Francis Agbonlahor, Managing Director Africa

At Inchcape, getting everyone home safely every day isn’t just a box to tick; it’s a non-negotiable priority that guides our daily operations.

As leaders, it is our responsibility to embed HSE practices deeply into our ethos to keep everyone safe across all our operations and as a key part of our responsible business commitments.  This commitment means setting the bar high to make safety a reflex in everything we do.

From boardroom decisions to day-to-day tasks, safety is at the heart of our business. Our journey to a safer workplace starts with leading by example and I am proud of the approach taken so far by our teams in Africa, who have made great strides to raise health and safety standards at all sites.

Building a strong safety culture requires leaders who actively promote safe practices, not just within the workplace, but also as responsible members of a larger community. Effective and firm leadership interventions, including clear procedures, world-class training, dedicated resources, and empowered teams championing safety, are crucial. Recognizing and rewarding good practices reinforces this commitment, creating a shared culture where leaders exemplify safety and inspire their teams to do the same.

I am very proud of the progress and positive impact we are making to improve health and safety in all our operations in Africa. Together, we’re making a real difference with one clear commitment: to ensure a safe working environment for everyone, everywhere.

Ioanna Touliatou, Head of Health & Safety Europe and Africa

This World HSE Day is a celebration of how far we have come in our journey to improve the safety culture in our workplaces. It is a collective effort and each of us has a key role to play. I am particularly pleased to see how we are shifting from a compliance-driven approach to a truly collaborative environment where everyone feels empowered to identify and mitigate potential risks.

For me, this is one of the most important indicators of success.

It also means going beyond simple process improvements and changing the way we think about safety. Last year was an important step forward in promoting a collaborative and proactive HSE culture across our businesses in our region. I would like to share with you some of our highlights for 2023:

• We held 22,250 weekly safety meetings across all markets, fostering a culture of open communication.
• Over 5,200 hazards were reported by Inchcape employees, reflecting the growing awareness and ownership of safety by our people.
• We translated valuable employee feedback and the Group’s risk programmes into concrete improvements, resulting in 3,400 corrective actions.
• We conducted 1,325 management-led site reviews, demonstrating the strong commitment of senior management to HSE.
• More than 140,000 daily pre-operational inspections by end users underpinning the proactive approach to risk mitigation.

This progress is a collective effort and we remain committed to continuously improving our HSE culture. Thank you to all the teams across our region who go above and beyond every day to make this happen.

Petar Ilov, General Manager TM Auto West, Bulgaria

The practical meaning of  HSE can vary depending on our role. For me, it means creating a comfortable, calm and safe working environment where our people feel cared for and interruptions are minimised. Ultimately, the focus on HSE also builds trust and stronger relationships with our customers. It is inspiring to see Inchcape prioritising these very values.

In my experience as a manager, successful implementation of HSE practices depends on two key factors: a genuine belief in their value and consistent support from the leadership team. This includes our Managing Director, Regional and Group support, as well as a dedicated team of managers who not only grasp the importance of HSE but also effectively translate this knowledge and attitude to our people. Here, I want to express my sincere gratitude to our line managers for their invaluable contributions. However, these are simply the foundational elements. Long-term success lies in cultivating a culture and behaviour where HSE is embraced by all. This requires ongoing daily efforts, fueled by a clear strategy, and dedicated resources.

Our HSE specialist plays a crucial role in transforming documents, signatures and forms into well-understood actions and responsibilities for everyone. I would say that HSE isn’t a destination – but rather a continuous journey. Maintaining a safe and healthy environment requires ongoing effort from all team members, with a constant focus on awareness and vigilance. It’s a shared responsibility that ensures everyone’s well-being, every day.

Andrejs Jelizarovs, Electrician & EV Technician JLR Dealership, Latvia 

In the field of vehicle services, strict compliance with various regulations is critical, and safety ranks at the top of the list. Here at JLR Latvia, we take safety technology incredibly seriously and understand its direct impact on both our health and the quality of work we provide to our customers. Safety comes first – after all, nothing is more important than the wellbeing of our people.

Car repair has always been a hands-on business with inherent risks. In recent years, the introduction of electric and hybrid vehicles has significantly increased the importance of cutting edge safety protocols. As a team, we are constantly developing our technical knowledge and skills to meet the demands of these sophisticated technologies. This commitment to continuous learning ensures that we can handle high voltage electrical systems and increased fire hazards with the utmost confidence.

In the fast-paced automotive services environment in which we work every day, HSE culture is not just a best practice, it’s an absolute necessity. The robust HSE practices we have in place, together with our safety mentality, not only ensures the wellbeing of our team, but also allows us to deliver exceptional services to our valued customers.

A big thank you to Francis, Ioanna, Petar and Andrejs for providing us with thought-provoking insights into Health & Safety in the workplace. Their contributions were inspiring and it is great to have them as true HSE advocates.

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