Supervisory Responsibility

by Jim Zaichkowski, P.Eng., Project Coordinator, CSAO

 

Do you remember the day the boss called you into his office, told you he was impressed by the work you were doing, said he needed a new foreman, and asked whether you'd be up for the job?

He warned you there would be lots of new responsibilities -- organizing crews, making sure materials were delivered on time, renting equipment, hiring subtrades, keeping time for payroll, looking after paperwork. But he also said you'd get a raise in pay and a company truck. Without a moment's hesitation, you said "yes" and left his office -- the new foreman.

Regardless of your exact title -- crew foreman, construction foreman, general foreman, construction superintendent, construction supervisor -- chances are there was one very important responsibility you weren't told about and, to this day, may still not be aware of.

According to the Occupational Health and Safety Act and Regulations for Construction Projects, you are responsible for the health and safety of each and every person under your supervision.

This involves more than making sure that everyone wears safety boots and hard hats. You are expected to look at each situation your workers may face, analyze real and potential hazards, and ensure that every step is taken to protect your workers against those hazards.

This means inspecting the workplace every day. Hazards must be identified, assessed, and

You must also ensure that everyone in your crew works safely and does nothing to contravene the Act and regulations. This includes making sure that they use any personal protective equipment required by law or by company policy.

The Ontario Ministry of Labour takes supervisory responsibilities seriously. The table on this page lists fines for Ontario construction supervisors in 1999. The maximum penalty is $25,000 and/or 12 months in jail.

The fines ranged from $240 to $15,000. A number of cases involved more than one fine. In one case, two separate fines of $5,000 each were levied; in another, one supervisor was charged with fines of $8,000 and $12,000.

CSAO offers a training program -- Basics of Supervising -- and print, video, and digital information to help supervisors meet their health and safety responsibilities. For information, call Customer Service at 1-800-781-2726

Remember...

There's more to being a foreman than getting the job done on time, keeping crews busy, and holding costs down. Think about it.

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