People-powered safety: engaging and empowering people to be a part of the solution to drive business success

We have Chet Brandon on the podcast today. Chet is an experienced sustainability and EHS executive known for his exemplary work across different industries

The conversation covers Chet's personal journey, exploring his inspirations that led him to working in Safety, his work ethics, and his approach to ensuring sustainability and safety within organisations.

He emphasises the importance of assembling excellent sustainability teams, engaging employees, and the significance of these aspects in business success. This sets the stage for an insightful discussion, hinting at the key role of safety measures in maintaining industrial success.

One of the things I tell management teams is if you want to be a great company. start with safety.

Amidst all the jargon related to safety procedures and standards as most would know it, Chet highlights a crucial element often overlooked—human nature. He navigates the complexities of creating systems that align with human nature while ensuring occupational safety. This part is a subtle prelude to the significance of understanding the workforce in achieving a safe workspace, a concept which is later expanded in greater detail.

The concluding part of the conversation goes into Chet's personal experiences with safety, and includes a powerful story of a severe occupational accident that greatly impacted him. He discusses the life-altering impact of such incidents, emphasising how they serve as stark reminders of the crucial role safety measures play in workplace; foreshadowing the learning and transformation such incidents can spark among safety professionals, driving them towards a more conscientious application of their role.

With an emphasis on personal responsibility and empowerment, the discussion provides valuable insights into the journey of implementing safety standards, facing challenges, and inspiring a culture of safety within organisations.