The coming year will bring safety managers a mix of good old challenges and new opportunities. That is at least according to what John Montigny of Honeywell Safety Products writes in his article on ehstoday.com. The trends in workplace safety management for 2013 will include:
1. Greater workload
OHS Managers will need to combine negotiations with senior management with employee development and regulatory compliance while simultaneously managing the administrative running of their agenda in a wide range of security areas. Above all, it will be the areas of fall protection, hearing and eye protection and respiratory diseases prevention.
2. Building a culture of safety
Another OHS managers' task will be to gain both the highest representatives of management and employees for active participation in the development of a corporate culture of safety. More and more emphasis will be placed on behavioral and peer-to-peer initiatives.
3. Safety management in multiple countries
Given the fact that companies all around the world are consolidating, OHS managers should prepare for another challenge of getting to know regional safety regulations. When creating an international occupational health and safety plans, language and cultural differences will also have to be taken into account.
4. Choosing the right resources
Information on workplace safety can be obtained from a number of sources from government organizations or professional groups to social networks. Due to the large amount of information, however, OHS managers will need to learn how to choose the sources better so as not to get too general, too technical or too legally formulated information.
5. Getting the attention of top management
Growing number of security managers are appointed to positions among the top managers of companies, which increases their authority and influence in shaping the corporate culture. It is, therefore, necessary to continuously measure the progress in the safety management of your company and to develop communication with senior management.
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