How can you ensure equitable QHSE policies?

Quality, health, safety and environment (QHSE) policies are essential for any organization that wants to operate responsibly and sustainably. But how can you ensure that your QHSE policies are also equitable and inclusive, and that they do not perpetuate or exacerbate social injustices? In this article, we will explore some ways to align your QHSE policies with social impact goals and principles.

1 Assess your context and stakeholders

Before you design or revise your QHSE policies, you need to understand the context and the stakeholders that are affected by your activities. This means conducting a thorough risk assessment, a stakeholder analysis, and a social impact assessment. These tools will help you identify the potential hazards, impacts, opportunities, and expectations of your QHSE policies on different groups of people, such as employees, customers, suppliers, communities, regulators, and investors. You also need to consider the legal, ethical, and cultural aspects of your QHSE policies, and how they align with your organizational values and mission.

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Jude Amaechi

Head HSSE - ILF Consulting Engineers
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So to answer your question, in my experience, the first thing is to consider and understand the industry where your organization is playing-in, then you engage wiith your interested parties ie Top managment, line managers, supervisors and shopfloor, regulators and host community, you equally consider you kind of operation and the risk factors and opportunities available, you shall then include communication level and duration, auditing and review, etc.

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2 Engage in dialogue and participation

One of the key elements of equitable QHSE policies is dialogue and participation. This means involving your stakeholders in the development, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of your QHSE policies. You can do this by creating platforms for consultation, feedback, collaboration, and co-creation. For example, you can establish QHSE committees, surveys, focus groups, workshops, or online forums. You can also use participatory methods, such as storytelling, mapping, or ranking, to elicit the perspectives and preferences of your stakeholders. By engaging in dialogue and participation, you can foster trust, transparency, accountability, and ownership of your QHSE policies.

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Jude Amaechi

Head HSSE - ILF Consulting Engineers
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The importance of engagement in my experience can't be over emphasised to have buy-in for interested parties. without adequate engagement you may never be able to have an equitable policy, therefore, you must develop skills to listen and negotiate with you interested parties, there are different forms to engage, it could be via emails, teams meeting, physical gathering, surveys and mapping are ways as well to get buy-in to make your policy more inclusive and collective for all.

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3 Address diversity and inclusion

Another important aspect of equitable QHSE policies is diversity and inclusion. This means recognizing and respecting the diversity of your stakeholders, and ensuring that your QHSE policies are inclusive and accessible to everyone. You can do this by adopting a human rights-based approach, which means applying the principles of equality, non-discrimination, participation, empowerment, and accountability to your QHSE policies. You can also use inclusive design principles, which means designing your QHSE policies with the needs and preferences of the most marginalized and vulnerable groups in mind. For example, you can use inclusive language, formats, and channels to communicate your QHSE policies. You can also provide reasonable accommodations, support, and resources to enable the participation and empowerment of your diverse stakeholders.

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4 Monitor and evaluate your outcomes and impacts

Finally, you need to monitor and evaluate the outcomes and impacts of your QHSE policies on your stakeholders and the environment. This means measuring and reporting on the performance, progress, and results of your QHSE policies, using both quantitative and qualitative indicators and methods. You also need to collect and analyze feedback and data from your stakeholders, using participatory and inclusive techniques. By monitoring and evaluating your outcomes and impacts, you can identify the strengths and weaknesses of your QHSE policies, and make adjustments and improvements as needed. You can also demonstrate your commitment and accountability to your stakeholders and the society.

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5 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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How can you ensure equitable QHSE policies?

1

2

3

4

5

1 Assess your context and stakeholders

2 Engage in dialogue and participation

3 Address diversity and inclusion

4 Monitor and evaluate your outcomes and impacts

5 Here’s what else to consider

Social Impact

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How can you ensure equitable QHSE policies?

1

2

3

4

5

1 Assess your context and stakeholders

2 Engage in dialogue and participation

3 Address diversity and inclusion

4 Monitor and evaluate your outcomes and impacts

5 Here’s what else to consider

Social Impact

Rate this article

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