Good afternoon, everyone.
Thank you for your attendance today as we officially launch our 28th Annual Health, Safety, Security, and Environment (HSSE) Conference & Exhibition.
Today, I am pleased to address you on the critical topic of Human Factors in Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE) – our THEME for this year’s HSSE Conference.
We are delighted to see how much this conference has grown and transformed how we address HSSE policies at our job sites and in society. In the past few years, we started paying more attention to the human component in creating a sound HSSE culture. We wanted to understand better why accidents happen or why we fail. It's not about blame or enforcing more rigid rules. And, it’s not about seeing people as the problem but recognizing that people (your people) are the solution!
So how do we empower them to follow the guidelines, take caution, and do the right thing while giving them a voice to explain when things don’t go according to the plan? How do we learn from our mistakes? How do we fail safely or do safety differently?
To answer these questions, we must have a clear understanding of the human factors in HSE. Essentially, this refers to the environmental, organizational, and job factors, as well as human and individual characteristics which influence behavior at work in a way that can affect health and safety. When we better understand these factors, we create a safer and more efficient work environment for everyone!
Why is this theme so important?
Simply put - Human Factors are at the heart of improving safety. By taking the time to understand and address the root causes of human error carefully, we can design better systems, processes, and environments to minimize the likelihood of accidents and incidents. In other words, addressing Human Factors can save lives and enhance the overall safety performance of every organization.
We also see Human Factors responsible for promoting better health and well-being of every team member. It’s not just about preventing accidents. Yes, that’s important but we also want to make sure that we are designing jobs and workplaces that take into account human capabilities and limitations.
Imagine working at a job with very little stress, fatigue, or physical strain. Imagine having employees who are healthier, happier, and more productive. These are things we shouldn’t have to imagine. This is what our workplaces should be. There is no reason why we can’t make this happen. It starts with putting people first. In this instance, that would be OUR employees.
If we design processes and systems with our people in mind, we can enhance productivity, reduce errors, and improve the overall performance of every team member. These are all WINS for both the organization and our people!
So that’s the goal we hope to achieve with the many interactive and informative sessions we have on the agenda at this year’s conference. At HSSE24, we will look at the human condition and how this leads to human error as an inevitable part of the modern workplace.
We also want to look at how leaders address and learn from errors to send a powerful message that will reverberate throughout the entire workplace. This speaks to ensuring psychological safety to create a positive and productive work environment so that our employees feel safe to take calculated risks, voice their opinions, and learn from their mistakes. This all comes down to leadership and how leaders respond to failure or mistakes.
We will also address personal security arrangements for worker safety. This includes issues such as risk assessments, threat mitigation, and emergency response planning. Also, we will look at how we can create a comfortable workspace by focusing on the importance of ergonomics, covering everything from ergonomic design to workstation setup, equipment selection, and task analysis.
Not to leave out the environment, we want to measure and manage our carbon footprint. Our speakers will share their experiences in implementing effective carbon reduction strategies, such as commuting alternatives, energy-efficient practices, and sustainable procurement policies. By doing this we will put forward key steps to measure and manage the carbon footprint of every individual employee through data collection, analysis, and reporting.
These are just a few of the exciting and innovative topics we have on the agenda this year. Each session will look at Human Factors in every issue and provide solutions that will keep our people at the heart of every decision and policy proposal to advance the HSE culture in our organizations.
I would like to remind you that we are not losing sight of the importance of cybersecurity to our businesses and organizations at this year’s HSSE Conference. Our parallel Cybersecurity Track will explore the theme, 'Human Factors in Cybersecurity’. These sessions will delve into the psychological, social, and cognitive aspects of human decision-making and behavior in the digital age.
Our expert speakers will explore the latest research and innovations in human-centered cybersecurity, from designing more effective phishing prevention strategies to improving incident response and threat hunting. We will also look at real-world case studies and best practices on how to integrate human factors into your cybersecurity strategy, ensuring a more comprehensive and effective approach to protecting your organization's digital assets.
It goes without saying but let’s never forget that understanding the impact of cyber security and securing a cyber-resilient business future will be absolutely crucial to our business survival in both today's and tomorrow’s world.
I also want to mention that we are hosting our 14th Annual National HSE Awards which will evaluate companies for their robust HSE systems. The awardees are selected by judges with over 30 years of experience in HSE and provide companies with coaching to fill existing gaps in their HSE arsenal. TSL has had a coach in Gail Figaro, and trust me when I tell you the impact of the coaching is tremendous. The awards will take place on November 11th, 2024 – the day before the HSSE Conference begins.
As I close, let me recognize our SPONSORS.
Thank you to our TITLE SPONSOR: Atlantic LNG – We thank them for their continued partnership and support of this conference which dates back to 2018 as Title Sponsor.
Also, we thank our PLATINUM SPONSORS: NGC Group of Companies; Heritage Petroleum Limited, Proman, Woodside Energy, and bpTT.
Our GOLD SPONSORS: Point Lisas Nitrogen Limited and Nu-Iron
Our COCKTAIL SPONSOR: Angostura Limited
Finally, I would like to thank the hard-working AMCHAM T&T HSE committee and specifically the Conference sub-committee - chaired by Balchan Jadoonanan. I want to recognize the sub-committee members who are giving a lot of their time and expertise - Balchan, Wayne Mohan, Skyle Baptiste, Vitra Gopee, and Gerard Rajkumar.
Thank you to the team at the Secretariat led by Melissa Pierre, with vital support from Arianna Gayadeen and Choy Durity.
On behalf of the Board, the Secretariat, and the AMCHAM membership - thank you! The work you are doing is important in helping to change and shape the HSSE landscape of T&T.
Please check out the official 28th Annual Health, Safety, Security, and the Environment (HSSE) Conference & Exhibition Website at www.amchamtt.com. There, you will find all the information about our speakers, sponsors, agenda, sessions, topics, registration details, and much more.
As I close, I ask that we continue to commit to prioritizing Human Factors in HSE, fostering a culture of safety, and continuously striving for excellence in all that we do. Thank you for your attention, and we hope to see you on November 12th and 13th for AMCHAM T&T’s 28th Annual HSSE Conference & Exhibition.
Thank You and God Bless.
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