At 1:45pm on 23 March 1998, lives changed forever. Aneta Devon, one of our Fulton Hogan family, was run over and killed on a worksite that I was responsible for.

The shockwaves of harm crashed into Aneta’s husband John and their two precious children, and then radiated outwards breaking the hearts of family, friends, workmates and loved ones. Nothing would ever be the same again. The consequences of a workplace tragedy are vast, and irreversible, and personal.

On that Monday afternoon 27 years ago I faced the difference between life and death. I felt the weight of responsibility that leaders have for the health and safety of their teams, and I learnt that health and safety is all and only about people.

It’s been a privilege to work for Fulton Hogan for nearly three decades. More than 20 years in various operational roles. And now, since 2017, (driven by that tragedy back in 1998), I have health and safety responsibilities for New Zealand.   This role is confronting, challenging and rewarding. It’s the job I aspired to for 20 years. It’s the best job I’ve ever had.

There were 52 workplace fatalities in New Zealand last year. Many other workers were hurt and now suffer the inescapable consequences of a life changing injury.

Monday 28 April is World Safety Day. An opportunity to remember those like Aneta who we’ve lost, to reflect and perhaps think a little critically about safety. We must do better.

Living Safely is Fulton Hogan’s health and safety programme. Our people are the heart of it. Like all safety programmes it’s a work in progress and never static.  Some elements of it may evoke a different way of thinking.

Living Safely has one objective underpinned by 12 principles.

Our objective – no life changing harm – is simple, achievable and credible. It focuses our time, energy and resources on preventing the high consequence events that change lives. Strains and sprains don’t lead to fatal accidents, uncontrolled critical risks do.

Here are some of our 12 principles.

People at the heart of everything. People are more inclined to listen when they know we care. Our care must be genuine – pretenders are easily spotted.

We understand and control our critical risks. Critical risks, if uncontrolled, lead to life changing injuries. We need to know what they are, how they manifest and be sure that they’re suitably managed.

Engineering out risk is our priority. We’re human – we all rush, get distracted, tired, grumpy and impatient. When we’re not thinking straight, we make mistakes. Effective engineering controls like barriers, interlocks and one way traffic systems, reduce the consequences of these lapses.

Simple and intuitive systems. Health and safety systems are only valuable when they’re necessary, useful, simple and easy to understand.

Less rules and more thinking. The work we do is dangerous, dynamic and diverse. Seldom are two jobs or two locations the same. It’s not possible to have procedures that cover every eventuality. Requirements need to be supplemented with the authority, skills and confidence to spot risk and improve controls.

In addition, few people enjoy being told what to do. If instead of telling people what to do, we help them identify improvements, they’ll be more likely to implement the solution they’ve co-designed.

Operational leaders leading safety. Workers are most likely to listen to their immediate boss. Their supervisor probably has relevant experience, credibility and an ongoing working relationship. When operational leaders lead safety, their direct reports listen. This is a force multiplier.

We say what we do, and we do what we say. If we don’t, it destroys our credibility with our employees and customers. Our people will tend to ‘do what we do’ rather than ‘do what we say’. It’s our actions that set the health and safety standard on our sites and in our businesses.

6,000 employees, 4,000 subbies and 1.2 billion minutes worked in a year. One lapse, one moment of inattention and lives can change forever. There’s no room for complacency, we’re always uncomfortable about our safety performance.

Last year 52 people were killed at work. 52 people with mums and dads, families, friends and workmates. 52 people like Aneta. 52 people like us.

We must do better.

World Safety Day presents an opportunity to stop, reflect and think differently about how we provide for the health and safety of our people. It’s a day to inspire change. Afterall, change is the only thing that brings improvement.

– Tim Talbot, General Manager – HSQE