What Is Safety Management?

According to the National Safety Management Society, safety management is an integral part of an organization's responsibilities, as it displays the company's commitment to the welfare of its employees. The approach an organization takes to implement safety management strategies vary depending on the industry and the type of work being performed.

Definition
Safety management, as defined by the National Safety Management Society, is a function that enhances company performance by predicting operational, procedural or environmental risks and threats before they occur. Safety management is a strategic process that identifies and addresses safety issues for employees and the company. Aside from being a pre-emptive and preventative process, safety management also corrects deficiencies and performance errors.

Safety Committees
The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA, requires companies to keep employees safe in the workplace. As such, companies must establish a safety management strategy. Usually, an organization forms a safety committee that's responsible for overseeing safety management processes, policies or plans. The New Hampshire Department of Labor says that safety committees help organizations because these panels reduce workplace hazards.

Safety Management Plans
The University of California, Davis School of Medicine explains that a safety management plan establishes company safety standards and policies that employees must follow. A safety committee often creates a company's safety management plan. Contents of a safety management plan include, but aren't limited to, emergency evacuation protocols, physical, chemical and blood-borne hazards, building and environmental safety, and general office safety procedures.

Training
Companies educate employees about safety protocols and ways to minimize risk exposure at work by hosting annual or quarterly safety training sessions. These sessions review the organization's safety management policies and standards, and review how staff can report work-related safety or health hazards.

Reporting Requirements
OSHA says that part of safety management includes having a process for employees to report workplace safety hazards or risks. Accidents and injuries should always be reported. Safety committee members determine the appropriate reporting requirements for employees.

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