Yes, this is a very OLD standard, but there is really nothing to replace it, as it still holds true today as much as it did in 2003. I have discussed this standard several times, and I ALWAYS share it with clients who are a tad lost on what the role of their safety professional(s) should be within the organization. We see some crazy situations in how companies are utilizing their safety professionals, and we try to help them unleash their skills and abilities. And it certainly does not hurt that we have ANSI/ASSE Z590.2-2003 as a platform to justify our suggestions. So what does ANSI/ASSE Z590.2-2003 Criteria for Establishing the Scope and Functions of the Professional Safety Position say a “safety professional” should be doing within an industrial environment?
The standard breaks down the role of a safety professional into four (4) basic roles and responsibilities, which any ABET-degreed, well-trained, and/or experienced safety professional can handle:
- Anticipate, identify, and evaluate hazardous conditions and practices.
- Develop hazard control designs, methods, procedures, and programs.
- Implement, administer, and advise others on hazard controls and hazard control programs.
- Measure, audit, and evaluate the effectiveness of hazard controls and hazard control programs.
A fair number of organizations I have crossed paths with over the past 20 years, consulting in many different industries, are NOT utilizing their safety professionals in this manner, which is why our profession has a “turnover” problem. We come in hearing all the right words, but it does not take us long to recognize the words do not match reality, and it usually STARTS with what management has the safety professional doing on a daily/weekly/monthly basis. Many safety pros are ALL IN and want to spend their time making a difference in workers’ safety and health, but they are distracted by tasks/activities that add very little value to overall safety performance.
