Steve Curry, Senior EHSS Manager at City Brewing Company, drives workplace safety, sustainability and culture. Combining hands-on operational experience with collaborative leadership, he empowers employees, integrates EHSS into daily practices, and champions innovative strategies for long-term organizational and environmental success.
This article is based on an interview between Steve Curry, Senior EHSS Manager and Food Business Review, reflecting his insights on safety, sustainability and leadership in modern manufacturing. Leadership Grounded in Real-World Experience Environmental, Health, Safety, and Sustainability (EHSS) leadership plays a critical role in modern manufacturing and production environments. As organizations navigate increasing operational demands, evolving regulations, and sustainability expectations, strong EHSS leadership is essential to protect employees, improve operational performance, and drive long-term business success. Effective EHSS leadership begins with understanding the realities of the workplace. Time spent working closely with production teams often provides the most valuable insight into safety risks and operational challenges. These experiences help leaders develop practical solutions that prioritize people while supporting business objectives. Collaboration is also a key factor. Successful EHSS initiatives typically involve cross-functional teamwork among operations, engineering, HR, and executive leadership. When safety and sustainability are integrated into everyday decision-making, they become part of the organization’s culture rather than simply compliance requirements. Key EHSS Challenges in Manufacturing Today Manufacturing organizations face several significant EHSS challenges: • Balancing production demands with strong safety performance. • Keeping pace with evolving environmental and safety regulations. • Integrating sustainability initiatives such as waste reduction, energy efficiency, and emissions management. • Maintaining consistent safety behaviors within a changing workforce. • Addressing these challenges requires proactive leadership, continuous training, and strong communication across all levels of the organization. Building and Sustaining a Safety Culture A strong safety culture starts with visible leadership commitment. When leaders consistently demonstrate that safety is a core value not just a priority it influences how employees approach their work every day. Empowering employees is equally important. Encouraging hazard reporting, involving workers in risk assessments, and recognizing proactive safety actions help create a sense of ownership. When employees feel heard and supported, safety becomes a shared responsibility across the organization. Emerging Trends Shaping EHSS • Several trends are influencing the future of workplace safety and sustainability: • Increased use of digital safety tools, data analytics, and predictive risk management. • Growing emphasis on environmental sustainability and ESG reporting. • Greater focus on employee well-being, including mental health and holistic workplace safety. Organizations that adopt these innovations will be better positioned to improve both safety performance and long-term sustainability outcomes. Advice for Future EHSS Leaders For professionals looking to build a career in EHSS leadership, gaining hands-on operational experience is invaluable. Understanding how production environments function allows leaders to connect safety and sustainability goals with real operational needs. Continuous learning, strong communication skills, and the ability to influence across departments are also essential. The most effective EHSS leaders are those who can engage employees, collaborate with leadership teams, and demonstrate how safety and sustainability contribute to organizational success. Ultimately, EHSS leadership is about protecting people, strengthening operations, and building a culture where safety and sustainability are embedded into everything an organization does.