Transformative strategies for maintaining workplace respect and safety
With less than two weeks to go until the launch of our final Thought Leadership Series 2024 webinar on 'Striking the balance between safety and productivity', we sat down with Christina Yeo, Group Head of People and Culture at Byrnecut Group. She shares her insights on transformative strategies for maintaining workplace respect and safety while ensuring high productivity.
Byrnecut Group is a Signature Partner of the 2024 Thought Leadership Series.
Sign up for free to watch 'Striking the balance between safety and productivity' webinar, launching online on 7 October.
Can you share some insights into how you build and maintain a culture of safety and efficiency within your teams?
At Byrnecut, our approach to building and maintaining a culture of safety and efficiency is guided by the principle that safety always takes precedence over efficiency. Safety is our number one priority, and we ensure this by fostering an environment where team members feel empowered to take personal accountability for their actions.
We strive to create a culture of moral courage, encouraging everyone to speak up and address safety concerns proactively. This includes promoting a bystander culture, where individuals are empowered to intervene and ensure that safety standards are upheld.
Our commitment to these values is reinforced at a corporate level, with support from management and leaders who are dedicated to championing safety practices. By prioritising safety while encouraging self-accountability, we aim to strike a balance that ultimately enhances both our safety and operational efficiency.
Are there any specific strategies or initiatives that have been effective in promoting respect and safety within the Byrnecut Group?
We have implemented several effective strategies and initiatives to promote respect and safety within our teams at the Byrnecut Group. Our first priority is to mainstream safety as a critical issue, actively working to remove any stigma associated with it.
From this foundation, we employ a multifaceted approach that includes initiatives focused on respectful behaviours training, our Safe360 program, and the "Respect @Byrnecut" initiative. These programs are designed to foster a culture of respect and safety across all levels of the organisation.
Additionally, we support these internal initiatives with several external programs, such as Safe2Say and trauma-informed response training. These resources further enhance our commitment to creating a safe and respectful work environment for everyone.
If you could implement one transformative change across the entire mining industry to enhance workplace respect and safety, what would it be, and why?
From a very high-level perspective I’d love to see an initiative that would increase every employee’s empathy and equip them with greater understanding of personal differences and challenges. That would go a very long way to building an entirely different culture in general – not just in the mining industry.