Workplace Safety Takes Leadership!

Decentralizing Workplace Safety and Health:
How to Build Supervisor and Employee Safety Leadership

Occupational safety and health have long been led and managed by a small group of centralized employees, such as human resources or safety professionals. Although this structure has served many organizations for years, it often falls short of creating the sustainable, dynamic, and practical safety culture leaders envision.

A growing number of employers are shifting to a decentralized approach that builds safety leadership skills among supervisors and frontline employees. Instead of relying on a single department to manage safety, organizations are equipping people at every level to recognize risks, communicate proactively, and make informed decisions that prevent incidents.

Proven strategies include training supervisors to lead by example, giving employees a voice in identifying hazards, and integrating safety into everyday operations rather than treating it as a separate function. When employees understand their role in protecting themselves and others, safety becomes part of the organization’s identity.

The result is shared ownership, stronger engagement, and greater accountability across the workforce. These elements are critical for developing a best-in-class safety program that reduces injuries, lowers claims, and supports long-term well-being. This decentralized model is gaining traction as organizations seek safer, more resilient workplaces.

 

-E Lubman, Contributor
HUB International
November, 2026