Key Takeaways
- Technology can markedly improve workplace safety, but only when systems are simplified and integrated rather than merely added.
- EHS professionals are evolving into data‑quality managers who ensure information is standardized, actionable, and accessible across sites and vendors.
- Timely incident reporting remains a universal challenge; delays impede corrective actions and erode safety gains.
- A strong safety culture hinges on visible commitment from leadership; employees adopt safety values when they see executives modeling them.
- Clear program ownership and well‑defined terminology are essential to avoid scope mismatches and ensure regulatory compliance.
- ESG principles reinforce safety culture by signaling that employee well‑being is a core organizational value.
- Mentorship, patience, and effective communication are critical foundations for anyone entering the EHS field.
Introduction and Background
Mike Pelz, Vice President of Health and Safety Solutions at Examinetics, shared his perspectives during EHS Technology Week, emphasizing that while new safety technologies hold great promise, their real value emerges only when organizations streamline and integrate their systems. With three decades of experience in the EHS arena, Pelz oversees sales, program development, implementation, and subject‑matter support at Examinetics, a provider of comprehensive workforce health, safety, and compliance solutions. He holds a B.S. in industrial technology and remains active in the American Society of Safety Professionals, the Society of Human Resource Management, and the National Safety Council.
Early Career Path
Pelz’s entry into the field began after graduating from Illinois State University with a degree in industrial technology. He started in an operations and safety role within the automotive industry, a position he held for ten years. During that decade he worked across all 50 states and several international markets, gaining exposure to a wide array of safety standards and regulations. This broad operational experience laid the groundwork for his later focus on translating technical EHS knowledge into practical, business‑aligned solutions.
Major Influences
When asked about his biggest influence, Pelz pointed not to an EHS specialist but to Paul Hickman, the CEO of his first employer. Hickman devoted time to teaching Pelz how to convert technical EHS knowledge into clear, persuasive messaging that resonates with diverse audiences, especially articulating the “why” behind safety initiatives. That lesson proved pivotal: gaining buy‑in from stakeholders hinges on explaining safety’s relevance in terms they understand and value.
Learning from Mistakes
Pelz identified his “best mistake” as failing to clarify terminology before launching a project. He discovered that industry segments often use the same terms with different meanings, leading to misaligned scopes of work. Since then, he insists on providing a detailed synopsis that outlines the work to be performed and explicitly defines how each term will be used in that context. This practice has consistently aligned expectations at project kickoff and reduced rework.
Favorite and Least Favorite Aspects
The least favorite part of Pelz’s job is persuading non‑safety personnel to recognize the importance and benefits of workplace safety. Conversely, his favorite aspect is collaborating with employers to design and implement programs that protect employees while ensuring regulatory compliance. He would not change the core of his role, though he wishes more leaders would embrace safety as a strategic advantage rather than a mere compliance checkbox.
Top EHS Challenges
Pelz views timely reporting of incidents, accidents, and injuries as the biggest—and most universal—EHS issue organizations face. When reporting lags, corrective actions are delayed, preventing the organization from learning from events and lowering future risk. He stresses that rapid, accurate reporting is foundational to a proactive safety posture and directly correlates with fewer injuries and a safer work environment.
Building Safety Culture
Safety culture, according to Pelz, is essential for long‑term company success because it drives compliance, improves operational efficiencies, and markedly reduces workplace incidents. The key to cultivating such culture is genuine buy‑in from the top down; leaders must not only talk about safety but visibly demonstrate it. When employees observe senior management living the safety message, the organizational mindset shifts, and safety becomes a shared value rather than an imposed rule.
Prioritizing Compliance and Program Clarity
Pelz urges employers to prioritize a thorough understanding of all applicable regulatory requirements and to establish a clearly defined safety program. Critical to this clarity is identifying who oversees the program and who will communicate it to employees. Ambiguity in ownership or communication leads to gaps in compliance and diminishes the effectiveness of safety initiatives.
Technology Integration and Simplification
While acknowledging the promise of connected devices, wearables, sensors, AI tools, and reporting platforms, Pelz warns that piling on technology without standardization creates fragmented data, inconsistent workflows, and added administrative burden. The organizations that reap the greatest benefits are those that simplify how their safety programs operate, ensuring that data quality, operational consistency, and system integration are managed effectively. In this new paradigm, EHS professionals become stewards of reliable, actionable information that can be accessed across locations and vendors.
Impact of ESG on EHS
Pelz sees environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles as reinforcing, not replacing, traditional EHS goals. ESG compliance naturally leads to safer workplaces, but more importantly, it nurtures a culture where employees feel valued and know the organization is committed to sending them home healthy each day. This alignment of ESG with safety strengthens both the ethical standing and operational resilience of a business.
Professional Pride and Advice
What Pelz takes most pride in is his ability to mentor the next generation of EHS practitioners, imparting not only technical knowledge but also the importance of integrating safety into business strategy. His advice to newcomers is two‑fold: stay patient—mastery comes with experience—and prioritize communication, as the ability to convey safety’s value clearly is often the decisive factor in gaining organizational support.
Conclusion
Mike Pelz’s insights encapsulate a balanced view of today’s EHS landscape: technology offers powerful tools for improving safety, but its true impact depends on simplification, integration, and clear communication. By focusing on timely reporting, visible leadership commitment, precise program ownership, and the mentorship of future professionals, organizations can build safety cultures that not only meet regulatory demands but also drive operational excellence and employee well‑being. The evolving role of EHS—as data stewards and culture champions—will continue to shape safer, more resilient workplaces in the years ahead.