FELT LEADERSHIP

FOR
SAFETY AT WORKPLACE
Debi Acharya
GM and Head, HSE, IMFA Ltd

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 An Incident

Khalasi moved with a wooden

bar to facilitate pushing the first
trailer with second trailer

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 He placed the
wooden bar in
between the trailers

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Wooden bar
broken

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 Khalasi just saved himself from
getting smashed
He would say he had a NEAR MISS

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We get the level of Safety Culture that We
demonstrate we want!

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 What is Felt Leadership?
Management’s total actions that lead people at all
levels to understand and “feel” their leaders’ high
standards, and accept their strong commitment to
safety as being genuine.
• One of the top differentiators between a good
and great safety culture.
• The first step to establish safety as a core
business value.
• Helps employees see how their own
accountability can have direct effect on financial
and physical welfare
• Part of building a safety culture.

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 Felt Leadership starts at the TOP.

To give a clear message that leadership is:

“Not only about driving revenue and

contributing to shareholder value; but also
about preservation and protection of
organization’s most valuable resources, the
employees.”

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 The Vision of DuPont

To be the world’s most dynamic science company, creating

sustainable solutions essential to a better, safer, healthier life
for people everywhere.

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Early DuPont Powder Mills ~1815

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 DuPont on Felt Leadership
.

Safety is a line management responsibility.

No employee may enter a new or rebuilt mill

until a member of the top management has
personally examined and operated it.

– E. I. du Pont

Leadership has to be felt by the employees.

Safety is a condition of employment.

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FELT Leadership - Why is it important?

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Du Pont – Bradley Curve

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Leadership and Safety Management System
Leadership’s role

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 Some Leadership Quotes
• “ …..more disasters are caused by those who command
than those who fortuitously turn the wrong knob or dump
the wrong chemical.” - P.T.W Hudson

• “ What interests my boss, fascinates me” – Anonymous

• “Employees who believe that management is concerned

about them as a whole person – not just an employee – are
more productive, satisfied and fulfilled.” – Anne M Mulcahy
Former CEO of Xerox

• “It is the personal example of leaders that get imitated

rather than what they speak.” – Gen Collin Powell

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Felt leadership involves leadership that is:

• Easily observable,
• Makes a positive impression on those who see it,
• Demonstrates personal commitment,
• Pervades the organization, and
• Affects and involves all levels of employees and contractors.

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Felt Leadership starts from you:

• YOU are the primary influence on your organization.

• You lead your people.
• Your people will satisfy perceived expectations.
• You set expectations and create culture by your actions – or
your inaction

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How to demonstrate Felt Leadership?

1. Be visible to the organization.

2. Be relentless about time with your people.
3. Recognize your role as a teacher/trainer.
4. Lead by example. Maintain a self-safety focus.
5. Hold people accountable
6. Be authentic in all aspects of communication
7. Celebrate and recognize successes.

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 If we do what we have been doing, we will get
what we have been getting. So there is a need to
change.

If it is to be,
then it is up to me!

I get the level of HSE performance I

demonstrate I want

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 BE SAFE DO SAFE

THANK YOU

For any clarification, please contact:

Debi Acharya
GM – HSE and Compliance
debiacharya@imfa.in
Tel: 0674 3051296, 2580100
Mobile: 9777575713

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