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No, the HSE function is not a "necessary evil"! It is a significant asset in the pursuit of sustainable performance for any company, especially in the industrial sector, even more so since 2020.
The HSE function is not a "necessary evil"
Reading job offers for HSEmanagers, one might sometimes wonder if the role is truly understood in some companies. Here are the kinds of tasks too often listed:
- “you will manage and track incidents and accidents”
- “you will analyze regulatory discrepancies”
- “you will ensure that generated waste is processed through approved channels”
- “you will ensure the application of HSE guidelines”,
- “you will organize external follow-up audits”, etc.
Isn't this a negative way to present their work?
Why don't companies instead propose that they:
- “contribute to our company's performance by working to reduce incidents and accidents”,
- “anticipate regulatory changes that could impact our investment decisions”,
- “actively contribute to our company's profitability by optimizing our waste management,”
- “enhance our risk management and implement our safety management approach,” etc.?
HSE Manager: a source of opportunities
Can you imagine a job offer for a marketing manager stating: “You will handle and monitor our brand image problems”? Of course, the answer is no. We would rather talk about building or maintaining a positive brand image. And that's perfectly normal!
If many companies still operate this way when recruiting HSE managers, it's because they associate this role with managing constraints rather than seeing it as a development opportunity. And that's precisely where the problem lies, because:
- in a context where everyone recognizes that well-being at work is a source of efficiency, risk prevention is a powerful way to boost productivity,
- energy and waste management has a direct impact on the company's bottom line,
- regulatory monitoring is essential to protect any investment,
- developing an image of a socially responsible and environmentally conscious company contributes to brand success.
Because they are often seen as a “necessary evil,” HSE managers themselves are sometimes convinced that they are only there to manage problems.
Consequently, it is difficult for these men and women to secure the necessary budgets for implementing tools that would allow them to contribute significantly to the company's added value. And when they do manage to convince management to invest in a solution, they are often allocated the cheapest option, not the one that would allow them to maximize added value.
What a shame! Because by reasoning this way, companies miss out on great opportunities. By not placing health, safety, and environmental management at the core of their objectives, they fail to leverage the motivation and efficiency of their employees and do not achieve the results they could expect.
In conclusion, HSE Managers, be proud of your profession and make it a positive promotion ! If you don't do it, others won't do it for you! Not yet, anyway…
An article written by Bernard Fort, Chairman of the Management Board and co-founder of Tennaxia