Video Highlights from SLC 2020: Improving EHS Performance with Leadership and Technology

June 24, 2021

Safety leadership is the most critical factor in the success or failure of an EHS program.

Leadership support is "the most critical factor in the success or failure of an EHS program,” according to Kathryn Carlson, vice president of product management with KPA. “It’s not just about being a CEO or EVP, but a leader who is willing to demonstrate ownership or sponsorship of the EHS program."

EHS programs might seem like an expense without a return on investment, but according to research conducted by EHS software provider KPA in partnership with EHS Today, those companies that are investing in technology are outperforming their peers. Carlson and EHS Today's editor-in-chief Dave Blanchard discussed the results of the research study at last fall's Safety Leadership Conference 2020.

The "State of the Industry" survey confirms what many have long suspected: at low-performing companies executive support for safety initiatives is much harder to come by than high-performing companies. Also, low-performing companies are much more likely to find that budget issues are challenging, and in some cases extremely challenging.

In their SLC 2020 session, Carlson and Blanchard explain why the achievement of high performance in EHS requires improved technology systems, executive leadership and processes that enable a strong safety culture.

Click on the video below to watch their full presentation: “Improve EHS Performance and ROI with Strong Leadership and Technology Investment."

About the Author

Dave Blanchard | Editor-in-Chief / Senior Director of Content

During his career Dave Blanchard has led the editorial management of many of Endeavor Business Media's best-known brands, including IndustryWeek, EHS Today, Material Handling & Logistics, Logistics Today, Supply Chain Technology News, and Business Finance. In addition, he serves as senior content director of the annual Safety Leadership Conference. With over 30 years of B2B media experience, Dave literally wrote the book on supply chain management, Supply Chain Management Best Practices (John Wiley & Sons, 2021), which has been translated into several languages and is currently in its third edition. Prior to joining Endeavor/Informa/Penton, he spent a decade covering the artificial intelligence industry. He is a frequent speaker and moderator at major trade shows and conferences, and has won numerous awards for writing and editing. He is a voting member of the jury of the Logistics Hall of Fame, and is a graduate of Northern Illinois University.