1-Start by clearly defining the roles of both safety officers and facility managers, emphasizing their unique contributions. Safety officers focus on health, safety, and regulatory compliance, while facility managers prioritize operational efficiency and maintenance. 2-Organize regular joint meetings between safety officers and facility managers to discuss priorities, concerns, and challenges. Encourage both teams to voice their opinions and listen to each other’s perspectives.

I encourage open discussions to align safety and operational priorities, highlighting shared goals like risk reduction and efficiency. By facilitating compromise on procedures and timelines, I ensure both safety standards and facility needs are met. Regular collaboration builds trust, creating a balanced, safety-focused facility management approach.

At the end of the day, everyone wants to go home the same way they walked in (all appendages in tact). That thought needs to stay in the forefront. Generally, by working safely, you will get a better result in less time which in turn leads to greater revenue. Safety needs to leverage the business case.

One thing I found very helpful is how explicitly the contract has to be administered to mitigate unwarranted disputes at the same maintaining a collaborative approach on safety concerns.