Why Occupational Safety Should Be The Core Value | Shah Mohammad Saidur Rahman | TEDxYouth@TCIS

Summary

The script addresses the alarming statistics of workplace accidents, emphasizing the need for a zero-incident rate. It narrates a personal journey in health, safety, and environmental promotion, highlighting the crucial role of HSE in business sustainability. The speaker calls for collective responsibility, from companies to individuals, to ensure a safe workplace, citing the economic and human costs of poor safety practices. The summary urges empowerment and proactive measures to achieve a culture of safety and health at work.

Takeaways

• 🚨 The alarming reality: According to the International Labour Organization, a worker dies from a work-related accident or illness every 15 seconds, totaling over 2.3 million deaths annually.
• 📉 The quest for zero incidents: The speaker emphasizes the goal of reducing workplace accidents to zero, highlighting the importance of safety for employees and the company's reputation.
• 👷‍♂️ The role of a Health Safety and Environmental (HSE) promoter: The speaker shares personal experience, explaining the advisory support role in preventing industrial accidents and the importance of daily risk assessments.
• 🌐 Global impact and sustainability: Good HSE performance is crucial for a company's long-term survival and contributes significantly to its sustainability, as seen in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index.
• 🏢 The responsibility of companies: Companies often do not bear civil liability for workplace fatalities, which raises questions about the management of Occupational Safety and Health.
• 📋 Key drivers for HSE management: The script outlines factors that drive companies to manage HSE effectively, including legal requirements, contractual obligations, in-house rules, and insurance certification.
• 🌍 The global supply chain's role: The Rana Plaza disaster in Bangladesh exemplifies the importance of global supply chain responsibility and the role of agreements like the Bangladesh Accord and Alliance for Worker Safety.
• 📊 Measuring HSE performance: The industry measures HSE performance through metrics like total recordable injury or lost time, with significant progress noted over the past decade.
• 🔍 Identifying underlying causes: The script discusses common underlying causes of workplace accidents and the need for a holistic approach to risk management and prevention.
• 🛡️ The cost of poor safety performance: The economic burden of poor safety practices is significant, with examples like the Deepwater Horizon spill illustrating the financial and reputational costs.
• 🤝 Collective responsibility and empowerment: The speaker calls for collective action and empowerment of individuals to create a value-driven HSE culture and achieve the goal of zero workplace accidents.

Q & A

How often does a worker die from a work-related accident or illness according to the International Labour Organization?

According to the International Labour Organization, a worker dies from a work-related accident or illness every 15 seconds.

What is the annual death toll at work globally?

More than 2.3 million people are killed at work annually due to work-related accidents or illnesses.

How many workers were killed due to workplace injury in the USA in 2015?

In 2015, 2836 workers were killed due to workplace injury in the USA.

What is the role of a Health Safety and Environmental (HSE) promoter?

A Health Safety and Environmental promoter provides advisory support to prevent industrial accidents, identifying nonconformities, participating in risk assessments, intervening in unsafe acts and conditions, and working towards achieving a safe day at a time.

Why is good HSE performance important for a company's long-term survival?

Good HSE performance is crucial for a company's long-term survival as it not only creates business opportunities but also makes a company sustainable, contributing significantly to its ranking in indices like the Dow Jones Sustainability Index.

What are the key drivers that make a company manage Occupational Safety and Health effectively?

The key drivers for effective Occupational Safety and Health management include host country HSE requirements, contractual HSE requirements, in-house rules and regulations, insurance certification requirements, and maintaining a good reputation.

What was the Rana Plaza disaster and what was its impact on the ready-made garment industry in Bangladesh?

The Rana Plaza disaster occurred on April 24, 2013, when a commercial building in Bangladesh collapsed, killing 1129 people. It served as a wake-up call for poor safety management in the ready-made garment industry and led to the establishment of the Bangladesh Accord and the Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety.

What is the significance of the Bangladesh Accord and the Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety?

The Bangladesh Accord and the Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety are binding agreements between global brands, unions, governments, and retailers, which aim to create a framework for a commitment to a safer workplace in the garment industry.

What are the common underlying causes of workplace accidents according to the HSE performance report from 2015?

The HSE performance report from 2015 identified five common underlying causes of workplace accidents, although the specific causes were not detailed in the transcript.

How do global oil and gas companies manage occupational safety and health risks?

Global oil and gas companies take a holistic approach to managing occupational safety and health risks, starting with risk assessments, which are now a legal compliance requirement in many countries.

What is the economic burden of poor safety and health practices globally according to ILO data?

The International Labour Organization estimates that the economic burden of poor safety and health practices globally is equivalent to 4% of one country's GDP, which amounts to approximately three trillion U.S. dollars.

Why is it important for individuals to be empowered to ensure a safe workplace?

It is important for individuals to be empowered to ensure a safe workplace because it leads to the creation of a value-driven HSE culture, which in turn contributes to zero accidents and a safer work environment for everyone.