Every worker across Canada has the right to a safe work environment. Health and safety professionals are inherently at the helm of promoting and maintaining a positive safety culture within the workplace. OHS Canada’s Top 25 under 40 recognizes the notable work and achievements of young and skilled health and safety professionals who, through their leadership and innovation are driving the profession forward. Among the esteemed 2022 recipients of this coveted award is Modern Niagara’s very own Elias Makhoul, Health and Safety Research Excellence Specialist. In recognition of his accomplishment, we sat down with Elias to learn more about what is involved in his role as a health and safety professional.
Elias began his career with Modern Niagara in 2016. With an extensive 10-year background as a field specialist, he quickly progressed to a unique role with a focus on research, lending support to various departments and regions across the company.
“I’ve always said that the collective intelligence of our employees is, bar none, the best in the business. I truly believe we have the most brilliant and talented tradespersons and project/ support staff,” Elias mentioned. “Being able to help problem solve and come up with out-of-the-box solutions is always encouraging of how innovative and progressive Modern Niagara is.”
When it comes to health and safety, Elias’ outlook is that having the right mindset is a key component in reducing risk. “I view health and safety as a mindset, or an attitude if you will. It becomes something inherent in who we are and what we value,” Elias commented. “If we manage to keep a strong mindset of what is important, and what we could potentially lose, I think most would agree that the risk is not worth the reward when it comes to cutting corners.”
Throughout every aspect of health and safety, leaders are critically important in helping to develop and nurture safety culture.
“In any workplace, leaders need to be visible and lead by example, showcasing the importance of the framework they create by demonstrating those necessary pieces themselves. Encouraging safety culture is rooted in our Core Values of what we do everyday, fostered with mentorship and support, and championed through the stewardship of those who rise to the occasion.”
In addition to leaders being able to set a positive example, Elias strongly encourages open dialogue to tackle and understand the complex needs of employees so as to effectively problem solve. “Often, we have an understanding of what may or may not occur, but leaders need to have that open dialogue with their employees to understand the struggles they face. If we do the right things, and lead by example, we organically create an environment where others emulate the same responses of those that lead us with respect and compassion.”
Furthermore, Elias also highlighted that pre-planning, communication and compassion are core tenets in establishing an effective health and safety strategy. This is the same approach that is used to support mental health, psychological safety, and harm reduction related to substance use in the workplace. The approach plays an integral role in promoting a safe work environment. According to statistics published by Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), 1 in 5 people in Canada will personally experience a mental health problem or illness at some point in their lives.
“We need to continue to focus on employee mental health and wellness as we have seen how difficult the past few years have been,” Elias highlighted. “When we are struggling, those overburdening thoughts could cloud our judgement and distract us from making the right choices that will send us home to our loved ones at the end of the day.”
Here at Modern Niagara, we pride ourselves in being industry leaders and we are committed to maintaining a high standard of safety. We value the talent, skill and expertise of our people and proudly spotlight their achievements.
