Step Two: Narrow the Focus - Analyze Each SMS Component
Conducting a baseline survey and basic audit of the SMS tells us what the system generally looks like, but it does not tell us enough about why the system is working or not.
We need to "dissect" each program within the system through more focused surveys, interviews, observations, inspections and audits to examine each component.
It's important to understand that we need to analyze all apparent positive and negative effects uncovered to know why programs are effective as well as why they are not.
If a particular program doesn't exist or isn't performing well, it can (and probably will) affect other programs in the SMS. We need to take a closer look at each program by conducting a focused analysis of each SMS program.
To do this, we can use a number of tools such as:
- Employee surveys sample a population of employees to identify what they think, feel and believe about the safety program.
- Employee interviews of individual employees to identify more specifically what they think, feel, and believe.
- Workplace inspections identify existing workplace conditions. As an example, safety committees are required to conduct workplace inspections to identify hazards.
- Workplace observations identify existing employee behaviors and activities. For example, employees might make a certain number of safety observations each month and report their results for analysis.
- Program audits analyze the design and performance of plans, policies, processes, procedures, practices, and people within each program. For instance, safety committees can use the audit process to analyze and evaluate the company's accountability system.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
2-3. This very important process is effective in finding out what employees think, feel, and believe about the quality of safety in the organization.
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