the sparkle quickly goes dull when it goes wrong

Martin Barnard responds to Richard Limb’s recent article on health and safety...

It was good to read Richard’s article on the need for event organisers to remember why they are putting on the event in the first place i.e. for entertainment and enjoyment. As always Richard is to the point and, given we are of like minds who go back a long way, I share and endorse much of what he says.

The problem is “What if it goes wrong?” I regret to say that it is my consistent experience that many individuals and organisations are fearful of health and safety for that reason. They lack the confidence, knowledge and ability to control their own destiny in a sensible and reasonable way. Having recently been involved in the first case under the Corporate Manslaughter Act, I have seen first hand the consequence of it going wrong, for all concerned. The one thing that is clear is that no one wins out of tragedy.

Having spent over 33 years in health and safety, Richard’s plea for common sense to prevail, l has prompted me to reflect on the lessons I have learnt over the years. I offer them up as a framework in which success can be achieved without the constant fear of litigation and criticism.

15 key lessons learned from a lifetime in health and safety:

1. Life is a compromise, health and safety is a compromise. By that I don’t mean we compromise health and safety.
2. You only engage competent contractors and staff don’t you? If yes, you have the foundations for success. If no, you will fail.
3. The usefulness of a method statement is inversely proportional to its size. The larger it is, the less use it is because no one is going to read it.
4. Recognise that the conventional measure of health and safety performance, the AFR, is actually measuring failure i.e. an accident is a failure.
5. The road to health and safety is littered with good intent and initiatives which never reach a conclusion. Be ready to celebrate success.
6. Most organisations have got to where they are today by process-driven health and safety which can only achieve so much, i.e. “the plateau effect”.
7. To get beyond the plateau by process driven health and safety is virtually impossible. There is a need to introduce another ingredient i.e. culture.
8. How to build a positive health and safety culture - do it little but often and take the opportunity to celebrate success.
9. Apply the principles of marketing to health and safety with the workforce as the target market i.e. make it attractive to the market place.
10. Health and Safety is as simple as “someone you are responsible for will go home tonight, to enjoy their family in the same way as no doubt you look forward to”.
11. Best way to succeed in health and safety is to invite all to the party, including you.
12. Recognise the need to put the “health” into “health and safety”.
13. Understand value of simplicity of communication i.e. it is a two way street. “Two ears one mouth” - a good proportion for health and safety communication.
14. Keep it simple, be genuine, be honest. The rest will follow because health and safety and quality are inter-linked.
15. Above all else, make health and safety personal – each and every time!

See if my formula will help in keeping a sense of reality to what is a much misunderstood subject.

Good luck and good health – let the sparkle be re-ignited.

Martin Barnard (martin.barnard@capita.co.uk) is Director of Health and Safety at Capita Symonds.

Further information at: www.capitasymonds.co.uk/healthandsafety