116 Introduction to Safety Accountability

Sections

Element 5: Appropriate Application of Consequences

Without the expectation of consequences, accountability has no credibility and will not be effective. In other words, no consequences - no accountability. Consequences need to be appropriate as well as effective. This is the element with which everyone is probably most familiar. Unfortunately, in some companies, consequences are either not appropriate, not effective, or both.

Criteria for Appropriate Consequences

They are justified.
They correspond to the degree of positive or negative results of the behavior.
They are applied consistently throughout the entire organization.

Justified Consequences

Negative consequences are justified when the person administering discipline has fulfilled their own accountabilities first. Positive consequences are justified any time employees meet or exceed expectations. Here's an important principle (We call it the 5-R principle):

The more Regularly you Recognize and Reward, the more Rarely you'll have to Reprimand.

Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.

2-6. What must occur FIRST for supervisors to be justified in disciplining for unsafe performance?

Supervisors must prove they are right

Supervisors must fulfill their own accountabilities

Supervisors must show the employee did not use common sense

Supervisors must indicate intent on the part of the employee

You forgot to answer the question!