Expert Views on the Role of a Safety Professional -- Ep. 77

In this episode, we’re conducting a thorough investigation of a EHS practitioner’s job description to help you focus on the areas of workplace safety that matter most.

We've compiled a collection of thoughts, opinions and ideas about Safety professional’s key responsibilities from 20 of our previous guests.

All agree that practitioners are no longer “Safety Cops” but what should they be instead: facilitators, conduits, coaches? Are they best placed to write policies, implement procedures or conduct investigations? Do duties need to expand into workplace bullying, mental health and full psychosocial risk management? And is Safety even the HSE professional's responsibility??

This Safety role special presents multiple perspectives on these crucial questions from experienced HSE professionals, consultants, authors and academics. It doesn't conclude with a definitive job description, but will help you decide what to do more of - and what is no longer in your remit.

Featured guests (in order of appearance):

James Junkin (Episode 37): What is a Safety Professional
   • Thoughts From a Safety Outlaw -- Ep. 37  
Tanya Hewitt (Episode 7): What do we think the Safety manager's job is?
   • How HSE Professionals can Understand ...  
Sam Goodman (Episode 27): Redefining the role of Safety
   • Making Safety Suck Less -- Ep. 27  
Subena Colligan (Episode 34): Organizations don’t understand what Safety practitioners do
   • Helping Safety Managers Move From Sur...  
Chris Smith (Episode 2): Safety is the ultimate change leadership position
   • What is Intrinsic Stability and How C...  
Chris Moulden (Episode 31): From Safety Cop to ultimate team player
   • Why Authenticity Is Crucial for Effec...  
Mikel Bowman (Episode 51): The power of Safety professionals
   • Leading From the Middle To Enhance Wo...  
David Provan (Episode 58): Safety professionals can’t be everywhere!
   • What Is the Role of a Safety Professi...  
Bob Edwards (Episode 53): Safety practitioners can’t fix everything!
   • Managing Complexity in Workplace Safe...  
Tony Muschara (Episode 70): Safety is not the Safety professional's responsibility
   • The Critical Steps in Workplace Safet...  
Brye Sargent (Episode 11): Safety practitioners shouldn’t implement Safety policies
   • Who is Ultimately Accountable for Saf...  
Bridget Leathley (Episode 19) Safety professionals aren't solely responsible for procedures
   • Writing Effective Safety Procedures -...  
Dr Gary Namie (Episode 41): Safety should be responsible for workplace bullying
   • How Bullying Impacts Workplace Safety...  
Jason van Schie (Episode 33): Safety’s role in managing psychosocial risks
   • How to Manage Psychosocial Risks in t...  
Mark Alston (Episode 16): Facilitation is more important than Compliance
   • Why Investigations Should Play a More...  
Tim D’Ath (Episode 61): Safety professionals are conduits
   • A Human-Centric Approach to Safety Ma...  
Cameron Stevens (Episode 62): Safety practitioners' role as a concierge
   • The Impact of Technology on Workplace...  
Nicolai Massyn (Episode 63): Safety professionals are ideally placed to manage ESG
   • Safety Professionals’ Role in ESG -- ...  
Dr Todd Loushine (Episode 74): The heightened value of Safety practitioners
   • Safety is a Team Sport -- Ep. 74  
Rosa Carrillo (Episode 57): Safety is an overlooked resource
   • Relationship-Centered Safety Leadersh...  
David Provan (Episode 58): The future role of a Safety professional…
   • What Is the Role of a Safety Professi...  

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TABLE OF CONTENT

0:00 Intro
01:43 What is a Safety Professional?
03:03 What do we think the Safety manager's job is?
04:26 Redefining the role of Safety
07:07 Organizations don’t understand what Safety practitioners do
08:21 Safety is the ultimate change leadership position
10:24 From Safety Cop to ultimate team player
13:25 The power of Safety professionals
16:29 Safety professionals can’t be everywhere!
17:53 Safety practitioners can’t fix everything!
19:51 Safety is not the Safety professional's responsibility
22:11 Safety professionals shouldn’t implement Safety policies
23:34 Safety professionals aren't solely responsible for procedures
24:16 Safety should be responsible for workplace bullying
27:23 Safety should manage psychosocial risks
29:51 Facilitation is more important than Compliance
31:35 Safety professionals are conduits
33:27 Safety professionals’ role as a concierge
36:46 Safety professionals are ideally placed to manage ESG
39:52 The heightened value of Safety professionals
42:48 Safety is an overlooked resource
44:17 The future role of a Safety professional…