Our SHEQ New Zealand Business Partner Shivashni Singh has taken out the emerging practitioner of the year award at the 2021 New Zealand Workplace Health & Safety Awards.

Shivashni was recognised for championing wide consultation so that safe systems of work are created from the ground up, ensuring our systems work with people and not against them.

It was the aftermath of one of New Zealand's worst industrial disasters, the Pike River Mine accident, which inspired Shivashni to pursue a career in health and safety. At the time she was completing her studies at Auckland University of Technology and was selected to be part of the Research Centre for Health and Safety and worked alongside the Royal Commission on the investigation

Shivashni took an early interest in the health and safety field after learning of the positive impact a strong health and safety culture can have on people in the workplace. Shivashni has a keen understanding of health and safety legislation and believes systems should be people focused.

After spending some time at Auckland Airport in a health and safety role Shivashni joined Ventia where she has had an immediate impact.

"Shivashni has made a significant difference to how health and safety is seen within the teams she supports," said Chayne Zinsli who leads the SHEQ team in New Zealand for Ventia's Telecommunications business.

She is determined to raise the level of health and safety in the workplace and takes every opportunity to involve workers by seeking their active engagement in health and safety.

Chayne said that Shivashni's impact was not only evident through what he has observed, but the numbers show how much she is helping to move the dial when it comes to safety. "Through her engagement and mentoring across our workforce, we are seeing an increased focus on the hazards that our people face," he said.

"This has seen our field supervisors carrying out more targeted critical risk inspections and competency checks and more technicians attending refresher courses and being more engaged at toolbox meetings." For her part, Shivashni said she took great pride in the way the teams she works with embrace safe work.

"It is important for me that the workforce has a voice and are able to make a change," she said.

"If it was not for the support of our project people and their dedication to working with me in improving our health and safety culture, the award wouldn't have meant anything."

Shivashni said she takes a worker-first approach to her job. "You have to put yourself in the worker's shoes, get involved in their work to understand hazards and associated risks," she said.

Being a young female in the health and safety profession, it's great to know I have what it takes to make a difference and achieve great outcomes whilst working with the project teams and our field workforce.