Securing Senior Support for Safety with François Barton – Ep. 115

In this episode, Mary Conquest talks with François Barton, CEO of the Business Leaders Health and Safety Forum in New Zealand - someone who knows exactly how to speak ‘executive’ and how leaders view workplace safety. Effective safety management is very challenging when it simply doesn’t have the budget required to implement meaningful change. François thinks that HSE managers can build stronger executive support by aligning safety initiatives with the bigger business picture. He encourages you to get familiar with organizational complexity and direction of travel and focus communication on context rather than content. Sound judgment is preferable to a ‘passion for safety’ as François shares examples of how linking safety to the organization's objectives secured executive buy-in and created significant improvements. This uplifting interview gives EHS professionals practical strategies to influence decision-makers and secure much-needed support for effective safety management. Learn more about François’ work: Business Leaders Health & Safety Forum https://www.forum.org.nz/ Recommended reading: Health and Safety Governance: A Good Practice Guide https://www.forum.org.nz/resources/he... François Barton on LinkedIn:   / francois-barton-6a040b11   Safety Labs is created by Safety Products Global, the world's leading manufacturer of safety knives. Through our trusted brands, Klever, Slice and PHC, we empower companies to prevent injuries by providing safer cutting tools for every material and application. Find us at http://www.safetyproducts.global If you have any questions, please email us at [email protected] Chapters: 0:00 Intro 00:42 Introduction to podcast and Dave 02:24 New Zealand’s National Safety Leadership Forum 05:38 Why a passion for safety can be problematic 09:10 Safety context vs content 16:36 Effective safety conversations with leaders 23:51 A message from the company behind the podcast 25:37 Helpful mindsets in safety 31:33 The safety levers beyond EHS professionals 41:25 What CEOs learn about safety from each other 48:19 The Pike River mine explosion 59:04 Why safety management is an incredible opportunity 1:01:35 Recommended resources for safety professionals