u/Additional_Fall8832

Is it just me or are there two types of safety cultures

1. Is program/data-driven/compliance paperwork
2. Is operational based.

To expand on meaning

For 1. It’s a safety culture that looks great to compliance auditors but onsite inspections tell a different story

For 2. It’s a culture where violations and citations happen because things weren’t tracked or filed on time but when doing onsite inspections everyone knew about safety and could describe things well.

There has to be a safety culture where both can be true right? Or is that the unicorn we are all chasing

I am struggling at my new place of work due to the atypical flow for EHS manager. Background been here 60 days and was told by the Director of Operations, my 1st line supervisor, that I keep going out of my lane. What I asked specifically what is my lane I get told I should already know that and that’s why I was hired as a manager.

I am used to the following area of responsibility for EHS Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment, Control Development, Implementation, Compliance and Monitoring, Incident Response and Corrective Action, Training, Continuous improvement.

However here I don’t do HIRAs that is done by HQ that is approx 3hrs away. When I asked to see the assessments I was told nope as they are in facilities and I’m under operations.

Since I don’t see the assessments, when I’m asked about control development I either have been saying I can’t make recommendations due to lack of information (which hasn’t gone over well) or make a judgement call based on my experience (which my experience is transferable not direct).

Implementation and compliance has been recieved positively and one of my biggest project is updating safety policies and manuals from 2009 to reflect current compliance standards.

Monitoring we contract out to vendors.

Incident response is with public safety

Corrective actions I’ve made recommendations and that has what led to these high level meetings where I am told I’m outside of my lane.

Training that is another area positively received and I have updated.

Continuous improvement is an area with mixed reviews. I do inspections and audits which comes back with a huge list of non-compliance which I bring to the attention of superiors and have been told that I am moving too fast, I don’t understand how things are done at this site, etc. I have recieved support though to implement a tracking system and dashboard metrics something that hasn’t been done before.

I only have an assistant under me who doesn’t want to expand on anything about EHS unless it’s fire and life safety.

Update:

Had talk with my director and she explained that I need to stop thinking federal space since I am no longer a federal employee. Then gave advice to look for state equivalent as that is the level I work at now, which she gave hint that a lot of what I have experience in won’t apply (I.e. the RMP EPA discussion). From there she advised that then I have to look at our site only as that is my scope and anything bigger is out of scope.

Now addressing the issue, the motorpool is a designated hot work area so insurance recommended no hot work permit needed and they followed recommendation. However I was right in addressing the fire hazard and it is expected of me to address that immediate issue by stopping work and having the employee clear the area before resuming work. The worksite does not have an actual hot work policy but does have hot work SOP.

Thank you all for advice

TLDR: worksite motorpool don’t need hot work permit per the state program, EPA states hot work permit is required. Only been on job 60 days as a state employee after a year of no work after losing federal. Don’t want to lose job but I can’t shake how state trumps federal. What should I do? This is my first management position as well.

I have googled and saw only proxon for steel toe but not slip resistant.

I am looking for steel toe slip resistant dress shoes because my office is in motor pool but I have to wear suits sometimes which it feels awkward to wearing safety boots with a suit

With the new OSHA safety helmet update,
This is my first time ordering equipment and I want to make sure I’m using an appropriate vendor because when I google I get a bunch.

My specialty is chemical so this is new territory for me. Any help would be greatly appreciated

Hey who is the person on YouTube that is a great reference for prepping for the ASP?

Being an EHS manager i thought i would be managing risk associated with hazards.

Reality is that im managing people and im looked at as either a friend or foe. Is this normal