Interdependence - How To

Acting as Head of HSSE I have been undertaking assurance activity now for the last fourteen years. This means I have verified quite a number of owned entities and supply chain activities in the construction / telecoms sectors. Nowadays I get almost an instant feel for poor mans safety / complying with the law or going above and beyond. I found that most audits can be categorised as either poor mans safety or doing the minimum.

A recent audit however in Peru took me by surprise. It’s a business owned and operated by APM. The moment I stepped over the threshold their culture hit me. Everyone had a smile on their face, employees were genuinely happy at work. Every inch of this outdoor logistics hub was sparkling clean, not one shred of rubbish anywhere….it felt loved. The HSE team were embedded in operations, guiding; advising and influencing change. Of course doing reviews like this is a great opportunity to connect with employees; supervisors and sub contractors to check they know their risks and verify empowerment. Every single individual I stopped knew their top 3 risks and on the point of empowerment ….. they all had a voice…could this be for real? On the final day of the audit a gaggle of HSE members left the office on foot bound for the Control Room across the yard and mid way an operative stopped us “excuse me…. Have you forgotten your safety hat?”….guess what....the person providing the observation was a sub contract employee…..boom!

And there were many more positives. A memorable visit, of an entity with a mature culture and committed management team. How do I believe they engineered this level of performance and interdependence? 

1) Leadership – the most senior Leader takes ownership of HSE (his direct reports too!)

2) Competence – HSE team is led by a Mechanical Engineer who is humble and a coach

3) Empowerment – everyone has a voice and is encouraged to think of new ideas

4) Persistence – HSE team don’t give in, if a barrier pops up they find a way around it

5) Creativity – Does the best HSE Performance really require buckets of cash?

6) Risk based – HSE team know what the key risks are and prioritise accordingly

So Rubens Castillo Chirinos you rock.