Inspired by her late husband, Hanne Stahl is a long-time safety professional who strives to keep learning everything she can. She urges others in the industry to do the same.
Stahl is an EHS manager at ESFM, the integrated facilities management division of Compass Group serving clients across several industries. She joined the company six years ago and is now responsible for the safety of associates at life sciences and manufacturing facilities throughout the country, with some sites in Canada.
Stahl began her safety career as a firefighter and EMT in the mid-’90s. She is a Certified Safety Professional (CSP) and a member of the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP), which awarded her a scholarship to continue her safety education. She is currently enrolled in her last course to earn her master’s degree in occupational safety and health.
To learn more about Stahl and her take on industry issues, please read the Faces of EHS interview below:
Q: How did you get your start in the field?
I came to the United States from Denmark in 1990 as part of an exchange program, volunteering for an adult education facility in the mountains of western North Carolina. My stay got extended, and through my friendship with the local volunteer firefighters, I was asked to assist the fire department with some paperwork for a state audit. That soon led to responding to fire and medical emergency calls, and the groundwork for becoming a safety professional was started. I spent 14 years at the department and served as the assistant chief and treasurer for the department when I moved to Pennsylvania. Here I continue as a volunteer firefighter and was elected as the treasurer at my current department.
Q. Who has been your biggest influence in the industry?
My late husband, Bob, has been my biggest influence in becoming a safety professional. He was a firefighter for 50 years, a CSP, and he taught emergency response, hazmat, and just about anything that involved safety for Homeland Security at the National Fire Academy for more than 25 years. Everything he did involved safety. He was my biggest supporter and encouraged me to step up and do more. He always looked for ways to make it safer for the people around him, whether he knew them or not. The conversation at the dinner table often revolved around safety. My promise to him before his passing was to complete my master’s degree and take my CSP certification, which I am proud to have accomplished.
Q: What’s your best mistake, and what did you learn from it?
Getting back to education. Growing up I was not a big fan of going to school—I had too many great hobbies that I wanted to focus on. Later in life, when I went back to school to start working on my associate’s degree in fire science, I realized that education was really not that bad. So now, when there is something new to learn or a class to complete, I am the first one to sign up.
Q: What are some of the biggest EHS issues at your organization?
I think one of the biggest challenges within our organization is the large, rapid growth we are experiencing. As we continue taking on new clients and adding several new associates, it is imperative that we help them learn and understand our culture and expectations around safety. We want all our associates to understand that we take safety seriously and that our safety standards must be part of their everyday work.
Q: What’s your favorite and least favorite part about working in the industry? Would you change anything?
The people in our organization are by far the best part of my job. I love helping people. My least favorite thing is when people get hurt; I hate it when I get a call from a site lead that starts with “we had an incident.” In those cases, I hope it is just something minor, but still, those are calls I would rather not have at all!
Q: What are your thoughts on safety culture? How can company leaders make safety a value within their organization?
Safety starts at the top of every organization—if the leadership and management do not support and value safety as part of the mission and vision for the organization, it will be an uphill battle for any safety professional. If safety is only important when the safety manager is visible, then the battle is lost. Safety must be part of the everyday culture. For example, putting on the proper PPE because it is the safe thing to do, not because someone told you to. We should all want our associates to go home safe at the end of the workday, whether you are the CEO, an hourly associate, or the safety manager.
Q: What safety concerns or issues do you think need more prioritization in EHS programs?
Safety needs a seat at every table! I’d like to see a larger role of safety in general, incorporating safety in everything from design to implementation, whether it’s a piece of equipment or a new program.
Q: How will new safety technologies influence the work being done by EHS professionals?
I think we need to embrace new technologies in safety, using technology to our advantage to help provide a safer environment for our associates. I think the opportunities are endless, including things like newer and better clothing for hot and cold environments, better monitoring equipment for workers who may be working alone or in remote areas, and better training equipment such as simulators or hands-on opportunities.
Q: What are you most proud of?
I am proud of all that I have been able to accomplish. I’m proud of working for a company that values and appreciates safety. I am proud of the team of safety professionals we have within the company—I work with and get support from some great people! I’m proud of the opportunities I have been given. I am proud that I went back to school later in life, and that I can (almost) say, “I did it!”
Q: Do you have any advice for people entering the EHS profession?
Never stop learning—you will never know everything! Once you stop learning, you stop growing. Keep growing your portfolio, and your network, and keep exploring new opportunities. Working in safety is not always easy. It is not an 8-to-5 job, and the job is never finished, but it can be a satisfying career, where you meet some wonderful people.
Q: Anything else you’d like to add?
I am a proud mom of two adopted “boys” from Vietnam (still boys in my eyes!) aged 26 and 28. My youngest is a police officer and continues the family trend in public service—helping others in the community. The oldest is in the restaurant business in Atlanta.
Are you or a colleague an EHS professional interested in being profiled for the Faces of EHS series? Please contact Joe Bebon at JBebon@BLR.com.