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Changing role of H&S functions demands new capabilities: Bridging the gap
Rising stakeholder expectations on health and safety, higher levels of leadership engagement, the uptake of evolved approaches and increasing use of data and technology are stretching H&S professionals. These challenges have been accentuated by the global pandemic as the profile of health and safety has been elevated and H&S professionals at every level of the organization have been called on to provide leadership through the crisis. The Function Leaders’ assessment of the extent to which their teams are equipped to address these changes is broadly positive, more positive than the commentary from the participants would suggest. Only 4% of the cohort, however, assess their H&S professionals ‘fully equipped to address changing needs’. See Figure 4.1.
Very poorly equipped
Fully equipped 22%
10% 10% 0%
0%
5%
9%
9%
20%
11% 4%
Figure 4.1: Participants’ estimate of the extent to which H&S professionals are properly equipped to address changing needs of their stakeholders
Changing competency needs The participants in the study noted a lack of alignment on what constitutes professional excellence in the field of health and safety, but they were 100% clear that robust technical capabilities and deep knowledge of regulatory requirements are foundational, but not sufficient, to address the needs of their organizations going forward.
Technical needs
Just over one third identified specific deficiencies in technical capabilities, often arising because of the practice of recruiting individuals into the function from operational or maintenance backgrounds. The most frequently cited technical needs were related to process safety, chemical exposure, health generally, and mental health and wellness programs specifically. Other frequently identified needs were related to industrial hygiene, risk assessment and risk management concepts.
42% cited communication, influencing and coaching skills
16%
20% cited understanding business and operations context and business acumen
12%
Non-technical needs
H&S professionals will play a crucial role in leading their organizations through a complex set of challenges as they strive to respond to rapidly increasing expectations on health and safety. H&S professionals at every level will need to be adept at cultural and operational needs analysis, assessing the merits and costs of an increasingly complex array of alternative solutions, securing the necessary investment and leading on the successful deployment of these initiatives. Approximately two thirds of the participants identified one or more specific non-technical competency needs. The six key non-technical competency development needs identified by them are closely aligned with the widespread adoption of evolved approaches. It is notable that the least frequently mentioned capability need was the application of technology, which was the most frequently cited investment priority for the participants.
ERM GLOBAL HEALTH AND SAFETY SURVEY: Towards Building a Thriving Workforce
cited diagnostic and analytical skills and incident investigation
12% cited responsiveness, agility, proactive and solution oriented
cited leadership skills (prioritization, complex decision making)
7% cited application of technology in safety
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