Roles of a

Safety Officer
A SAFETY OFFICER…

• Is responsible in leading the

observance of Safe Practices and
implementation S&H Policies.
• Performs functions as required in
the Occupational Safety and
Health Standards.
• Develops and executes an
effective program of safety
engineering in the organization,
with the appropriate procedures.
A SAFETY OFFICER…

• Develops, coordinates and

conducts S&H trainings
• Has knowledge on tools that will
be helpful in achieving a safe
workplace (e.g. accident
investigation, JHA, root-cause
analysis, inspections, etc)
• Exercises diplomacy in handling
personnel and situations
• Is a true LEADER when it comes
to safety and health.
SIGNS OF A LEADER

• Commands respect
• Exhibits respect for
others
• Capable of clear
communication
• Has good listening
skills
• Gives feedback
• Understands human
behavior
AN EFFECTIVE SAFETY OFFICER
SHOULD…

1. RECOGNIZE all potentials for

harm and damage to People,
Equipment, Materials and the
Environment.

Recognizing all loss potentials

involves 2 actions:

a. Identifying the hazard.

b. Understanding the harmful or
damaging effects that may occur
as a result of its existence
AN EFFECTIVE SAFETY OFFICER
SHOULD…

2. ASSESS the risk

involved.

a. Probability - How likely

is a loss to occur.
b. Severity - How serious
is the loss likely be.

Tools: Risk Assessment,

Job Hazard Analysis
AN EFFECTIVE SAFETY OFFICER
SHOULD…

3. INSTITUTE control measures.

• Engineering Control
• Administrative Control
• Personal Protective Equipment

“Unless positive steps have been taken to

correct or control past loss
experience, and if related
circumstances continue to exist, you
should expect to have familiar, if not,
more costly experience in the future”
AN EFFECTIVE SAFETY OFFICER
SHOULD…

4. MONITOR control measures

Monitoring involves:

• Following up.
• Measuring and evaluating actual performance versus
plan (timeliness and proper action).
• Measuring and evaluating results and adequacy of
control measures.
• Being able to identify residual hazards.
ACCOUNTABILITY

• Performance Criteria:
– Reduction of the frequency and severity of
accidents.
– Reduction of costs stemming from accidents.
– The efficiency and smoothness of operation.

• It’s very important to reiterate however that safety is

everyone’s responsibility and that everyone is also
accountable when it comes to accidents.
Q: What is the biggest
challenge to a Safety Officer?
IS IT…

• Developing S&H policies and procedures?

• Establishing a Safety and Health Committee and
facilitating regular meetings?
• Conducting training and seminars?
• Conducting accident investigation?
• Submitting reports?
• Implementing hazard control measures?

THE ANSWER TO ALL THESE QUESTIONS IS…NO!

A: Changing the CULTURE
and MINDSET of an
organization and its personnel!
COMMON NEGATIVE MANAGEMENT
MINDSETS ABOUT SAFETY

• Safety slows down production and cut profits

• Accidents are bound to happen
• Accidents happen mainly because of
carelessness of workers
• Responsibility is just to comply with the law
• Our standards are far better than the local
standards
• Insurance will cover accident costs
• No necessity to manage safety at work
COMMON NEGATIVE WORKER
MINDSETS ABOUT SAFETY

• Accidents are part of the job

• Accidents happen but only to other people
• If something is really dangerous the danger
can be clearly seen and avoided
• Its my life so how I work is my business
• As long as I am careful I will be fine
• Taking risks is a sign of courage and bravery
CHALLENGING THE MINDSET

• These mindsets are the root cause of

accidents at work
• Many lives are destroyed because of
accidents

THE CHALLENGE OF A SAFETY OFFICER

IS TO CHANGE THESE MINDSETS!!!
CHALLENGE TO THE SAFETY OFFICER

• Convince Management that:

– they bear prime responsibility for the safety of the
employees – Safety begins at the top!
– OSH is good for business and morale
– Everything possible must be done to protect
employees because a safe and healthy workforce
is a productive workforce!!!

Provide data that shows improvement in safety and

productivity after implementing a safety program
or after complying with the standards.
CHALLENGE TO THE SAFETY OFFICER

• Convince workers by:

– Being a good and safe example
– Saying that nobody is immune from accidents and
hence everyone needs to be alert at work and look
after one another
– Saying that accident destroys life and it is their
family who will suffer most

“Remember that a safe and healthy worker is a good

provider for his/her family.”
GUIDING PRINCIPLES OF A SAFETY OFFICER

• Safety and health can be managed.

• Every injury and illness can be prevented.
• Nothing we do is worth getting hurt.
• Accidents are NOT part of the job.

The Safety Officer needs to instill these principles

in every person in the organization in order to
effectively achieve his/her objectives.
ROLES OF A SAFETY OFFICER BASED
ON RELATED LEGISLATIONS

BASIS:
• Occupational Safety and Health Standards
(OSHS)
• D.O. 16, series of 2001 which amended Rule
1030 of the OSHS
• D.O. 13 – Guidelines Governing Occupational
Safety and Health in the Construction Industry
“SAFETY OFFICER” AS DEFINED IN D.O.16

Rule 1032 of D.O. 16, series of 2001 which

amended Rule 1030 of the OSHS:

Safety Officer – refers to any employee/ worker

trained and tasked to implement occupational
safety and health programs in the workplace in
accordance with the provisions of the Standards
and shall be synonymous to the term "Safety
Man" as used in these Standards.
CONSTRUCTION S&H OFFICER AS
DEFINED IN D.O. 13

Construction safety and health officer – means

any employee/worker trained and, in addition
to their regular duties and responsibilities,
tasked by his employer to implement
occupational safety and health programs in
accordance with the provisions of the
Occupational Safety and Health Standards
(OSHS).
TRAINING REQUIRED FOR A SAFETY
OFFICER BASED ON D.O.16

Rule 1033 of D.O. 16, series of 2001 which

amended Rule 1030 of the OSHS:

All safety officers must complete the Bureau-

prescribed training course prior to their
appointment in their respective places of
employment.
RULE 1047 - DUTIES OF THE SAFETY
OFFICER

• The principal function of the Safety Man is to

act as the employers' principal assistant and
consultant in the application of programs to
remove the hazards from the workplace and to
correct unsafe work practices.

For this purpose, the Safety Officer has the

following duties:…
RULE 1047 DUTIES OF THE SAFETY
OFFICER

• Serves as Secretary to the Health and Safety

Committee. As such, he shall:
– prepare minutes meeting;
– report status of recommendations made;
– notify members of the meetings; and,
– Submit to the employer a report of the activities of
the committee, including recommendations made.
RULE 1047 DUTIES OF THE SAFETY
OFFICER

• Acts in an advisory capacity on all matters

pertaining to health and safety for the
guidance of the employer and the workers.

• Conducts investigation of accidents as

member of the Health and Safety Committee
and submits his separate report and analysis
of accidents to the employer.

• Coordinates all health and safety training

programs for the employees and employer.
RULE 1047 DUTIES OF THE SAFETY
OFFICER

• Conducts health and safety inspection as

member of the committee.

• Maintains or helps in the maintenance if an

efficient accident record system and
coordinates actions taken by supervisors to
eliminate accident causes.
RULE 1047 DUTIES OF THE SAFETY
OFFICER

• Provides assistance to government agencies

in the conduct of safety and health inspection,
accident investigation or any other related
programs.

For purposes of effectiveness in a workplace

where full-time safety man is required, he shall
report directly to the employer.
OTHER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Ensure safety information to employees

through IEC materials
• Dispense PPE for protection
• Submit requirements to the government
agencies (e.g., reportorial requirements)
AUTHORITY

• Without authority, the

safety professional
will not fulfill
responsibilities.
So, the Safety Officer is :

An Educator/Trainer
An Enforcer
An Inspector
An Investigator
An Adviser
A Friend
But, above all…

A Role Model…
…ON and OFF the job!
SAFETY…

…asking me to overlook a simple safety

violation would be asking me to
compromise my entire attitude towards
the value of your life…
- Anonymous -
THANK
YOU!