Safety is not about stopping work or use of PPE alone - it is the last job

If you ask anyone about safety in the plant, many managers state that they have given safety shoes and helmets to their workers. CEOs also talk about issuing PPE only. Production managers see safety officer as a person who does stopping the work, some expect stopping work is not correct, but ask for a solution. 

Need for suspension of work doesn't arise unless safety procedures are not followed or safety systems are not in place.

Safety systems means many, depending on the work. It can be, use of tested equipment, relief valves, interlocks, material handling equipment, calibration of instruments, complying to operational process parameters, statutory requirements, operations by authorized personnel, etc.

Safety department should be part of all works right from planning stage, design, fabrication or procurement,  erection, commissioning and operation.

Blame game on safety department arises when they are not involved initially and make them responsible for safety lapses at at a later stage. But, who causes safety lapses in the shopfloor. If the life of person is given value by plant, these lapses wouldn't have been continued. 

Before a work is suspended by safety officer for a lapse, the same should have been seen and action taken by production manager. 

But, conveniently, production personnel ignore and continue the operations. After work is suspended by safety officer, management will be informed with a complaint on safety manager and cover their own lapses. But, what about the likely consequences that could have taken place, if the unsafe work was continued. There are NO DOTS in the timelines that exactly at so and so moment,  accidents happen.  Nobody can predict exact time of occurrence,  but will occur if lapses are not addressed. 

Management, if clever enough, analyze the drawbacks in every department and take action. They give due weightage to the harmful incidents prevented in a timely manner by safety officer. As the adage goes, safety is top-down approach. The commitment and authority exhibited by by top management speaks itself in the form of actions by others down below. 

Then, in line with Newton's third law,  bottom-up actions follow. Shopfloor personnel will be equally committed to follow safety and participate in safety management,  report all lapses, discuss and take actions to make workplace better. 

Finally, let us remember that ensuring safety is everyone's responsibility. We don't need designation or authority to be vigilant. We have to be alert for our own safety and of others.