HSE VS Project Management

Yes to manage HSE matters on construction Projects is a very complex and challenging.The challenge comes from People mind . Conviction that safety is mandatory,nonnegotiable,not a cost centre and shall be foundation for every thing that need be done , from all the levels of the organisation, shall decide the success of the project.Top leadership need be willing to pay the appropriate cost of incorporating safety in the elements of project ingradients right from specifications of items.item descriptions/to selection contractors till delivery of the project.This will help the team to eliminate many issues which can lead to safety conflicts during execution arising due to gaps in understanding of the extent of impact of the methodologies followed and expectation of safety performance levels from the stakeholders involved in deliveries.
The issue of authority does arise due to different levels of understanding,sensitivity and ambiguity of ground rules amongst the team and leadership of the organisation. As for poor Quality the 85% of the share goes to top leadership for the poor systems created by them ,for poor safety performance 90 % share goes to top management . The safety rules and practices should evolve not only from regulation but from safety observations done and closed by the team members as ongoing process.Safety practices are to be consistently deployed on site till it becomes habit and culture.All involved should demand to be safe and safe working conditions as basic right and cannot be denied.
The conflict occurs at site because of different constraints such as non availability of resources, skills, and pressure of delivery. The project life is very dynamic and complex ,the planned things do not synchronised many times and shortcuts get resorted to to meet the time lines.Here the conflict occurs on account of perception of priorities by the agencies involved and safety gets compromised. In such situations what is needed is a collaboration and collaborative effort fron Safety team, Safety Manager and project team to find out the involved risks in continuing the item of work,what is the way out to do the job in spite of all planned safety is not there, and what can be done to ensure safe delivery or is it must that the safety in totality be in place as planned to work further. This collaborative effort and advice from Safety Mangers end will certainly resolve most of the conflicts at site ,instead of just using VETO to stop the work every time. Both Project Team and Safety manger team should work hand in hand ,seek each others advice with due understanding that Safety is nonnegotiable while delivering projects on cost, schedule quality and estimated margins of profit.This holistic approach only can make the business sustainable and so their employment
As a project Manager one should insist on no constraint on estimated safety resources and need be reflected in the Project Charter. Fortunately safety and safe delivery of the project is such an issue that no top leadership wlll and can say no and deny the budget requirements. and adherence to safety practices/standards/rules and regulations. This becomes very important tool in the hands of Project Manager to plan,ensure and enforce safety as needed.
This is what I have experienced through out my projects.
Trust you may find it useful.

Fundamentally, you're talking about requirements, some internally imposed and some externally by regulatory agencies (OSHA, building codes, EPA, NTSB, etc.). Clearly defined requirements, guidance on how to meet them, and up-front compliance planning reduces ambiguity and conflict. Clearly defined RAAs provides improved clarity as to who the decision makers are. Clearly defined conflict resolution processes help address situations where decision makers don't agree. We have very robust processes to address HSE, but we still have a myriad of SMEs with different specialties to help work through the inevitable situations where we are treading new ground, or we encounter conflicts and roadblocks.

Yes to manage HSE matters on construction Projects is a very complex and challenging.The challenge comes from People mind . Conviction that safety is mandatory,nonnegotiable,not a cost centre and shall be foundation for every thing that need be done , from all the levels of the organisation, shall decide the success of the project.Top leadership need be willing to pay the appropriate cost of incorporating safety in the elements of project ingradients right from specifications of items.item descriptions/to selection contractors till delivery of the project.This will help the team to eliminate many issues which can lead to safety conflicts during execution arising due to gaps in understanding of the extent of impact of the methodologies followed and expectation of safety performance levels from the stakeholders involved in deliveries.
The issue of authority does arise due to different levels of understanding,sensitivity and ambiguity of ground rules amongst the team and leadership of the organisation. As for poor Quality the 85% of the share goes to top leadership for the poor systems created by them ,for poor safety performance 90 % share goes to top management . The safety rules and practices should evolve not only from regulation but from safety observations done and closed by the team members as ongoing process.Safety practices are to be consistently deployed on site till it becomes habit and culture.All involved should demand to be safe and safe working conditions as basic right and cannot be denied.
The conflict occurs at site because of different constraints such as non availability of resources, skills, and pressure of delivery. The project life is very dynamic and complex ,the planned things do not synchronised many times and shortcuts get resorted to to meet the time lines.Here the conflict occurs on account of perception of priorities by the agencies involved and safety gets compromised. In such situations what is needed is a collaboration and collaborative effort fron Safety team, Safety Manager and project team to find out the involved risks in continuing the item of work,what is the way out to do the job in spite of all planned safety is not there, and what can be done to ensure safe delivery or is it must that the safety in totality be in place as planned to work further. This collaborative effort and advice from Safety Mangers end will certainly resolve most of the conflicts at site ,instead of just using VETO to stop the work every time. Both Project Team and Safety manger team should work hand in hand ,seek each others advice with due understanding that Safety is nonnegotiable while delivering projects on cost, schedule quality and estimated margins of profit.This holistic approach only can make the business sustainable and so their employment
As a project Manager one should insist on no constraint on estimated safety resources and need be reflected in the Project Charter. Fortunately safety and safe delivery of the project is such an issue that no top leadership wlll and can say no and deny the budget requirements. and adherence to safety practices/standards/rules and regulations. This becomes very important tool in the hands of Project Manager to plan,ensure and enforce safety as needed.
This is what I have experienced through out my projects.
Trust you may find it useful.

What does mean HSE?

Health, Safety and Environment.