What is the established chain of command for safety concerns?

• A. Report to supervisor; escalate to site safety officer or EHS if unresolved.
• B. Stand alone: handle yourself.
• C. Only escalate to HR.
• D. Ignore.

Answer: (A)

Opening with a safety concern through the proper channels ensures hazards are addressed effectively and records are kept. The expected path is to report the issue to your supervisor first, because they’re closest to the operation and can quickly assess risk and implement immediate controls. If the supervisor can’t resolve the problem, the next step is to escalate to the site safety officer or the Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) team, who have the authority and resources to conduct a formal investigation, implement corrective measures, and ensure compliance.

This approach protects people and operations by maintaining accountability and a clear trail of actions taken. Handling the issue on your own bypasses the formal process and can leave hazards unaddressed. Escalating only to HR might address personnel matters, not the specific safety risk or its fixes. Ignoring the concern is dangerous and undermines safety culture.