Exploplast

• SH&E is a line management responsibility. Ownership and accountability for SH&E performance is embedded in the line at all levels and Line Managers are responsible for providing SH&E leadership and for development and implementation of SH&E management plans for their areas of responsibility. 

This strategic view point reminds me of a real life happening during my working days as Site Manager of a Global Company.

Company was getting in to implementation of In-Process checks in the factory and it was decided to start with the work area producing the most recent and important product in terms of quality requirements.

We had an opening meeting with section of work force and supervisor on some routine checks to be done by plant operators while they are producing. As expected the immediate response was:-

that this is the responsibility of Quality Control department….

if we are asked to do this then it may impact production…

then what is the need of QC department….
operators are not trained to do measurements using measuring instruments…

There are always reasons for not doing new things

Only after 6 months of continual focus we could convince the team to start In-Process checks in which operators became proficient in no time and could see that they have sufficient time to do this activity without any impact on production. Further, what made them even more satisfied is that they are now more in control of what they are producing and at what quality standard. They could see that customer complaints have taped down significantly.

Well the story pertaining to this strategic initiative in no different. And efforts and focus required to make the line function aware that what they can do to help improve safety at work place cannot be done by anyone else. Reason being they have all authority unlike support function like Safety department who can only advice and suggest.

This message to the team, however, has to come right from the top. It could be Chairman or MD of the company. By making such communication to the team they also take direct responsibility and the message has to flow directly from top till the lowest contract operator working in the plant.

To be continued….