Safety Done Right

As we continue to move towards more accountability as safety professionals in industry, it has made me increasing aware of the multiple directions we are potentially being pulled in. As terms are continually being bandied around like “Safety 1”; “Safety 2” or “Safety Differently”, it has become apparent we are becoming more insular from those functional areas of business with whom we are servicing. Lets be honest, operations for example, just want good processes, that integrate with how work is done.

Personally I am not overly concerned with these terms or cared to be labelled professionally into any of the above categories. I prefer to focus on those processes required in organisations with outcomes that lead to “Safety Being Done Right”.

I was lucky enough to work in mature organisations like BHP and Goodman Fielder early in my career and have access to and be mentored by some of the very best safety people in the country over an extended period of time. We focussed on learning from what we did well and not so well as far back as the early ’90’s and this transpired into effective ways to tackle any required changes or challenges in subsequent organisations and work environments over the next 20 years. Fortunately my learning continued as I progressed through the industry and/or observed new ways of doing things. I became, as someone recently said, "a career learner”.

Safety personnel cutting their teeth in operational environments is often bypassed or downplayed these days, however it is a simple not negotiable. Safety is an "action based" process and being able to lead, communicate and engage at any level is imperative. Learning from the ground up assists you significantly as you move up the corporate ladder in an organisation or in the profession.

Why? Because from experience and in line with the laws of gravity - "crap flows down hill". Applying this to what we do, if we know what this looks and feels like at an site or operational level, we are less likely pump out the proverbial when sitting in more senior roles.

Having led the health and safety programs at three major organisations in Australia over the last 12 years, I developed a systematic and objective framework, that has evolved over an extended period, to give me good line of sight as to the maturity level of an organisation very quickly. This evolved and improved as I learnt more or was confronted with or addressed issues along the way.

Additionally spending significant time out in the field, yes even as a GM, gave me a greater insight into how work was actually being done. Observing it, engaging effectively and questioning those doing it first hand, building relationships and hopefully earning the required respect. Note: Respect is an earnt commodity and does not come with a title or role. 

Admittedly a lot of this came naturally to me. I am naturally extroverted and enjoy engaging with people at any level. I learnt to lead very early on, from exposure to great people and additionally through sport. Nothing beats the real thing in this space, when you getting everyone on board the bus and bring them along on the required journey.

From being mentored well, to mentoring many safety professionals in their careers, many of these above processes have gone out through industry and into many organisations. Hopefully this will be of benefit to the wider safety community, as it has been tried and tested over an extended period, regardless of the industry or maturity level of the organisation that it is applied to. It's like building a house - a solid foundation; the necessary framework in place to support the required roof structure.

As part of continuing to be a career learner, I look forward to any feedback or fielding any queries or questions that anyone may have.