ABSTRACT
The governance function, especially in the context of a board, amounts to the oversight of the implementation of effective health and safety policies, plans, and performance. It is then imperative that the competency and knowledge of directors and executive management in Health & Safety (H&S) must be addressed, as far as their actions and leadership is concerned, to protect the very value proposition of an organization. There has also been a growing awareness of the impact of the leadership actions and decision-making in the functionality of organizations that leads to losses and incidents which impact human life, the assets, and the environment at large. There are many links between health and safety and good governance and how it also links to other good practices such as H&S; like social accountability and sustainability. Progressive organizations with a generative operational excellence culture entrust their leaders with the stewardship of H&S and not simply as managers with just oversight.
