Mission, Vision, Values

Our Purpose

Keeping KAUST safe and fostering an interdependent HSE culture.

Mission

To safeguard our most precious resources: people, environment, and infrastructure, building resilience within KAUST and serve as exemplars for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the world. Through our collaborative efforts and strategic partnerships, we lead KAUST in the development of innovative solutions and programs that enable a strong safety culture, promote well-being, and enhance the ability to manage risks..

Vision

In HSE’s collaborative and supportive working environment, we strive to be proactive in identifying and mitigating risks. Aligned with the Kingdom’s Vision and Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) priorities, we integrate our best practices to foster a safe, healthy, and environmentally sustainable place for learning, working, and living.

Values

We are committed and collaborative - We believe HSE’s commitment and collaboration are critical components in building resiliency into all university operations.

We have trust and integrity - We will deliver on our key services and commitments. We are accountable, transparent, reliable, and consistent our approach. We act ethically and honestly treating all with dignity, fairness, and respect

We believe in innovation and continuous learning - We seek continuous improvement and opportunities to learn to improve and advance HSE practices. We challenge the status-quo in the pursuit of novel solutions that reduce risk, enable research, and protect the KAUST community.

Values Characteristics

Our values characteristics are examples aimed at providing some HSE context to each value. The examples are not exhaustive and each team in HSE may add additional examples that define a value. Our values can also apply in a broader context. For example, awareness of our values by our stakeholders at KAUST will help us foster the ‘interdependent HSE culture’.

We are committed and collaborative – Colleagues may demonstrate being committed by:

Their dedication to Safety: Committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of everyone at KAUST by creating and maintaining safe working conditions, implementing robust safety protocols, and continuously improving safety practices.
Their adherence to Compliance: Committed to upholding legal and regulatory requirements related to health, safety, and environmental standards.
Their continuous Improvement: Committed to enhancing HSE’s reputation by staying updated with the latest industry standards, emerging technologies, and practices to enhance safety and environmental performance.
Their teamwork and communication: Actively engaging with HSE colleagues and stakeholders, to share information, gather insights, and foster a collaborative approach to problem-solving.
Their appreciation of our knowledge and skills. We value diverse perspectives and encourage open dialogue to achieve shared goals.
Their Partnership Building: Seeking opportunities to collaborate across our HSE teams, KAUST departments, and external stakeholders to develop and implement effective health, safety, and environmental initiatives, drive positive change, and achieve common objectives.

We have trust, demonstrated by:

actions align with their words, and creating a sense of shared accountability.
Their Transparency: Providing clear and honest communication, sharing information openly and promptly, in an environment where individuals feel comfortable raising concerns, to resolve issues in ways that ensure trust is maintained.
Their Skills and Competence: Continuously enhancing their knowledge and skills, staying informed about industry best practices and regulatory requirements. By showcasing their expertise, they instill confidence and trust in their ability to effectively manage HSE risks and concerns.

We have integrity, demonstrated by:

Their Ethical Conduct: Committed to acting with integrity by adhering to moral principles and ethical guidelines, and consistently demonstrating ethical behavior in their work in HSE.
Their Honesty and Accountability: Communications provide accurate and reliable information. They take responsibility for their actions and use mistakes as opportunities to learn.
Their Consistency: We are consistent in our approach. We treat all individuals fairly, adhere to consistent principles and standards, ensuring that behaviors align with our HSE values.

We believe in innovation and continuous learning – Colleagues demonstrate innovation by:

Their Creative Problem Solving: Seeking new and inventive ways to address HSE challenges, leveraging technology, data, and best practices to develop innovative solutions. Adopting a mindset of method improvement and thinking outside the box.
Their Adaptability: Open to change, proactive in embracing new ideas, technologies, and processes, continuously seeking opportunities to improve and innovate in their practices.
Their Agility: Remaining agile in HSE’s responses to strategic changes and requirements at KAUST.

We believe in innovation and continuous learning – Colleagues demonstrate continuous learning by:

Their Curiosity: Staying updated with the latest research, regulations, and industry advancements, maintaining a mindset of lifelong learning.
Their Professional Development: Prioritize continuous learning by investing in their own personal and professional development. Actively seek and participate in opportunities presented to enhance knowledge and skills.
Their learning from each other: Maximizing the experience and experiences of our colleagues in HSE. Using our work as daily opportunities to learn from what went well and what could have been done better.

By aligning our strategic initiatives with the HSE mission, vision, values, and purpose, we will create a safer, healthier, and more resilient environment for the entire KAUST community, while also serving as a model for HSE excellence in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and beyond. This strategic plan provides a framework for HSE to achieve its vision and mission. By focusing on risk management, fostering a strong safety culture, promoting environmental sustainability, and continuous improvement, the HSE department can create a safe, healthy, and environmentally sustainable environment for the entire KAUST community.

Strategic Goals

Risk-Based Approach:
- Implement a comprehensive risk assessment framework covering all aspects of operations, research, and activities at KAUST.
- Prioritize risks based on their likelihood and impact, focusing resources on mitigating high-priority risks first.
- Regularly review and update risk assessments to ensure alignment with evolving circumstances and new developments.
Emphasis on Safety Culture:
- Develop and implement safety training programs for all employees, students, and contractors, emphasizing the importance of individual accountability and proactive hazard identification.
- Encourage open communication and reporting of near misses and safety incidents, promoting a culture of transparency and continuous improvement.
- Recognize and reward behaviors that contribute to a positive safety culture, such as leadership in safety initiatives and adherence to safety protocols, both within the HSE Department and throughout KAUST.
Service-Oriented Culture:
- Establish clear service standards and expectations for HSE support across KAUST, ensuring timely and effective responses to requests and inquiries.
- Foster a culture of customer service within the HSE department, emphasizing responsiveness, professionalism, and collaboration in all interactions.
- Solicit feedback from stakeholders to continually improve HSE services and adapt to changing needs and expectations.
Consistent Implementation:
- Standardize HSE policies, procedures, and practices across all departments and units within KAUST to ensure consistency and clarity.
- Provide comprehensive guidance and support to departments for implementing and enforcing HSE standards, including regular audits and inspections to monitor compliance.
- Foster cross-departmental collaboration and knowledge sharing to identify best practices and leverage lessons learned.
Adaptive Problem-Solving:
- Establish a structured process for identifying and addressing emerging HSE challenges, including rapid response teams for addressing urgent issues.
- Encourage creative problem-solving and innovation within the HSE department, empowering staff to propose and implement novel solutions to complex problems.
- Foster a culture of continuous learning and adaptation, where failures are seen as opportunities for improvement and resilience is built through agility and flexibility.
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs):
- Define and track relevant KPIs to measure the effectiveness of HSE initiatives and interventions, including leading indicators (e.g., near misses reported, safety training completion rates) and lagging indicators (e.g., injury rates, environmental incidents).
- Regularly analyze KPI data to identify trends, areas for improvement, and opportunities for intervention, adjusting strategies and priorities accordingly.
- Communicate KPI results transparently to stakeholders, celebrating successes and addressing areas needing improvement.
Evidence-Based and Data-Driven Decision Making:
- Establish a robust data management system to collect, analyze, and report on HSE-related data from across KAUST, including incident reports, inspection findings, and compliance data.
- Utilize data analytics and predictive modeling techniques to identify patterns, predict future risks, and prioritize interventions.
- Base decisions and recommendations on empirical evidence, scientific research, and best practices in the field of HSE, ensuring that interventions are grounded in data and informed by expertise.