Safety Leadership

SLC 2018 Q&A: The Safety Professional's Role in Preventing Workplace Bullying

Sept. 18, 2018

I. David Daniels examines how bullying, hazing, incivility and violence impact the workplace.

In his session titled “The Safety Professional's Role in Preventing Workplace Bullying,” part of the Safety and Risk Management Track for the 2018 Safety Leadership Conference in Louisville on Nov.6-8, I. David Daniels will speak to attendees about how a safe workplace involves more than the prevention of physical injuries.

Daniels, president/CEO of ID2 Solutions LLC, offers insight about his session.

EHS Today: Can you offer us a description of your presentation and how it relates to safety leadership?

I. David Daniels: Creating a safe workplace involves more than the prevention of slips, trips, falls and other physical injuries. An environment where incivility, hazing, bullying, harassment and violence is a real and present threat to the safety of employees in a workplace setting. Safety professionals have an important role in preventing and responding to bullying, hazing, harassment and violence in the workplace. In fact, many of the same techniques that are used to preventing other safety hazards can be important in addressing what can escalate into workplace violence.

EHS Today: Why is the topic of your presentation of interest to you and why is it important to SLC attendees?

Daniels: Bullying is not illegal in the United States like it is in many countries around the world. However it can be a violation of the General Duty Clause of OSHA, this it may be the most effect method of addressing this abusive workplace behavior.

EHS Today: Please share an example of a personal or professional experience you’ve had related to safety leadership or the topic of your presentation.

Daniels: I was not only bullied as a worker but was also mobbed in an executive position. At the time I did not know that bullying had a safety nexus.

EHS Today: What are the takeaways you hope to leave with attendees?

Daniels: The presentation will:

Discuss both the differences and similarities between incivility, hazing, bullying, harassment and violence.
Discuss the classifications of workplace violence
Discuss steps that the safety professional can take to prevent behaviors that threaten the safety of workers.

EHS Today: What do you think are some of the most pressing EHS and risk management issues facing corporate leaders and safety professionals in 2018 and beyond?

Daniels: The changing workplace and degree or rejection of bullying and harassment in the workplace will change the way that organizations are managed and the perceptions of what is and is not safe and acceptable in the future.

EHS Today: How will this session help attendees be a better resource for their employees and company?

Daniels: Safety officers have a critical role in addressing the significant and pervasive safety issue.

(EHS Today's 2018 Safety Leadership Conference and America’s Safest Companies Awards Program will take place Nov. 6-8 in Louisville, KY at the Hyatt Regency Louisville. This event is designed to share best leadership, risk management, compliance and safety practices with EHS professionals hoping to achieve world-class safety at their companies. The conference features 24 sessions across four performance tracks; Safety & Risk Management, Compliance, Construction and Safety Technology.)