As a kid, did you ever play "Monkey in the Middle?" Maybe you called it "Dodge Ball" or "Prison Ball." The game involves one or more players stuck between two lines of ball-throwing opponents. Once a player is hit, he or she is "out." The winner is the last one standing. With balls zooming from both directions, it takes plenty of twisting and dodging to stay in the game.

Your first-line supervisors probably feel like they're playing an adult version of the game, with management on one side throwing production schedules and "safety" on the other side hurling standards and work practices. During outages or when special orders arrive, the game can become intense, causing even the steadiest of supervisors to lose their composure.

First-Line Supervisors in the Middle

The key to creating a healthy safety program lies with the first-line supervisors - the leaders closest to the action. In Out In Front (Effective Supervision in the Workplace), Leslie E. Dennis and Meredith L. Onion sum it up this way:

"Good supervisors are at the heart of every good company. If the workplace is dirty and disorganized, if things are unsafe or falling apart, you can try to blame it on the lack of money, the failure to buy new equipment or poorly trained workers. Most people agree, however, that the primary blame should be placed on bad supervision. Why? Because the supervisor is responsible for the direct management of the workplace, getting things done with the people and equipment available."

6 Ways to Shield the Supervisor

How your supervisors feel about safety is how their crews feel about safety. So without your supervisors' support, your own effectiveness can vanish. That's why you should block a few of the balls and become a valued partner with your first-line supervisors, rather than another opponent. Here are six ways you can help your supervisors win the game.

1. Clear Obstacles

If all you ever do is point out problems, you'll be viewed as a nuisance. When inspecting a worksite, look for ways to make the job flow easier. This will show supervisors that you are more than just a safety cop.

2. Keep Supervisors Informed

Don't spring surprises and new requirements on supervisors three days into a job. Let them know what's coming.

3. Be Consistent

Consistency may be the hobgoblin of a small mind. But it is also perhaps the most significant quality you can exhibit to improve the quality of a supervisor's performance (and his or her life). Allowing a job to proceed one day, but stopping it the next causes frustration and a lack of trust. If you are consistent, supervisors will consider you an asset even when you must stop one of their jobs because it is dangerous.

4. Don't Show Supervisors Up

Don't yell at supervisors in front of their crew. This can be humiliating and undermine their authority. When a violation must be rectified on the spot, simply take the supervisor a few paces away from the crew and calmly point out your concern.

5. Keep Criticism Constructive

Avoid harsh and insulting language when pointing out a problem. A supervisor's looks, character, family tree or sex life is rarely the issue. If you raise one of these issues, you're out of line.

6. Keep Things in Proportion

Don't escalate a problem unless it's necessary. Must you write a report for each transgression you find? What if a supervisor rectifies the violation immediately after you point it out? Though the type of hazard and severity of the infringement (as well as the supervisor's attitude) will determine your response, always keep in mind the purpose for making violations "official" - to prevent them from recurring. Depending on your company's policy, it may be better to simply thank the supervisor for being so responsive.

Conclusion

Your supervisors don't have time for games, never mind dodging flying objects from all sides. Block a few of the projectiles hurled at their heads and let supervisors know that you're on their side. Do this and you can expect supervision to improve and your safety program to reflect it.

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