Earlier this year, I wrote about using the old ANSI/ASSE Z590.2-2003 (R2012) Criteria for Establishing the Scope and Functions of the Professional Safety Position standard when establishing the scope, function, role(s), and responsibilities of the organization’s safety professionals. This older standard does an excellent job of keeping things simple and provides a nice framework from which to build from. But, like with all positions within organizations, things change, and like I always say, “safety ain’t what it used to be.” Now we have ISO 45001, and it helps explain the need to DEFINE and QUANTIFY the scope, function, role(s), and responsibilities of the organization’s safety professionals a bit further and with more detail.
For the SMS to be effective and deliver its intended outcomes, responsibilities and authorities for relevant roles within the SMS must be:
