Kylie Long on Workplace Health and Safety Solutions

BBB Team

Workplace Health and Safety (WHS) isn't just about ticking boxes, but about creating a holistic, risk-managed environment where employees feel safe, supported, and motivated to perform at their best.

In this episode of The Business Owners Podcast, host Clive Enever sits down with Kylie Long, founder of Support Safety Solutions. Leveraging her background as a registered nurse and her postgraduate qualifications in WHS, Kylie brings a deeply empathetic and holistic perspective to workplace safety.

She breaks down what psychosocial risks actually mean for small-to-medium business owners, how to move from a reactive "box-ticking" mindset to a proactive safety culture, and why managing mental safety directly impacts a business's bottom line.

Key Takeaways from This Episode

WHS is a Business Strategy, Not Just Compliance

True health and safety goes beyond basic tick-and-flick compliance exercises. Taking a holistic approach, evaluating emotional and social impacts alongside physical risks, improves retention, employee engagement, and overall business culture.

Demystifying Psychosocial Safety

A major misconception is that psychosocial safety is solely about managing an individual employee's personal mental health. In reality, it involves big-picture organisational factors: work design, leadership development, workload demands, and organisational support.

The Power of an Actionable 12-Month Plan

Business owners facing WHS requirements don't need to do everything overnight. The best approach is taking a snapshot of the business's current state, identifying gaps, prioritising risks, and executing a manageable 12-month strategy.

Safety Sits with Leadership, Not Just the Safety Team

Safety consultants and internal WHS officers are there to advise, coach, and mentor. Ultimately, safety responsibility sits with everyone and must be actively driven by the business leadership team.

Addressing Naivety & Sourcing Mentorship

Relying solely on an existing network when starting a business can lead to early roadblocks. Finding the right industry networking groups and connecting with a trusted mentor is vital for long-term growth and accountability.

Kylie’s Advice for Business Owners

Stop and Take a Snapshot: Evaluate where your business stands today to uncover hidden WHS gaps before a major incident occurs.

Break it Into Bite-Sized Chunks: Don't get overwhelmed by new regulations. Focus on what needs to be done first, and tackle compliance step-by-step.

Involve Your Whole Team: Build a culture where safety is shared across all levels of the organisation, starting from the top down.

Lean on External Expertise: If your business lacks the bandwidth to handle specific WHS projects internally, engage external coaches and consultants to guide your team.

Key Takeaway

Psychosocial safety isn't just about managing individual wellbeing. It’s about designing a workplace culture that mitigates risk, empowers leaders, and protects your business's bottom line.

Your Next Step

Stop trying to tackle compliance all at once. Identify your top 2–3 WHS or psychosocial risk gaps today (e.g., role ambiguity, high workloads, or lack of leadership support) and sketch out a realistic, 12-month strategy to address them step-by-step.