b'WORKSAFEBCIDENTIFYING AND ASSESSING RISKSEffectivesupervisionmeansWORKSAFEBC RESOURCES While employers have the primary respon- makingcertainthateveryoneonsiteWorkSafeBCoffersanonlinesafety sibility for health and safety at their work- understandsthatsafetyisasharedcourse for supervisors, equipping them place, risk assessments may sometimes beresponsibility, says Paine.with the tools to promote and enforce delegatedtosupervisors.Theseassess- This requires open communicationworkplace health and safety. Participants ments identify hazards, evaluate risks andabout hazards, encouraging workers toreceive a certificate upon completion.determine necessary control measures toreport concerns without fear of reprisal,For more information, visitprotect workers.activelymonitoringperformancewithworksafebc.com/en/resources/ On a roofing jobsite, the first priorityimmediatecorrectiveactionsandhealth-safety/interactive-tools/ is to identify the need for fall protectioninvolving workers in risk assessments. supervising-for-safety-course.systems and processes. This means starting everyjobbyconfirmingthatguardrails, anchors,lifelinesandharnessesarein place and suitable for the work. Once fall protectionisaddressed,supervisorsand crews can then scan for other hazards such as weather conditions, low-hanging power lines, steep roof pitches or brittle surfaces, evaluate the risks and decide on the appro-priate controls before work begins.Workersshouldbedirectlyinvolved in these assessments, as they often notice details that supervisors might miss, such as slippery shingles or unsecured tools.Discussingrisksshouldbepartof every morning toolbox talk, says Paine. Supervisors should encourage questions and concerns before anyone sets foot on the roof.RECOGNIZING PRESSURESON WORKERSEven on well-supervised worksites, short-cuts happen. Workers might feel pressure to finish quickly, rely too heavily on past experienceorunderestimatetherisks ofskippingastep.Fatigue,distractions and the urge to get the job done canalso contribute.Supervisors play a critical role in recog-nizing these pressures and addressing them proactively. This includes setting realistic production expectations, checking in regu-larlywithworkersaboutthechallenges they face and making it clear that safety is never negotiable. By understanding the factors that drive unsafe shortcuts, super-visorscaninterveneearlyandreinforce that safe practices always come first.FOSTERING A SAFETY CULTURE A strong safety culture begins with effec-tive leadership. When workers feel heard and valued, they are more likely to take an active role in upholding safety standards. www.rcabc.orgl15'