Riding the Bicycle

Maintaining a positive, dynamic safety culture is not a destination, but a journey with no end. 

I had just returned from a contract in Kitwe, Zambia, and was prepared for another tough assignment. At the time of the interview I didn t quite realize what a tough assignment it was going to turn out to be  

The initial interview with the deputy CEO went fine, and my wife, Maureen, and I found him to be a charming person and someone really keen to make a difference in safety at the plant. We were flown to the Middle East for further interviews and to be introduced to the executive management. I was introduced to the CEO, and immediately he wanted to know my opinion on the behaviors that were the cause of the plant s accidents. I did not agree with him about behaviors being the sole cause of accidents and asked, What about the unsafe work environment at which he was quite taken aback. I thought I had already talked myself out of the job  

After being interviewed by the nine general managers and the CEO, I was offered a substantial 3-year contract as manager of safety, health, and environment (SHE manager). 

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If you were designing a new bicycle, someone would have to ride the bicycle to test the new design. 

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