Abstract
This presentation will address the critical role of leaders in creating a culture of health and safety within the mining industry. As safety challenges evolve, the need for leaders who can effectively drive operations results, and promote a safe work environment, becomes paramount. Key points include:
- Importance of Leadership in Safety Culture: (3 min)
Effective leaders inspire and influence others; they set the tone for a safety-first culture by modeling and influencing behavior and a commitment to safety protocols. We will discuss how leaders shape safety culture and performance through their leadership style, actions, and daily decisions.
Key Message: Leadership commitment to safety directly influences team behaviour and outcomes.
- Evolving Trends in Safety Leadership (3 minutes)
Trend 1: Moving from Compliance to Commitment – Today’s effective safety leaders inspire a commitment to safety rather than mere adherence to rules.
Trend 2: Building Psychological Safety – Leaders encourage a culture where employees feel safe to report issues without fear of retaliation.
- Operational Practices That Drive Safety Performance (4 min)
We will discuss the importance of establishing and visibly demonstrating leadership commitment to safety through practices such as: conducting regular safety meetings to review safety topics, highlight issues, and encourage feedback; involving employees in hazard identification and reporting; identifying and delivering on role-specific training opportunities; and recognizing team members who exemplify safety excellence.
- Critical-Skills Development: (5 min)
The presentation will highlight leading practices in learning and learning transfer, as well as key competencies that influence operational safety performance including: maintaining composure
under pressure; making timely and informed decisions; and effectively communicating (to provide feedback, delegate, inform, and hold productive safety meetings).
- Case Studies and Best Practices: (3 min)
Real-world examples from leading mining companies will be shared to illustrate successful leadership development programs that have significantly improved safety records and employee morale. (Teck – Courageous Safety Leadership + Suncor – Lead (in progress))
- Conclusion and Leadership Commitment to Safety (2 minutes)
This presentation aims to inspire industry leaders to invest in their leadership capabilities as a pathway to enhanced operational safety and efficiency. We will summarize the role of leaders in achieving a positive safety culture, and ideas on what organizations can do next.
Facilitating this conversation will be Susan Eick, VP Advisory Services for BBA Engineering and Julie Butcher, Senior Practice Lead for BBA’s Advisory Services. Susan and Julie each have more than 25 years of experience developing leaders and have specifically focused their practice on the Mining Industry through their work with Refinery, a BBA company.