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Safety Tours: An Active monitoring method

Safety Tour :

It is a planned examination of the workplace to assess whether or not acceptable standard of housekeeping, access, fire etc. are being maintained.
Some hazards may be identified but a tour gives a general impression rather than a thorough analysis of hazards .
Tours by senior management can demonstrate the profile of commitment to H&S.
The method is essentially a management style in which the managers walk around in unstructured and unplanned manner amongst the employees.
Utilize the opportunity to give recognition and reinforcement of H&S practices.
Encourage two-way discussions/Consultation on H&S & wellbeing.
Encourage safe behaviours and improvement of H&S standards.

Objectives & Advantages of Safety Tours

(e.g. Management walk/ Management visit)

Ensure Visible Leadership
Shows Management commitment
The objective is to interact with the subordinates/workers and supervise their work, while they are performing it.
High-profile inspection including managers ( e.g. works manager), Top Management, Safety Reps, Shift In-charge, engineer, Team Leaders etc.
An opportunity to meet the employees at their workplace & it can be used to observe behaviours, too.
Less time taken to Monitoring of safe systems at workplaces.
Keeping an up to date knowledge on the current layout of the workplace & surrounding in place
Identify and recommend improvements and corrective actions
A chance to plan for further inspections
It enhance Employee Morale / Confidence .
Build Better Understanding of Operations.
Build positive Management/ Employee Relations.
Safety tours typically last 15 minutes/30 minutes or so and may be carried out after monthly intervals.

What are the advantages of Safety tours in any organization?

Limitations of Safety Tours in the Workplace:

It does not cover all workplaces/sites/areas
It requires more time
It rely only on visual observations

Safety Tour basic process

The following guidance has been produced to assist Senior Managers when planning, and conducting, H&S Tour:

• Identify the areas that you would like to visit

• Ideally, speak to a variety of people/workers in the area, not just the managers

• Identify if there are any specific safety rules or PPE requirements that you need to adhere to when you walk around an area – this is probably most relevant for when you walk around kitchen areas (hygiene hat and white coat), or construction sites (hard hats, safety boots and hi-visibility vests) or any other area requiring PPE

• Take the time to chat to people, introduce yourself, explain why you are walking around, and ask of them: o How are you?

o- - - - Can you explain what the job is you are doing today?

o -- - -- - What are the safety implications of what you are doing? ▪ In my experience, this last question opens up a wide and varied conversation. I would encourage them to expand on any hazards they see regularly, and what they are doing to manage them. If there are gaps in safety, ask them to expand on what they think those gaps are.

• If you are asked a question, and worker don’t know the answer, then be honest and say you don’t know, but that you will follow it up and get back to them

• You may get ‘freer’ answers if you speak to operational staff without the managers present

Safety Tour Guidance Specimen questions

The following questions may be useful to ask when conducting a Safety Tour:

 Can you tell me if there are any particular hazards in your workplace, which are of concern to you?

 What do you think could be done to improve safety in your workplace?

 What aspect of safety procedures you find difficult to follow?

 Do you receive safety briefings on a regular basis?

 Is there anything about your job that you feel is unsafe?

 Is the PPE (personal protective equipment) provided to you satisfactory?

 What do you think are your safety responsibilities?

 Are you able to raise safety concerns freely with your manager/supervisor?

Systems of work/Safety Policies

The following may be checked to assess management of systems of work or safety policies when conducting a Safety Tour:

 Risk assessment – recording, implementation and reviewing

 Training on use and handling of bottled gases, cryogenic liquids, biological hazards

 Authorised users of work equipment

 Injury/collision/incident/near miss reporting, recording and follow up

 Equipment fault reporting

 Personal protective equipment – use, supply and replacement

 Emergency evacuation arrangements

Physical and Environmental Hazards

The following may be checked to assess control of common physical hazards present on premises when conducting an injury prevention tour:

 Noise

 Ionising and non-ionising radiation

 Lasers

 Fumes/vapours

 Housekeeping standards

 Security – procedures for CCTV, suspicious packages, terrorism and control of visitors/contractors

 Lighting levels

 Slips, trips and falls hazards

 Guarding of machinery in laboratories and maintenance depot

 Segregation & storage of bottled gases

Planning of Safety Tours

The reason for the tour e.g. law requires it (Company rules and standards )
The location or area (Identify the areas that you would like to visit)
Date, time and duration
Tour members
Type i.e. announced or unannounced
Method – checklist or direct observation
Results of previous tours
Remedial action and timescales after Tour

Safety tours are not Safety inspections.

Successful Safety workarounds focus principally on what employees are doing rather than on workplace conditions and predetermined specific behaviours. Remember, good Safety workarounds are employee/supervisor partnering exercises, not compliance inspections.

Group Discussion:

Q- Explain how safety tours could contribute to improving H&S performance in an organisation.

(Hint- Safety Tour benefits should link with performance)( During tour , top management identify the compliance or non-compliance with performance standard,

During tour, talking to workers about their concern to improve performance)

Q- Explain how safety tours could contribute to improving H&S culture in an organisation.

( Hint – link with culture) ( like management showing commitments, effective communication, more cooperation, visible leadership, which help to improve Culture.)

Note: Discussion of the specific H&S requirements, problems or standards that such tours may address, is required.