Round Table: Nov 2, 2021

Round Table 2021 a huge in-person success

This year’s Executive Health and Safety Council Round Table was very well received by nearly 50 members and guests.  Held at the Vancouver Club in downtown Vancouver, members gathered to learn, teach, and share from their experiences.  As in previous years, there were four sections to the Round Table: a safety story, table discussions, keynote address and the networking event.

This year’s safety story was presented by Technical Safety BC and reminded members that it is often decisions that are made (or not) that cause safety incidents.  Titled “Leadership at the Margins”, TSBC noted that there can be both direct and indirect consequences of not making the correct decisions, and that there can be serious disconnects between those on the floor and those making the key decisions.  The presentation was recorded and will be shared with members for future viewing.

 

The Table discussions this year were centered on safety culture.  Three questions were posed to each table and tables shared their findings.  More will be shared on this later this year, but as a reminder to all, the questions were:

  • How would you describe a good safety culture?
  • How do/would you measure safety culture in your organization?
  • How could we as members hold each other accountable so we can tell we are “walking the walk”?

 

The Keynote address was done in a different format this year.  Rather than a speech from the podium, keynote speaker (and EHSCBC Member) Tamara Vrooman, President and CEO of YVR, and George Higgins (EHSCBC Executive Director) had a “fireside chat” on safety and safety culture.  Starting with a discussion on why safety is so important to Tamara, the discussion moved on to public safety and finished with leadership thoughts on where safety and safety policy is heading moving forward.  This session was recorded and will be made available for members to review.

The final networking session was a great way for members to chat informally, get to know each other and “trade business cards”.  Many new connections were made, and old friends were finally able to connect – in person.

Many thanks are expressed to all Round Table sponsors: Air Canada, Ampco, Kerry, KPMG, Murray Latta, SureWerx, Technical Safety BC, and WorkSafeBC.