Who has the ultimate responsibility for health and safety in the workplace?

The ultimate responsibility for health and safety in the workplace lies with management. This is because management sets the tone for workplace safety culture, establishes safety policies, and ensures that proper training, resources, and procedures are in place to protect employees. They are tasked with the duty to comply with relevant laws and regulations, and to actively engage in promoting as well as maintaining a safe working environment.

Management must also allocate budget and resources for safety programs, conduct risk assessments, and create a framework for reporting hazards. While employees, safety officers, and health inspectors play crucial roles in the safety ecosystem—employees by adhering to safety protocols, safety officers by implementing and monitoring safety regulations, and health inspectors by ensuring compliance with laws—management ultimately holds the responsibility for the establishment and enforcement of health and safety measures within the organization.