Chris Ross

The best workers are often promoted to supervisors, and that can be a challenge. “We lost our best welder and now we have our worst supervisor.” Organizations need skilled and talented supervisors to achieve desired results in safety, quality, production and performance. Managers, supervisors and safety professionals must align in order to achieve organizational goals. That requires supervisors to have effective skills in communication, employee engagement and hazard assessment, as well as the ability to navigate the social change required to manage their former peers. This session will demonstrate the importance of managing the human factors that affect safety, quality and performance at individual and organizational levels. Participants will gain practical insight into how supervisors can play a more active role in workplace safety. This session is designed to be highly interactive, engaging participants in a variety of practical, peer-driven learning experiences. Live polling will be used to surface insights, spark discussion, and benchmark perspectives across the room in real time. Throughout the session, participants will take part in brief pair-share and table group discussions to explore challenges, exchange perspectives, and learn from others’ experiences. Participants will also work through real-world scenarios using a structured job aid, applying concepts in a hands-on problem-solving exercise that reinforces practical takeaways.