the Safety Accountability Model
• Communication with all supervisors (train the trainer format)
• Communication with union leadership
• Supervisors communicated safety responsibility matrix with all employees
Growing the Culture of Safety Accountability
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Highlight in new employee orientation
Hold employees accountable under the model
Review and update of Safety Responsibility Matrix
Train new supervisors on the model and parameters for enforcement
Impact of Safety Accountability Model
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Positive trend of injury reduction
Increase of safety reports by employees
Demonstrates organizational focus on safety
Forces clarity in safety programs and policies
Increase in safety reports
• Employee safety reports have increased over the last several years
Impact of Safety Accountability Model
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Positive trend of injury reduction
Increase of safety reports by employees
Demonstrates organizational focus on safety
Forces clarity in safety programs and policies
Lesson Learned
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Keep safety staff out of enforcement
Supervisor/manager input on parameters for enforcement
Ensure training reflects expectations and document attendance
Highlights supervisors who are reluctant to hold employees accountable
Holding injured employees accountable is really tough
Questions/Discussion