June 23 2019
By: Terry L. Mathis
The CEO of a large service organization asked me what percentage of the senior leaders I meet with are serious about safety because of the people, and how many were just trying to manage the numbers? I gave him an estimate of the percentages, but the conversation quickly moved on to how I determined those numbers. I told him one criteria I always look at is whether or not safety has a place in the senior management group. If safety reports to the top through a VP of HR, Legal or Production, I automatically suspect safety is not a core value. 
This is not always the case, but there is a strong correlation. Leaders who really understand and care about the people side of safety want to be close to the information and the strategy. That is hard to do remotely.
Of course, I added my main criteria was whether or not they decided to hire me as their consultant.
Terry Mathis, Founder and retired CEO of ProAct Safety, has served as a consultant and advisor for top organizations the world over. A respected strategist and thought leader, Terry has authored five books, numerous articles, videos and blogs, and is known for his dynamic and engaging presentations. EHS Today has named him one of the '50 People Who Most Influenced EHS' four consecutive times. Business leaders and safety professionals seek Terry's practical insight and unique ability to introduce new perspectives that lead to real change.
