Management Obligations for Health and Safety
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Description
In recent years, the safety management field has placed leadership and commitment at the center of effective workplace health and safety programs. At the same time, personal liability for workplace health and safety has increased, resulting in poor outcomes for individual managers. Discussing the minimum expectations that courts and tribunals have of managers, Management Obligations for Health and Safety examines the relationship between those expectations and effective safety performance. The book looks at safety management from the perspective of management obligations. What expectations are placed on managers at all levels of an organization to ensure that the workplace and systems of work are safe, and how are these expectations considered and analyzed by courts and public inquiries? As importantly, the book explores how management actions in relation to these obligations and expectations influence, positively or negatively, the safety performance of an organization. With examples drawn from legal and quasi-legal processes, one of the more enlightening and thought-provoking features of this book is the extensive use of cross examination taken from various proceedings. No one person reacts the same to finding him- or herself responsible for managing the aftermath of a death at work, or having to deal with the immediate pressure of being subject to interviews and investigation by safety regulators (much less the drawn-out experience of the legal process), but one of the most constant reactions is "Why didn’t anybody tell me about this?" Stressing the importance of safety culture, this book details the true nature of the expectations that are placed on managers by virtue of their obligation to provide a safe workplace.
AI Overview
Title: "Management Obligations for Health and Safety" by Gregory W. Smith
Overview: The book "Management Obligations for Health and Safety" by Gregory W. Smith is a comprehensive guide that examines the minimum expectations courts and tribunals have of managers regarding workplace health and safety. The publication focuses on the critical role of leadership and commitment in effective workplace health and safety programs, particularly in the context of increasing personal liability for workplace health and safety incidents.
Key Themes:
- Leadership and Commitment: The book emphasizes the importance of leadership and commitment in ensuring workplace safety. It highlights how these elements are central to effective safety management programs[1][3].
- Personal Liability: The author discusses how personal liability for workplace health and safety has increased, leading to poor outcomes for individual managers. This theme underscores the need for managers to be aware of their responsibilities and the potential consequences of failing to meet these obligations[1][3].
- Managerial Expectations: The book delves into the specific expectations placed on managers at all levels of an organization to ensure a safe workplace and systems of work. It explores how these expectations are considered and analyzed by courts and public inquiries[1][3].
- Impact on Safety Performance: The author examines how management actions, both positive and negative, influence the safety performance of an organization. This includes analyzing how management decisions and actions can either enhance or compromise workplace safety[1][3].
Plot Summary:
The book does not have a traditional narrative plot but rather presents a structured analysis of the legal and quasi-legal expectations placed on managers. It uses cross-examination examples from various proceedings to illustrate how these expectations are interpreted and enforced in real-world scenarios. The book provides a detailed examination of the relationship between managerial obligations and effective safety performance, offering insights into the legal and regulatory frameworks that govern workplace health and safety[1][3].
Critical Reception:
While specific reviews are not provided in the sources, the book's focus on a critical aspect of modern workplace management—leadership and commitment to safety—suggests it would be well-received by professionals in the field of occupational health and safety. The use of cross-examination examples from legal proceedings adds a practical and insightful dimension to the book, making it a valuable resource for both managers and legal professionals[1][3].
Publication Details:
- First Published: 2012
- eBook Published: April 18, 2016
- Publisher: CRC Press
- Location: Boca Raton
- Format: Available as eBook and print book[3][4].
Availability:
The book is available on various platforms, including Routledge, Barnes & Noble, and Indigo[1][2][5].