Overview of IOSH expert Peter Mugi’s opinion piece
Peter Mugi CertIOSH, a member of IOSH’s future leaders steering group, has published an opinion piece on securing support for workplace health and safety.
He shares his strategies and experiences in persuading management to embrace health and safety changes.
Mugi highlights the challenges of gaining management support, emphasizing that it involves not just identifying necessary changes but also persuading management to implement them.
His approach includes persistence, clear communication, and strategic insights to influence management effectively.
Case study on overcoming resistance
In his opinion piece, Mugi recalls working with a company resistant to holding regular health and safety meetings due to time constraints.
This resistance led to neglected fire drills, overlooked subcontractor audits, and misaligned safety practices.
Mugi used a pre-qualification questionnaire to show the company’s deficiencies and how these gaps could affect new business opportunities and the bottom line.
By demonstrating that regular health and safety meetings were not a drain on time but a long-term time-saving measure, Mugi successfully shifted the conversation to focus on business benefits.
His persistence resulted in completed fire drills, updated audits, and improved safety standards.
Lessons and practical solutions for safety professionals
Mugi shares valuable lessons from his experience, emphasizing the need to frame health and safety improvements in terms of business benefits.
He advises showing gradual progress and focusing on critical areas for immediate improvement to build trust and demonstrate that changes are manageable and impactful.
He also underscores the importance of consulting with other safety and health professionals to gain insights and share experiences.
Engaging with IOSH groups or branches can provide valuable support and guidance tailored to specific challenges.
Strategies for influencing management on health and safety
Mugi concludes that influencing management to adopt health and safety changes is a dynamic process requiring persistence, strategic communication, and practical solutions.
By understanding management’s concerns, presenting clear benefits, and demonstrating real progress, health and safety professionals can turn resistance into support.
Mugi stated: “By understanding management’s concerns, presenting clear benefits, and demonstrating real progress, health and safety professionals can turn resistance into support.”
IOSH expert discusses effective approaches to influence management on safety: Summary
Peter Mugi’s opinion piece, published by IOSH, outlines strategies for securing management support for workplace health and safety.
Mugi emphasizes persistence, clear communication, and strategic insights to influence management effectively.
He shares a case study where he overcame resistance by demonstrating business benefits and showing gradual progress.
Mugi also highlights the importance of consulting with fellow safety professionals for tailored guidance.
His insights provide valuable guidance for health and safety professionals aiming to turn management resistance into support.