Keynote Speaker Stresses the Importance of the Safety Team
Following a major industrial incident, the resulting investigation often traces an exact moment in time when communications broke down. Often it may be a discarded safety complaint that was voiced by a low-level worker or a forgotten step to follow in company procedures. One speaker at the American Society of Safety Engineers' Safety 2007 Conference & Expo, currently taking place at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla., has a unique perspective on how to effectively avoid such situations.
James Joseph Badaracco Jr., a Harvard Business School professor and author of "Leading Quietly: An Unorthodox Guide to Doing the Right Thing," will present a new way of looking at safety during tomorrow's General Session Keynote presentation.
Drawing from a four-year study, Badaracco writes in his book about the importance of the mid- and senior-level executives who make everyday decisions behind the scenes, away from the limelight, which ultimately have the greatest effect. Badaracco notes this approach flies in the face of the traditional view of one powerful, charismatic leader whose every decision determines the future of the company.
Once so inspired, attendees who no longer wish to be silent leaders (as Badaracco describes them) will have numerous chances to speak up and have their voices heard by attending one of several Key Issue Roundtables scattered throughout the event and hosted by ASSE Practice Specialties. There, attendees will get the chance to share lessons learned with fellow professionals, as well as ideas on how to tackle different challenges.