In today's rapidly evolving industrial landscape, the conversation around workplace safety has shifted from mere compliance to cultural transformation. At Veolia Ireland, this evolution is a deeply personal mission that touches every aspect of our operations, from the engineering teams managing complex environmental systems to the administrative staff supporting our daily functions. To gain a deeper insight, we interviewed Anna Giridharan, our Quality, Healthy, Safety and Environment (QHSE) Officer. Anna sheds light on how Veolia's commitment to putting people first has created ripple effects that extend far beyond traditional safety metrics, transforming workplace culture and setting new standards for what it means to truly care for your workforce in the environmental services sector. Let's take a look at Anna's perspective:
What Inspired you to Focus on Health & Safety in Veolia?
My passion for Health & Safety began early in my career when I saw firsthand how a strong safety culture can transform workplace morale, operational performance, and even business success. At Veolia, that passion found a perfect home; an organisation that not only values sustainability and innovation but also places people’s wellbeing at the very heart of its operations.
Health & Safety impacts every part of our business. It ranges from how we design processes to how we engage with our clients. A safe workforce is a productive workforce, and in Veolia’s case, it’s also a reflection of our commitment to excellence and environmental responsibility. What drives me personally is the ability to influence real change. I feel as though I am making an impact by building a secure culture where every employee feels empowered to speak up, act safely, and look out for one another.
How are Core H&S Initiatives Making a Difference in the Workplace?
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At Veolia Ireland, our Health & Safety culture is built around proactive engagement, continuous learning, and accountability. We’ve implemented key initiatives such as hazard reporting campaigns, safety observation programs, wellbeing weeks, and regular toolbox talks tailored to different operational teams.
Our Safety Statement and Policies were recently updated to align with local legislation and corporate frameworks, ensuring that every employee, from engineering to administration, understands their role in maintaining a safe workplace. During our Annual International Health & Safety Week, we deliver awareness sessions, workshops, and team challenges that have increased participation by 40% (a clear indicator of growing engagement and ownership).
A tangible example of impact was seen when we achieved an 80% reduction in workplace incidents in the past two years, thanks to reinforced risk assessments, improved reporting with over 60% improvement, and employee-led operational proactive initiatives.
How is QHSE Training & Development Shaped at Veolia?
Training is central to embedding safety into our culture. We provide a range of learning options, from induction and role-specific modules to advanced operational trainings and risk assessment training. Courses are delivered via blended methods: classroom sessions, e-learning through iHASCO, and on-site practical demonstrations.
We also conduct a range of generic H&S training to all, ranging from CPR to ergonomic training, ensuring readiness for both routine and emergency situations. Feedback from employees has been overwhelmingly positive, with over 98% completion compliance and consistent feedback highlighting the relevance and practicality of our programs.
QHSE Compliance & Recognition
Veolia Ireland maintains ISO 9001 certification and is compliant with the ISO 14001 and 45001 through documentation. We are quality audited and verified with zero non-conformities in the last two years. These standards provide a robust framework for continuous improvement and compliance, giving confidence to our employees, clients, and regulators alike.
We actively monitor compliance through both internal and client audits, supported by documentation management systems and regular reporting to headquarters. Our achievements in compliance and safety leadership have been recognised within Veolia’s European business units, where our Irish operations have won awards for safety excellence from Contractors.
QHSE Challenges & Achievements
The biggest challenge has been fostering consistent engagement and reporting culture across the workforce in 50+ diverse client sites, considering each have unique operations, environments, and risks. We overcame this by implementing a unified communication framework, empowering weekly check ins, and standardising key safety procedures across all locations. 
A milestone I am particularly proud of is achieving 100% readiness for client and corporate audits, alongside a measurable improvement in positive safety suggestions. These results highlight how collaboration and accountability can drive sustainable change.
What does Future Impact Look Like for Veolia's H&S Initiatives?
Beyond compliance, our Health & Safety initiatives enhance employee confidence, safety and security. A well-trained workforce not only prevents incidents but also builds leaders who value responsibility and care. These are core qualities that strengthen Veolia’s reputation with our clients and stakeholders, which will be instrumental in sculpting our impact in the future.
Looking ahead, we are exploring digital safety tools, enhanced risk assessment programs for high risk activities in the business, and further integration of quality assurance, safety and sustainability initiatives into our daily operations.
My advice for others: treat Health & Safety as an investment, not an obligation. Empower your teams, listen to their insights, and celebrate their contributions. Culture grows from inclusion, not instruction.
Anna's Personal Reflection
Through my work in Health & Safety, I’ve learned that real impact comes from empathy — understanding that every safety action protects someone’s future. But at times, the empathy could be mistaken for a lack of knowledge and assertiveness. My role enables me to help teams strengthen their safety culture, influence leadership decisions and create an open environment where people feel safe to speak up and report concerns knowing they’re being supported, not policed and supervised.
One memorable example was when a technician proactively stopped work to flag a potential hazard. This is something that might have been overlooked before our cultural transformation. That moment reaffirmed that safety isn’t just policy; it’s people-driven progress.
What keeps me motivated is the knowledge that every improvement, no matter how small, contributes to a safer, more sustainable workplace — not only for today but for the generations that will follow.
Our Goal
At Veolia, Health & Safety is everyone’s responsibility and everyone’s achievement. Our goal extends beyond preventing incidents, it’s focus lies with nurturing a culture of awareness, accountability, and care. When we protect people, we protect our purpose.
Together, we’re building a safer, stronger, and more resilient Veolia - where every individual plays a part in creating positive change. Visit our website to learn more about our work.
