In the modern workplace, safety is a paramount concern that significantly impacts employees’ well-being and an organisation’s overall productivity. However, approaches to safety vary widely. On one hand, safety can be positioned as a force for good, emphasising its inherent value and benefits. On the other hand, safety can manifest as ritualistic adherence to protocols … Read more
Let’s be honest—safety isn’t typically seen as a highly desirable profession. Too often, we’re perceived as party-spoilers—people who dictate how work should be done without fully understanding the intricacies of the job. This perception undermines our credibility and influence in the workplace. Yet, as safety practitioners, we know the value of our role. Our work … Read more
One of the prevailing misunderstandings in health and safety circles is the distinction between mental wellness (the opposite of mental illness) and simply feeling good. Many workplace mental wellness programs focus on short-term mood enhancement rather than fostering genuine psychological resilience or improving mental health. Key Differences Between Mental Wellness and Feeling Good Depth vs. … Read more
Workplace culture has a powerful influence on safety, yet it’s often misunderstood. The term “culture” is frequently used without a clear definition, and its impact on workplace behaviour—particularly safety—is rarely explored in depth. As a result, many safety professionals struggle to grasp how cultural dynamics shape daily decision-making. So, they do nothing. When it comes … Read more
The traditional Hierarchy of Controls (HoC) can be misleading for safety practitioners. Many find it challenging to implement higher-order controls, such as engineering solutions, and instead default to administrative measures. This often happens for several reasons: higher-level controls may not be obvious, the person managing risk mitigation may lack engineering expertise, or there is simply … Read more
In a recent major speech on growth strategies, New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon pointed to overzealous health and safety regulations as a driver of costs and reduced productivity. He cited the overuse of traffic cones as an example—though he could have chosen many others. This is a worrying reality: safety management in New Zealand … Read more
Businesses have always been fixated on measurement. Management must keep the board—who are not involved in daily operations—informed about progress. One of the most straightforward indicators of success is financial performance, largely because money is quantifiable. However, many critical aspects, such as major project progress, are not as easily measured. Despite this, boards often seek … Read more
The Central Role of Risk Assessment Risk assessment stands as the cornerstone of any effective safety management system (SMS). It’s where everything starts and feeds into—or flows from. Think of it as a spider web with risk management at the centre; every element, from setting objectives and planning, incident management, and worker participation to safety … Read more