ABSTRACT
One of the most overlooked opportunities for improving organizational safety is by upgrading the leadership skills of frontline supervisors. Often, when leaders are selected at the frontline, selection criteria often include, but are not limited to, the following:
1. Length of service with the organization 2. Amount of training the worker has been exposed to 3. Reliability of the worker in completing work 4. Attendance of the worker 5. Technical skills and competence of the worker 6. The age of the worker 7. Relationship with middle managers 8. Personality 9. Availability to assume the role
Some of the most overlooked criteria include the leadership skills and potential leadership skills of the worker and the worker’s communication skills. In very active markets, we have also seen availability being one of the key selection criteria. In this chapter, the authors would like to explore the leadership requirement for frontline supervisors and the essential skills required by them to better serve and lead a workforce whose safety ultimately depends upon the direction and guidance provided by frontline leaders.
