When a worker comes to you with an unusual emergency, and you as the supervisor are unable to consult your superior on the handling of the emergency, the best procedure to follow is to:

When a worker comes to you with an unusual emergency, and you as the supervisor are unable to consult your superior on the handling of the emergency, the best procedure to follow is to:

• A. Handle the case according to your own judgment without bringing the case to the attention of your superior
• B. Tell the worker directly involved to use his or her best judgment in handling the matter
• C. Take a particular action and prepare a memorandum to your superior on the case, stating what action has been taken and that you have tried successfully to get an interview
• D. Delay action until your superior can give the matter his attention

Answer: (C)

When a sudden emergency arises and you can’t reach your supervisor, act within your authority to address the situation, but also document what you’ve done and inform your supervisor as soon as possible. The best approach is to take the necessary action to manage the emergency and immediately prepare a memorandum to your superior describing the steps taken and noting that you attempted to obtain guidance. This keeps things moving to protect people and operations while preserving accountability and creating a clear record for later review. Relying on your own judgment without informing leadership can bypass the proper chain of command and expose you to issues of policy and liability. Telling the worker to rely on their own judgment shifts responsibility away from appropriate supervision. Delaying action until your superior is available risks harm or escalation of the emergency. Acting and documenting balances urgency with proper oversight.

When a sudden emergency arises and you can’t reach your supervisor, act within your authority to address the situation, but also document what you’ve done and inform your supervisor as soon as possible. The best approach is to take the necessary action to manage the emergency and immediately prepare a memorandum to your superior describing the steps taken and noting that you attempted to obtain guidance. This keeps things moving to protect people and operations while preserving accountability and creating a clear record for later review.

Relying on your own judgment without informing leadership can bypass the proper chain of command and expose you to issues of policy and liability. Telling the worker to rely on their own judgment shifts responsibility away from appropriate supervision. Delaying action until your superior is available risks harm or escalation of the emergency. Acting and documenting balances urgency with proper oversight.