What can cross-industry health and safety experts learn from their colleagues in engineering, civil construction, and energy? Ahead of the Women in Health & Safety Summit 2024, we interviewed several experts to discover the key challenges facing their industries, upcoming changes to the health and safety landscape, and their advice on the key skills for young professionals. Read on to gain insights from:
- Phoebe Gane, Team Executive at WSP Australia
- Suzanne Westgate, General Manager of Land Property and Approvals at Transgrid
- Melissa Pollock, General Manager of Health and Safety at Abergeldie Complex Infrastructure
What are the key health and safety challenges facing your industry?
Phoebe Gane notes, “A challenge that we see many of our clients struggling with... is the practical implementation of strategies to prioritise and effectively manage psychosocial risk within organisational safety frameworks”. While identifying these risks—such as stress and burnout—can be relatively straightforward, Gane emphasises that “the complexity lies in the appropriate mitigation factors which are effective in particular situations and for particular individuals”. She further stresses the importance of considering psychosocial risk through a diversity and inclusion lens, ensuring that all members of the workforce receive the necessary support and resources.
Also noting the psychosocial risks, Suzanne Westgate underscores the increasing relevance of burnout in the energy industry. Contributing factors include the energy transition workload, rapid growth across the National Electricity Market (NEM), and high demand for specialist roles creating resource challenges. Westgate highlights that Transgrid is committed to fostering a psychologically safe workplace where open communication is encouraged: “We want our people to be able to speak up, give feedback, fail ‘safely’, and learn from each other”.
Melissa Pollock talks about the challenges posed by a rapidly changing workforce. “The influx of less experienced workers in the industry has necessitated a greater focus on basic risks and their consequences”, she explains. To address this issue, Abergeldie is implementing various programs to better prepare these workers. These programs outline basic risks and clearly explain their potential consequences, with a focus on the critical controls to protect or mitigate harm.
Pollock also highlights the ongoing efforts to improve people/plant separation in civil construction: “The industry has had a real focus on this risk and challenged themselves to push the expected level on controls higher up the hierarchy. I think there was a perception this risk played out differently in civil, or was harder to manage with some of the ‘hard/physical’ controls”.
As we approach 2025, how do you see the health & safety landscape changing?
Looking ahead, Pollock anticipates that “the continuation of the implementation of psychosocial legislative changes and some of the impacting HR items (such as sexual harassment, right to disconnect) will really change how workplaces organise and manage work”. She stresses that leaders will need to adapt their support systems to meet the evolving expectations of safe and healthy workplaces, which are increasingly obligated to meet community needs and expectations.
“The energy transition is here – and there’s no transition without transmission”, says Westgate. This creates a high-pressure environment as industries compete for resources. The regulatory landscape remains complex and technological advancements are rapidly changing the industry, with drones now used for aerial inspections and transmission maintenance to make the work safer for maintenance crews. From a psychological safety perspective, Westgate emphasises the importance of building a workplace that is inclusive, trusting, and respectful. “Transgrid is making sure people across the business have avenues to provide feedback and see the impact of their contributions”.
Gane also highlights the role of technology in shaping the future of health and safety. She observes that rapidly advancing AI and digital software tools are being implemented (sometimes in a very piecemeal way) within organisational safety frameworks. While these technologies hold the potential for powerful insights through big data analysis, Gane warns that “the change management associated with their implementation is often poorly executed”. She cites the contractor management space as an example, where subcontractors navigate numerous apps, software solutions and digital tools to comply with safety frameworks, leading to additional complexity. “We need to adopt holistic, strategic approaches to leveraging these to ensure they are beneficial throughout value chains and don’t create additional complexity or inconsistency.”
As the industry evolves, what skills should early career health and safety professionals focus on to ensure a successful career?
“People are the solution for safer outcomes”, says Westgate, who advocates for developing people and leadership skills rather than focusing solely on compliance-driven safety through processes and procedures. Key skills for aspiring safety professionals include:
- Authenticity and care for people: Genuine concern for employees' wellbeing builds trust and rapport.
- Interpersonal and communication skills: Effective consultation is fundamental to achieving safe outcomes.
- Empathy and proactive listening: Understanding perspectives and responding to concerns fosters a supportive environment.
- Values-led behaviour: Aligning actions with core values strengthens organisational safety culture.
- Infield experience: Gaining hands-on experience helps safety professionals understand the realities of the workplace.
Gane advises early career professionals to “get comfortable with the uncomfortable” by embracing new experiences to build resilience and adaptability. She highlights the importance of self-reflection and self-awareness, advising professionals to view mistakes as learning opportunities. Key skills also include active listening (practicing empathy and asking open-ended questions enhances understanding), and curiosity about the organisation. “It’s important to gain an understanding of the interplay between safety challenges and the organisation’s commercial, cultural, and political landscape”, she adds.
Similarly, Pollock underscores the need for curiosity about both work and people, alongside skills in influencing, research, and change management. She also emphasises the importance of pragmatic business acumen.
Join us at the Women in Health & Safety Summit 2024.
Hear more from Phoebe, Suzanne and Melissa, plus 25+ other health and safety experts, on 19-21 November at the Women in Health & Safety Summit 2024, at the Crowne Plaza Darling Harbour, Sydney.
To access the detailed conference program, download the brochure here.