Live From Safety 2014: Executive Insights on Safety

The popular Executive Summit was held today at ASSE's Safety 2014 in Orlando, FL. The summit gives OSH professionals an opportunity to hear from a panel of corporate executives about their thoughts about workplace safety and the business role of OSH professionals.

I've listened in to several of these panels over the years and today's group seemed among the most approachable and pragmatic. During the panel, each executive answered questions specific to his company and to his thoughts on workplace safety in general, providing attendees with takeaways and words of wisdom to consider as they return to their facilities with all the information gleaned from 3 days of concurrent education sessions at Safety 2014

Here's are just a few highlights from the session:

Trevor Larsen, ‎vice president, worldwide safety, WDP&R, Walt Disney Parks & Resorts: "We encourage our employees to have a lens on safety in everything they do."

Jeff Smith, deputy director of operations, Oak Ridge National Laboratory: "I'm not a banner and slogan guy. It's not what people see it's how people behave that shows folks what we do."

Darron Anderson, CEO, Express Energy Services: "No different standards for the CEO."

John Gromos, vice president and general manager with Turner Construction: "Job sites change frequently, that's why culture is so important. We shouldn't have to tell someone what is a good action. They should see it on every site every day."

Mark Costello, general manager for the URS Industrial/Process Group: "One of my heroes is John Wooden. You can tell the character of who someone is when no one is looking. Have to empower people to make the right choice when they have to."

And a few more:

Darron Anderson, CEO, Express Energy Services: "No dollar value worth getting hurt."

Mark Costello, general manager for the URS Industrial/Process Group: "What creates safety performance creates business performance."

Trevor Larsen, ‎vice president, worldwide safety, WDP&R, Walt Disney Parks & Resorts: "Harness the power of storytelling."

John Gromos, vice president and general manager with Turner Construction: "Complacency is a dangerous thing. Remind everyone that it's because of hard work and focus that we have these results. It has to happen every single day."

Jeff Smith, deputy director of operations, Oak Ridge National Laboratory:  "Recognize that it's your mission to support and enable the research by protecting the asset. Be perceived as an enabler not a roadblock."

As a group, the panelist also agreed with Costello's idea that OSH professional need to "build on the positive as a force mulitlipier." As Larsen said, "When out in an operation, don't just tell them something is wrong. Give them an alternative. Instead of being feared, be sought out." Anderson also advised OSH professionals to understand the moment and whether it's best to be a leader, partner or cheerleader. "Know what's happening on a particular day and figure how to best support it at that given time."