Requirements
Designate an employee as the accident-prevention coordinator. Give that person the responsibility and authority to facilitate organizational safety systems and processes, and ensure that he or she develops the knowledge and skills necessary for creating a safer working environment.

The accident-prevention coordinator does not assume operational responsibility for safety and health, but supports line management, supervision and employees to develop effective safety systems and processes. In addition, the coordinator must attend at least one BWC-approved safety and health management course yearly.

Responsibilities include:

• Helping management and employees identify accident prevention and safety and health training needs through perception surveys, interviews, behavior sampling or other similar methods;
• Helping supervisors make changes or develop strategies that improve the organization's safety systems and processes;
• Identifying and communicating new safety and health requirements;
• Compiling injury and illness-related records;
• Tracking progress on safety and health-related projects;
• Working with employees to optimize safe work practices;
• Attending at least one BWC-approved safety and health management course yearly.

You may choose to delegate the accident-prevention coordinator's functions to more than one person. A small business owner may assume the duties or have a manager do them in addition to his or her normal management duties. Geographically dispersed companies usually name a local employee as the accident-prevention coordinator. Medium-sized employers often designate a department manager from the human resource, engineering or financial services disciplines as their accident-prevention coordinator.

Larger companies often employ a full-time accident-prevention coordinator. When determining the need for a full-time accident-prevention coordinator, consider the accident history, expenses associated with accidents and the degree of hazard inherent in the operations.

As mentioned, accident-prevention coordinators must attend at least one BWC-approved safety and health management course each year to meet the requirements of step 6. BWC's Division of Safety & Hygiene offers several courses that meet this requirement. An employer may select a course that best addresses his or her needs. To obtain more information, call 1-800-OHIOBWC and follow the options.

The accident-prevention coordinator should be committed to safety and health, employee well being and have the time, authority and resources to facilitate developing the company's safety systems and processes. He or she acts as the internal consultant helping the organization make important safety-related decisions.

Attending at least one safety management course each year allows the accident prevention coordinator to:

• Increase expertise in safety systems and processes;
• Renew/refresh thinking on how to develop successful management approaches;
• Provide the opportunity to understand how others are coping with similar challenges.

Document all BWC-approved safety and health management courses the accident-prevention coordinator attends. The accident-prevention coordinator is an internal consultant, not a doer. Line managers and supervisors carry out many of the activities that make up the safety and health system. The accident-prevention coordinator provides advice and support to line managers, supervisors and employees regarding safety management responsibilities. An accident-prevention coordinator's specific functions may vary from company to company.