Safety Management Systems Structure
The structure of an SMS can take many forms. All safety management systems function within and support the company's operations system.
What's a Safety Management System
Remember safety managers and staff exist to help (assist) the line organization, not control it. Safety people are consultants, not cops!
We'll discuss a simple structure that includes four basic positions; safety manager, safety engineer, human resources coordinator, and the safety committee. Actually, there's really no one-fits-all structure. In a small company, one person may fulfill duties in each of the four positions. In larger companies, each position may be filled by an individual.
Safety in an Organization
It's important to understand where the safety function "fits" in an organization. Some organizations make the "mistake" of thinking safety is primarily a human resource function: It's not. Although HR is an important part of the SMS, it's not the center or hub of the system. Safety is a primary function of operations. It relates directly to the quality of the production/service process within the organization. Therefore, the system usually works best when the safety manager reports to the top operational decision-maker. With this in mind, let's discuss each of these positions.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
1-2. All safety management systems function within and support the company's _____.
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