On the eve of National Safety day, (4th March) the formation of National Safety council under Jagjivan Ram during 1972 as an event and carried forward ever since.  While some progress has been made to make workplace safer in comparison to the monstrous rate of growth of Industries, especially over the last 35 years, much need to be done to make safety as a way of life.

The bane of safety day/environment day celebrations etc are that they become like Horstman’s Rule of Christmas. You celebrate Xmas once a year, so you forget about it for 350 days. You start to prepare/stretch/sweat 15 days prior, with the result things tend to go wrong!

Also posters, banners, celebrations are all “ANTECEDENTS” which never trigger the desired behaviour at work place. It can very easily become evaporative effect with all aspects forgotten a week post national safety day celebrations. I recollect my last safety day participation was during ESH site role in late 90s.

So what is that we can do work  to sustain  safe work place 24*7*365!.

1) Safety Culture—-> Safety as a way of doing business not a condition of business! Leadership engagement is key. Influencing upward with what it is that ESH can add value to business. Leaders don’t like surprises, bad news at the last-minute. What is that ESH folks can do work the buy in confidence? Communicate, communicate, over communicate! 

2) Risk Based approach to Business—-> With ISO 9001, 14001 in, as well as new ISO 45001 expected later this year, the emphasis on RISK based approach to business can not be overemphasised. Approach all ESH issues with link to impact on Social, Political, Economical, Technological, Financial aspects with Strength, Opportunities, Weakness, Threats. (SWOT). From the Portfolio worked, work the acceptable and unacceptable risks and Strategy, Objectives and Targets, Annual operating plan, Budgets and Standard Operating Procedures as appropriate. This way, ESH aspects gets linked to beyond its domain and overarches with Quality, Safety, Productivity, Inventory, Delivery and Cost, the very pillar of Doing/being in business.

3) Establish a Management Systems:- (MS) Even 30Bn$ global gaints have realised as they matured in the business path, that a QESH-MS goes a  long way in understanding the issues and tackling them head on. Oh yes, the management system implementation is independent of ISO certification. The PDCA Cycle below would be the way forward to embrace any MS. Policy, Legal Compliance,Training, Corrective actions form the backbone of the system. (Preventive Actions are given, being fundamental to proactive approach of problem solving) 

4) Relationship Building, Networking:- The value of This tool can not be emphasised enough. More so now a days, where Knowledge is no longer a trait that can take over the finish line. 70% results are achieved through Relationship power of influencing, communicating, persuading, networking etc. Professionals needs also exhibit leadership skills which can be built through engagement and asking the right questions? I always wonder How many time folks asks their colleagues, team members, juniors, “I Dont Know-What do you think”?? or ” Thank You” !! These words go a long way to make a person lot better in leadership journey! Also work your social Footprint.

I wish you all the professionals the very best on this occasion and hope folks make strides to be the ESH professional with value add to business. Remember ESH is all about implementing ESH in cost-effective way with “Minimum Adequate” with systematic planning and walking the talk with Visible felt leadership.

Good Luck and God bless.

Karthik.

3/3/17 1255 pm.