How to Lead and Win as an EHS Practitioner: A Field Guide

By: Christian Alexander 

December 7, 2024

1. Arrival: Join the Team, Not the Sidelines

• First Impressions Matter:

  • Study up beforehand. What challenges are they having? When was the last time this job was visited, and by whom? What needs followed up on?

  • Show up ready to work. Gear up as they do. Be in PPE, ready to engage, and part of the team. 

  • Introduce yourself with humility—make it clear you’re here to support their mission, not disrupt it.

• Look Around While You Help:

  • As you integrate, take note of potential immediate hazards, but don't make it the focus yet. Help with tasks at hand to establish rapport and credibility.

  • If there’s an obvious, critical hazard, address it quickly and respectfully, working alongside the crew to resolve it.

2. Spend Time on the Ground

• Become One of Them:

  • Grab a shovel. Operate a tool. Be a visible and active part of their work. This shared effort demonstrates your commitment to their success.

  • Don’t just observe—help problem-solve operational challenges and demonstrate your knowledge of their tasks and risks.

• Conversations Over Checklists:

  • Talk about safety during work. Ask questions like:

    • "What’s the trickiest part of this job?"

    • "Have you ever seen something go sideways with this setup?"

  • Listen more than you talk. They’re the experts in their day-to-day.

3. Build Trust Through Action

• Small Wins Count:

  • Help fix a small problem on the spot—whether it’s securing a loose tool or adjusting a work setup to reduce risk. Your hands-on support builds trust faster than words.

• Stay Humble:

  • Avoid nitpicking. Instead, show curiosity. For example: "Hey, I’ve seen this done a few different ways—what’s your take?"

• Offer Value Without Preaching:

  • Share safety insights when appropriate, tying them to their experiences:

    • "Last month on another site, this rigging setup failed when the chain slipped. Here’s what we learned."

4. Be a Resource, Not a Roadblock

• Collaborate With Foremen and Crew Leaders:

  • After spending time with the crew, check in with the foreman. Share observations without being critical:

    • "The team’s really dialed in, but I noticed the footing near that trench could get slick in the rain. Want me to grab some mats to fix it?"

• Lead Solutions, Not Criticism:

  • If issues arise, offer to fix them yourself:

    • "That ladder looks iffy. Let me grab a new one while you keep going."

5. Return, Reconnect, and Reinforce

• Follow Through:

  • Come back regularly. Your consistent presence shows you’re invested in their safety and success.

  • Check on past fixes: "How’s that setup working? Anything else we should tweak?"

• Acknowledge Excellence:

  • Call out what’s working well. Genuine recognition builds momentum for good habits.

  • "You guys nailed that scaffold tie-off—exactly how it should be."

6. Lead Like a Teammate

• Extreme Ownership: Take responsibility for the site’s safety as if it’s your own. If something isn’t right, fix it yourself or with the crew—not from the sidelines.

• Decentralized Command: Empower the team to make safety decisions themselves by setting an example of how it’s done.

• Check Your Ego: Your role isn’t to micromanage; it’s to support the team’s goals. When they win, you win.

7. Embed Safety in the Mission

• Keep It Simple: Safety isn’t a separate checklist; it’s part of doing the job right the first time.

• Fight Together: Just like a medic in battle, stay close to the action, helping where needed and stepping up when things go wrong.

Key Mindset Shift

Safety isn’t about policing or observing—it’s about being a trusted and respected teammate. By working shoulder-to-shoulder with the crew, you naturally create a safer environment where everyone feels supported and valued.

Weekly Planning Guide for EHS Practitioners

By: Christian Alexander 

December 7, 2024

Planning your week effectively ensures you stay proactive, manage time well, and meet the needs of both the team and the organization. A well-structured plan helps balance fieldwork, administrative tasks, and leadership development while building trust and driving safety excellence.

1. Understand the Importance of Planning

• Why Plan?

  • Proactive planning ensures you’re aligned with organizational goals and prepared to address the dynamic nature of fieldwork.

  • It helps you allocate time effectively for both high-impact field engagements and administrative obligations.

• The Goal: Build a sustainable routine that balances time on-site, responding to urgent issues, and fulfilling broader organizational duties.

2. Start by Evaluating Needs

• Review Key Data:

  • Incident reports, near-miss trends, previous site assessments, and leading indicators (e.g., training completion rates).

  • Ask yourself: What areas are showing improvement? Where are there gaps or risks that need attention?

• Engage Others:

  • Check in with foremen, managers, and other EHS team members for insights into current priorities or challenges.

3. Block Time for Fieldwork

• Prioritize Visibility:

  • Plan time in the field with crews. These visits should make up the majority of your schedule to ensure you’re connected to real-time issues.

  • Rotate between high-risk tasks or sites and routine checks to balance attention.

• Set Field Goals:

  • What do you want to accomplish during your visits? Examples:

    • Conducting Behavior-Based Safety Observations (BBSO).

    • Assisting crews with Job Safety Analysis (JSA) updates.

    • Identifying and correcting hazards directly.

• Limit Interruptions:

  • Inform your office team about your field schedule so non-urgent requests can wait.

4. Schedule Follow-Through Time

• Dedicated Action Review:

  • Reserve time midweek and at the end of the week to evaluate:

    • Have hazards you identified been corrected?

    • Are corrective actions from previous weeks still effective?

    • Did you follow up with everyone you needed to?

• Avoid Overcommitting:

  • Acknowledge what can reasonably be accomplished in a week. Prioritize and execute.

5. Manage Administrative Responsibilities

• Set Aside Office Time:

  • Allocate time for tasks such as incident report review, training documentation updates, and preparing reports for management.

• Streamline Workflow:

  • Use tools like checklists and templates for routine tasks.

• Email and Communication:

  • Schedule two windows daily (e.g., morning and late afternoon) for checking and responding to emails.

6. Plan and Prepare for Meetings

• Weekly Safety Meetings:

  • Collaborate with site leaders to ensure these are practical and engaging. Focus on relevant issues and lessons learned from the field.

  • If you are attending one that week, prepare ahead of time to maximize meeting impact.

• One-on-Ones:

  • Plan informal check-ins with teammates like foremen, supervisors, and managers. These strengthen relationships and uncover insights.

• Team Coordination:

  • Attend EHS team meetings prepared to share updates and discuss collective priorities. We believe we are accountable to one another. 

7. Organize Travel Efficiently

• Fieldwork Travel:

  • Group site visits by location to minimize travel time.

  • Use travel time to reflect on the effectiveness of your interventions and refine your approach.

• Plan for Contingencies:

  • Build in buffer time for delays, unplanned stops, or urgent needs.

• Journey Management:

  • For longer trips, follow safety protocols like Journey Management Plans (JMPs) to ensure your travel is safe and efficient​.

8. Reserve Time for Professional Development

• Stay Current:

  • Dedicate time weekly for continuing education—reading updates on OSHA/MSHA standards, attending webinars, or completing certifications.

• Build Leadership Skills:

  • Reflect on leadership principles. Are you applying “Extreme Ownership”? Are you empowering others effectively?

9. Review and Reset Weekly

• End-of-Week Reflection:

  • What worked well this week? What didn’t?

  • Did you spend enough time in the field? Were administrative tasks completed?

• Prepare for the Next Week:

  • Roll unfinished priorities into your plan.

  • Adjust based on changing conditions or emerging needs.

10. Tools and Tips for Success

• Use a Calendar:

  • Digitally or physically block time for all categories (fieldwork, follow-up, meetings, admin, etc.).

• Checklists Are Your Friend:

  • Create daily and weekly checklists for recurring tasks and action items.

• Stay Flexible:

  • While planning is critical, remain adaptable to handle unplanned emergencies effectively.