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833 Developing a Construction Safety Management System
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Getting Top Management Commitment

So, what is the secret in getting top management commitment to safety? The answer to that question is that management commitment will occur to the extent each employer clearly understands the positive benefits to their own success as well as to the success of the company.

Most employers will put time and money into employee safety when they understand the benefits in terms of how their commitment helps to fulfill their social, fiscal and/or legal obligations as an employer. Therefore, you should stress the benefits to your employer when meeting each of the three obligations.

obligation
Get employers thinking about meeting each of these three obligations to improve the CSMS.

Social Obligation

Get management to come to the realization that long-term corporate survival depends on being a good "corporate citizen" in the community by doing whatever it takes to keep employees safe and healthful at work. By the way, fulfilling this obligation is most effective in assuring the long term success for the company.

Fiscal Obligation

Stressing this obligation can be quite effective. Managers will be motivated to invest in safety when they understand the financial benefits derived from effective application of safety programs. Emphasize the cost vs. benefits of safety.

Legal Obligation

Place a lot of emphasis on this obligation when managers only want to fulfill the obligation to comply with OSHA rules. You need to be familiar with how OSHA works be sure to understand the OSHA enforcement process.

Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.

1-5. What is the most successful strategy when attempting to get top management commitment to safety?