Implementing Risk Management: "+100 to Karma"

The transition from formal compliance with HSE rules to conscious occupational risk management is a natural stage in the development of a safety culture at large industrial enterprises. During the webinar, Ilya Muravyov, a risk management specialist at Metalloinvest (OEMK), analyzes practical experience in implementing a risk-oriented approach directly at production sites.

The Problem of "Familiar" Danger: An Outside Perspective

One of the main obstacles on the path to zero injuries is professional deformation and habituation to danger. The speaker demonstrates this using the example of servicing a conveyor tract tension station. For years, workers and line managers paid no attention to an open gap near moving mechanisms, considering the situation normal. The task of a risk specialist in such cases is not just to issue a directive, but to lead the personnel to realize the threat through dialogue. As a result of the discussion, the gap was closed by the mechanical service, eliminating the risk of limbs getting into the rotating mechanism.

A similar approach is applied to workplace ergonomics. The presentation details a case involving the service platform of a metallized pellet bunker. It was inconvenient for the worker to make switches on a narrow grate, but the initiative to improve conditions only emerged after a guided conversation. Extending the platform without changing the design of the equipment itself minimized the risk of falling from a height and made the work more comfortable.

Overcoming Resistance and Building Trust

Implementing a new system often faces skepticism. Workers cite equipment wear and tear and decades-old practices. The speaker provides an illustrative example: for 30 years, employees walked over old, unused pipes, experiencing inconvenience, but never reported it to anyone. A joint visit to the shop floor and the prompt dismantling of these pipes clearly demonstrated to the team that the system works, and management is ready to listen and solve problems.

A key role in this process is assigned to internal trainers and dedicated risk management specialists. They act not as controllers, but as assistants. Being directly on the shop floor, they train personnel to identify hazards at their workplaces without waiting for a foreman or HSE engineer to arrive.

Digitalization of the Risk Elimination Process

To ensure initiatives are not lost, the enterprise has implemented a digital tool for recording hazards. Any worker can report a problem via a mobile app or corporate portal right from their workplace. The system allows:

• Promptly assigning those responsible for eliminating the risk (e.g., the mechanical service).
• Setting adequate and feasible deadlines depending on task complexity and material availability.
• Ensuring process transparency for the initiator of the request.

Mindset Transformation: From Production to Daily Life

The main result of the risk-oriented approach is a change in people's mindset. The skill of identifying hazards transfers beyond the factory gates. Ilya Muravyov illustrates this with an everyday example from a children's party, where a soap bubble generator created a slippery surface. A simple solution — using a dry cloth as an absorbent barrier — prevented potential injuries to children. This proves that risk management becomes an integral part of daily life.

What you will learn from this webinar:

• How to engage workers in open dialogue and teach them to notice "familiar" hazards?
• Why dedicated risk specialists are more effective at engaging personnel than busy line managers?
• How to organize the process of submitting and processing risk reports using digital portals?
• How to quickly implement technical improvements (closing gaps, extending platforms) without interfering with equipment design?