Archives: Schedule

Elle Osborne, Global HSE Director, Baker Hughes

Join Elle as she discusses the way Baker Hughes has evolved the traditional concept of Stop Work Authority into a broader, more proactive framework they call Start Work Safely. This shift ensures safety accountability is embedded across all functions, not just at the frontline, helping reduce incidents while creating more opportunities for organizational learning.

While Stop Work Authority remains a valuable tool, its current application has notable limitations. It often signals that multiple layers of control have already failed, making it a last resort rather than a preventive measure. Additionally, cultural and psychological barriers, such as fear of speaking up or unclear empowerment, can hinder its effectiveness.

Learn how Baker Hughes Start Work Safely model has addressed these issues by encouraging every employee to assess conditions and confidently ensure all is in place before work begins, ultimately fostering a safer, more engaged, and more informed workforce.

Key Takeaways:

• Learn how shifting from a reactive “Stop Work” model to a proactive “Start Work Safely” approach empowers all employees, not just frontline workers to engage in safer decision-making from the outset.
• Discover how applying safety authority to all roles improves the organization’s ability to learn from near-misses and everyday work, leading to broader cultural shifts and fewer repeat incidents.
• Understand the challenges with the current application of Stop Work Authority, including its reactive nature, psychological barriers, and limited reach across non-operational roles.
• Learn how to drive systemic safety improvements, not just emergency interventions

This session will help EHS leaders translate safety initiatives into boardroom language. Participants will workshop how to tie leading indicators, operational performance, and safety culture outcomes into clear ROI stories.

Key Takeaways:

• Learn new frameworks for calculating EHS ROI
• Learn new ways on how to communicate safety as a value driver, not a cost
• Hear from other safety leaders and understand what successful business cases have worked

Ray McGuire, CSP, Director of Operations Startup, Nestlé USA

In high-risk environments, understanding and managing risk tolerance is essential to preventing incidents before they occur.

This session will explore why individuals accept certain levels of risk, how those perceptions vary across teams and roles, and what EHS leaders can do to influence safer choices at every level of the organization.

Participants will learn how to identify the root causes of elevated risk tolerance and implement targeted strategies to shift mindsets, align behaviors, and ultimately eliminate unnecessary risk acceptance within their operations.

Key Takeaways:

• Gain insight into why individuals and teams become comfortable with risk and the psychological and cultural factors that contribute to unsafe decisions.
• Learn how to spot behavioural and environmental indicators that suggest tolerance for risk is increasing and how to intervene before it leads to incidents.
• Discover practical approaches to reframe risk perception, reduce complacency, and drive accountability through training, communication, and leadership modelling.
• Explore how consistent leadership actions, messaging, and reinforcement can help eliminate normalized risky behaviour and create a culture where safety is non-negotiable.

Nicole Thunich, Executive Vice President, Chief Safety Officer, MV Transportation

Aligning safety with business strategy is about integrating workplace health and safety into the core of an organization’s decision-making and operations.

This session will help leaders and safety professionals understand how safety performance and business success go hand in hand. Companies that prioritize safety not only protect their workers but also see improvements in productivity and financial performance.

Key Takeaways:

• Learn how strong safety performance directly contributes to productivity, operational efficiency, and financial success, not just compliance.
• Discover practical ways to embed health and safety considerations into organizational goals, risk management frameworks, and business KPIs.
• Gain tools and language to effectively demonstrate the ROI of safety initiatives to senior leadership and secure stronger support and investment.
• Learn how to drive a Culture of Shared Accountability