Compliance versus Culture – do you need a guide?

“… the work had not been ‘properly planned, supervised or carried out safely, and the assessment of the risks arising from the work was both unsuitable and insufficient.”

Not a great indictment of any company. This sort of wording is all too common in HSE comments made after prosecutions for serious injury and death. If you really want to put the Safety and the ongoing Health of your workforce as a (top) priority, then consider a little deconstruction of the opening sentence. Look to do the following:

·      Plan the work properly

·      Assess the risks before the work is started

·      Carry the work out safely, following the control measures identified during the Assessment of Risks

·      Provide an appropriate level of supervision (oversight) and ensure that the measures in place to keep workers safe are suitable and sufficient.

Too many people (employers and employees) think the health and safety is imposed upon them. In many organisations, we have to improve the thinking and perception from compliance (meeting the minimum) to culture (caring about people).

Talk to us if you need assistance to improve your Culture – it can be a long journey. To quote Lao Tzu:

The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step