Where should the safety manager be located

Safety Manager The essay aims to address the question: Where should the safety manager be located within an organization? As specifically stated, “in your response, consider the size of the organization, to whom the safety manager should report, and the best strategic location for interacting with other departments. Does your organization match your recommendations? Client Input:” the Safety Manager should be directly reporting to V.P. Administration. In my company there is no safety manager. Our company has over 1500 employees located all over the United States. My title is Senior Facilities Safety Specialist. I handle all Environmental Health Safety issues in addition to manufacturing facilities type issues. The facilities portion of my job not only takes up a lot of my time, but distracts me from focusing solely on EHS issues. I report to a facilities manager who has no background, training or experience in EHS type issues.”
Safety Manager
The role of a safety manager in any organization is of crucial importance. It is true that the location of a safety manager in the organizational structure or chart, or even the title and role, would depend on the size and requirements of the firm. The scope of responsibilities of the safety manager encompasses safeguarding both the internal and external resources of the organization. As indicated in Buzzle.com, “in large organizations, a safety manager is concerned with only safety related issues but in small organizations he might be given some additional responsibilities like managing accounts” (2011, par. 2).
In large organizations, the safety manager would strategically be given a parallel level with other managers reporting directly to the President or Vice President. In other organizations, like the U.S. Department of Energy, the head of the department in charge of safety and health reports to the Office of the Manager for Administration (U.S. Department of Energy, 2010).
In small organizations, the safety manager is appointed to oversee matters addressing safety policies and objectives, risk management, assurance and promotion; where the assigned manager reports to an Accountable Manager in the firm. As revealed in the Civil Aviation Authority (2008), “the Safety Manager should be a Senior Management appointment in the organisation in order to provide the necessary degree of authority when dealing with safety matters, and should report directly to the Accountable Manager of the organization” (Civil Aviation Authority, 2008, p. 6).
In general, the complexity in design and accountability of a safety management system of an organization would depend on the requirements for managing safety. The crucial element is that the knowledge, skills and abilities of people assigned to safeguard the needs and resources of the organization must be exemplary and comprehensive to ensure that safety is not compromised at all levels and at all times.
References
Buzzle.com. (2011). Safety Manager Job Description. Retrieved August 15, 2011, from
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/safety-manager-job-description.html
Civil Aviation Authority. (2008, October). Safety Management Systems – Guide to
Organizations. Retrieved August 15, 2011, from http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/1196/20081010SafetyManagementSystems.pdf
U.S. Department of Energy. (2010, April). Safety Management Functions, Responsibilities and
Authorities Manual. Retrieved August 15, 2011, from http://www.wipp.energy.gov/library/fram/DOE-CBFO-09-3441_Rev_0.pdf