Niek Smits
"Yes, but it should be even safer.
The sad reality is that we still have accidents. Our target is clear: zero accidents, zero injuries. That is the goal we are all working towards."
Let’s start with a simple question: is SPIE a safe company to work for?
Nelly Gruau
"There's no denying that our company presents unavoidable risks, such as working at heights, handling electricity, lifting, and driving.
However, each of these hazards can be effectively mitigated through clear thinking and prudent behaviour. This is precisely the objective of our Safety Code and our 10 Life Saving Rules, which aim to ensure everyone's safety."
Amal Elmeslouhi
"Every year, we record accidents related to violation of basic safety rules. Our job is to ensure that everyone understands and applies these rules everywhere, at all times.
The operational measures incorporated in our Health and Safety Code are key to achieving this goal."
Nico Rombouts
"Exactly - SPIE is responsible for people’s safety, but they too are responsible for their own safety and that of their team.
Which is why we have to keep talking about this issue – talking to and with, not at our colleagues. In general, our managers are good at this: instead of staying in the ivory tower, they get out onto the shop floor.
Fortunately, that is a strongpoint of SPIE corporate culture."
Is this part of what you mean when you talk about a ‘safe and fair culture’ in health and safety, then?
Nelly Gruau
"Indeed, it's about fostering a constructive dialogue.
Everyone has the right to make mistakes, because we're all human, after all. Therefore, it is essential to approach these mistakes with an open mind, discuss ways to address them, and learn from them."
Niek Smits
"I agree ! Safety doesn’t work if it’s only top-down – and our operational colleagues on the job sites often have the best ideas.
So if a team says “It’s not possible to do the job safely like that, but we could do this”, management should accept that when it’s a safe solution . By the same token , if management says operational colleagues need to work differently for safety reasons , they have to comply. It has to go both ways and in mutual understanding."
Amal Elmeslouhi
"In short - our safe and fair culture is one in which everyone – every employee, at any level – can raise a safety issue and offer a solution. No-one should be concerned about voicing concerns to their team lead or manager.
Everyone should feel able to stop work if in doubt."
In your experience, what are the specific issues teams need to talk about in respect of safety?
Nico Rombouts
"It can be easy to slip into bad habits, to think: « We’ve always worked like this, and it’s always been okay. » Or: « The boss has checked it, so I’m sure it’s fine. »
No, no, no! Everyone is always responsible for safety – and so always needs to check, think, and, if necessary, stop."
Amal Elmeslouhi
"Yes, work routines can be dangerous. Part of a health and safety culture is being aware of how easily unsafe practices can become established.
No-one is to blame, but everyone has to fight against this tendency."
Nelly Gruau
"There's a long-held belief that safety takes time and costs money.
Shortcuts are sometimes taken at the expense of safety, and preparation steps are overlooked. However, today we can measure and demonstrate that the most profitable projects are those where safety has been prepared and managed in an exemplary manner."
Niek Smits
"That’s why we have our « 5 times ‘Why?’ » rule.
Why was someone not following the rules? Did they just made a poor choice? Was it a bad judgement, or– was this actual pressure or self-imposed ? Did someone else didn’t prepare the job sufficiently , did not provide the right tools or equipment …?
To understand the choices made , we have to keep asking ‘Why?’ If you do that, you are more likely to discover the real issue."
So how specifically is this year’s Safety Day further the idea of a safe and fair culture?
Amal Elmeslouhi
"The day itself reflects this aim by encouraging open dialogue.
So, as in previous years, teams watch safety-related videos together and discuss the issues highlighted.
Discussions can also be linked to actual incidents within each team’s area of operations and their specific country or region; to emphasize that everyone should work in an environment where everyone feels heard and valued.
The event reinforces the message that every employee, at every level, has the right and responsibility to raise safety concerns, propose solutions, and stop work if they feel unsafe."
Nelly Gruau
"While the specific actions teams and individuals need to take may vary across SPIE entities and settings, the 10 Life Saving Rules and the Health and Safety Code remain the same across the Group.
Safety Day aims to anchor this global approach while putting it concretely into practice in the day-to-day of each entity. By offering everyone the opportunity to participate in in-depth discussions on what a fair culture truly means within their work environment, we highlight its crucial importance for everyone's well-being and collective safety."
In the long run, what do you hope to achieve with this focus on culture?
Niek Smits
"In my ideal SPIE everyone wants to work safely, everywhere and always– out of intrinsic motivation.
I am convinced we can reach this point. And when we do, we will have a genuinely safe and fair culture within SPIE."
Nelly Gruau
"We aim to build mutual trust, where everyone feels free to raise their concerns and propose solutions.
We hope that everyone will feel confident enough to intervene in the event of a risk and will be convinced of the merits of our actions."
Amal Elmeslouhi
"I agree. And we should not forget that in a fair culture, we must also value and foster positive contributions."
Nico Rombouts
"Every day and on every job, everyone has to get home safe.
Every day is a safety day."