By Sue-Ann Wayow
IN an era of rapid technological advancement, digital transformation should be used to empower employees to play a more active role in ensuring safety.
This is according to President of American Chamber of Commerce Trinidad and Tobago (AMCHAM T&T) Toni Sirju-Ramnarine as she spoke during 26th Annual Health, Safety, Security and Environment (HSSE) Conference & Exhibition.
The three-day conference began on Tuesday at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Port-of-Spain.
This year’s theme is Reimagining HSSE.
Attending the conference virtually, Sirju-Ramnarine encouraged leaders of organisations to ensure employees operated at best health and safety practices levels.
She said, “Remember, going digital doesn’t replace employees, it provides the opportunities for employees to have augmented systems to aid them in value-adding work, not just for the organisation, but also for themselves. It helps in reducing risk and in allowing employees to make informed decisions faster, thereby saving lives.”
As it relates to risk, none has been more apparent in a digital world than the ones related to cyberattacks, she added.
This year, the TT Cyber Security Incident Response Team reported a massive increase in malicious cyber activity targeting local and regional entities.
Sirju-Ramnarine said the issue of cyber security has been spoken about at the last seven previous conferences and more emphasis will be placed on the topic.
AI to play key role
Chief Executive Officer of Atlantic Ronald Adams said artificial intelligence (AI) was going to be a game changer for many industries.
Atlantic is the main sponsor of the event.
Adams said “This amazing technology opens the door to a whole host of use cases. For example, engineers will be able to visualize technical solutions to problems with equipment, processes and systems.”
Adams added that Atlantic will be embracing environmental principles which foster environmental protection remaining steadfast in support of the national agenda to achieve a 15% reduction in overall greenhouse gases emissions by 2030.
“Atlantic believes that AI will be instrumental to these environmental performance objectives, and we have therefore earmarked this technology for more extensive use throughout our business in the near future. We are encouraged by the progress of our existing initiatives in this area, which other digital technologies have helped to bear fruit,” he said.
Focus on mental health
Sirju-Ramnarine also said that re-imagining HSSE in today’s workplace meant placing equal priority on creating psychologically safe spaces as was done while creating physical safe spaces.
She said, “There is no one ‘right way’ to create a mentally healthy workplace since all workplaces are different, and while legislation is always helpful, we shouldn’t have to wait on the law to protect our employees. Instead, as leaders, we must ensure that all levels of the workplace – this includes the Board of Directors, management, finance, human resources, and HSE departments – get involved to incorporate mental health at your workplace.”
And AMCHAM T&T CEO Nirad Tewarie said, “AMCHAM T&T believes that we need an all-hands-on-deck approach to achieving resilience and in re-imagining HSSE.”
