This article is the first in an in-depth series in ISHN that will dive deeper into what makes eight elements of a safety and health management system effective and how you can apply them in your workplace. 

Why do we invest so much time and energy into building and maturing our safety and health management systems (SHMS)? At the core, it’s about protecting people—reducing the risk of injury and illness—while also strengthening our organizations. A well-functioning SHMS not only safeguards workers but also enhances operational performance, competitiveness, and resilience.

But what happens when your SHMS isn’t delivering the results you expected?

Maybe enthusiasm has waned. Maybe you’ve noticed a drop in engagement from workers, supervisors, or leadership. Or perhaps you’ve received complaints or experienced a near miss that shook your confidence in the system. These are signs that your SHMS may need a reset.

As someone who has spent decades immersed in occupational safety and health and SHMS—including four intense years as the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA—I’ve seen firsthand how systems can drift off course. And I’ve also seen how a thoughtful reset can bring them back stronger than ever.

After stepping away from public service in January 2025, I took time to reset myself—hiking the Camino de Santiago and reflecting on my next chapter. That experience reminded me that systems, like people, sometimes need a pause and a fresh perspective.

If your SHMS is underperforming or stagnating, here are some practical steps to help you reset and revitalize it.

Step 1: Maintain Core Safety Functions While Refocusing Leadership

Even during a reset, essential safety functions must continue. But it’s equally important to bring leadership together to refocus on current challenges. Ask: What’s not working? Where have we lost momentum? What’s changed in our workforce, operations, or environment?

A reset isn’t about starting over—it’s about recalibrating with intention.

Step 2: Revisit the Foundation of Your SHMS

Take a hard look at the building blocks of your system:

• Is there visible, genuine management commitment to reducing risk?
• Are we effectively engaging our workforce in safety efforts in a real and meaningful way?
• Is our hazard identification and correction process timely and effective?

If the answers are unclear or unsatisfactory, it’s time to dig deeper. A shaky foundation can’t support a strong system.

Step 3: Reengage Stakeholders—Internally and Externally

A successful SHMS depends on active participation from all stakeholders. That includes frontline workers, supervisors, contractors, and even external partners. Ask yourself:

• Have we overlooked any key groups?
• Have recent personnel changes left gaps in SHMS knowledge or engagement?
• Are new employees being properly introduced to the system (in addition to being effectively onboarded to understand the safety and health implications of their new roles)?
• Can you cite specific examples of active worker involvement in the development and implementation of the SHMS?

Rebuilding these connections can reignite ownership and accountability across the organization.

Step 4: Recommit to Continuous Improvement

Continuous improvement isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a mindset. Reevaluate each element of your SHMS with input from those who use it daily. Focus especially on reducing the risk of serious injuries and fatalities (SIFs) by embracing a learning philosophy. Ask:

• Are we learning from incidents and near misses (internally and externally)?
• Are we applying those “lessons learned“ to prevent recurrence (across the entire organization)?

Are we measuring what matters? We don’t measure reduction in risk, but we measure the elements of our system to determine if we are continually improving upon those elements to result in reduced risk of injuries and illness.

Step 5: Integrate the Eight Essentials of a Successful SHMS

Over the years, I’ve identified eight characteristics that consistently show up in high-performing, mature SHMSs. While not every system includes all of them, the more of these elements you integrate, the more resilient and effective your system becomes.

The Eight Essentials:

1. A Focus on Serious Incident and Fatality Prevention
    Prioritize efforts that address high-risk scenarios. Not all hazards are equal—target the ones with the greatest potential for harm.
2. Integration of Human and Organizational Performance (HOP) Principles
    Recognize that people make mistakes. Design systems that anticipate errors and reduce their consequences.
3. Stronger Controls for Hazards and Unsafe Conditions
    Go beyond administrative controls and PPE. Strive for engineering solutions and elimination of hazards wherever possible.
4. Comprehensive Attention to Occupational Health
    Don’t let occupational health take a back seat to safety. Address exposures to noise, chemicals, ergonomics, and other long-term risks.
5. Support for Well-Being and Mental Health
    A healthy workforce is a safe workforce. Promote mental health resources, work-life balance, and psychological safety.
6. Use of Technology to Advance the SHMS
    Leverage digital tools for data collection, training, hazard tracking, and communication. Embrace technology change that can reduce risk of injury and illness. Technology can streamline and strengthen your system.
7. Recognition of Institutional Knowledge and Capacity
    Tap into the experience of all staff, especially the long-tenured employees. Their insights can identify areas of high risk, guide improvements, and mentor newer staff. This insight helps the SHMS anticipate hazards in the workplace.
8. Data-Driven Decision Making
    Use data to identify trends, measure progress, and guide interventions. Let evidence—not assumptions—drive your actions.

Step 6: Customize the Reset to Your Organization’s Needs

There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to resetting a SHMS. Your organization’s size, industry, culture, and maturity level all play a role. Use the eight essentials as a guide but tailor your reset to address your unique challenges and opportunities.

Step 7: Stay Connected and Keep Learning

Resetting your SHMS is not a one-time event—it’s part of an ongoing journey. Stay informed, stay curious, and stay connected to the broader safety and health community.

NEXUS HSE has developed a Hazard and Risk Mitigation Model (HARM) with eight elements that enable high-performing, resilient and effective environmental health and safety systems. If you have questions or need support, contact NEXUS HSE at customer.service@nexushse.com.