MODULE 1: MANAGEMENT COMMITMENT

Why does the employer make a commitment to safety?

Employers are motivated to primarily meet one of the following obligations:

The Legal Imperative. This describes the employer's legal duty to comply with occupational safety and health standards. When this is the primary motivation, safety is considered just another cost of doing business (CODB) that may drain the corporate budget. Unfortunately, the employer will do only what is required by law.. .probably not much more. The employer's primary goals are to:

o Meet minimum OSHA regulatory requirements
o Avoid OSHA inspections
o Avoid litigation

The Fiscal Imperative. The employer is obligated to corporate stakeholders to operate the business in a financially prudent manner. In the private sector, this means "operating at a profit." In the public sector, this means "operating within budget."

The goal here may reflect a reactive approach that emphasizes doing safety to reduce accident costs. However, if the employer really understands the long-term benefits of an effective safety culture, the goal will likely focus on proactively doing everything possible to maximize safe operations. (More on reactive and proactive approaches later in the module.) Safety is more likely to be thought of as "process-quality" and given priority equal to that of production. The employer's primary goals are to:

o Meet or exceed stakeholder (stockholders, board of directors) expectations
o Reduce workers compensation costs
o Reduce indirect (uninsured) accident costs

The Social Imperative. In the best-case situation, the employer feels a strong obligation to each employee, the community, and society in general to support and protect the welfare of all employees.. .its "corporate family." Safety is perceived as a core corporate value, not open to negotiation. The employer's primary goals are to:

o Meet or exceed industry and community expectations
o Protect corporate family members
o Improve morale, reputation, and image