Special Presenter: Andy Kimpton ,CEO – KOR Equipment Solutions
At the Safety People Forum in November 2024, Andy Kimpton, the CEO of KOR, gave a compelling presentation on building a strong business case for safety. He started by introducing KOR, explaining how they’ve been focused on keeping operations running since 2011 by providing world-class industrial equipment and services across Australia and New Zealand. Their approach prioritises safety, quality, and environmental care without compromise.
The Focus for Safety
Andy talked about why continuous improvement in safety is essential. It’s not just about compliance but aligning safety efforts with business strategy, stakeholder expectations, and the company’s ability to innovate and adapt. He encouraged professionals to challenge norms, lead by example, and stay agile to meet evolving demands.
He also dived into why structured workplace health and safety (WHS) risk management is a game changer for business success. Managing risks effectively impacts everything from goodwill to operational costs, productivity, and even compliance.
Making the Business Case
To make the case for safety in a business setting, he suggested a clear and methodical approach. Start with defining the problem, explain potential solutions, analyze costs and benefits, and detail the risks and expected returns. He even shared resources from SafeWork Australia and AIHS to guide professionals in crafting effective safety business cases.
Any asked us to consider these three questions before defining our business case:
- Which Drivers for Continuous Improvement support your case?
- What are the other contributory factors which may influence and/or supports your case?
- How will effective and structured WHS risk management impact our business?
(Each of these have a list of specific considerations in the PDF presentation below.)
Here then supplied the key components for inclusion in the business case:
- Audience
- Purpose
- Background
- Budget
- Risk
- Recommendation.
(Again, a more detailed list is available in the PDF below.)
In the end, Andy left the audience with a strong key takeaway:
Safety isn’t just a compliance issue—it’s a critical part of business sustainability and performance.
When safety is managed well, it drives better outcomes for everyone involved.
You can access the full presentation as a PDF here.
We look forward to running the next Safety People Forum in 2025. Stay turned for upcoming dates.
