Posted By john ridley Job Title - International H&S Manager We are seeking to recruit a health and safety professional to fulfil the key role in the development, promotion and implementation of H&S into our overall international telecomms business operations. Working closely across all business service units, the key task will be to develop and review H&S policy and play an integral part in the planning, implementation, audit and review of a H&S management system as well as advising on H&S training and providing expert advise as meets the demands of the business. The overall objective is to champion H&S internally and to encourage managers to involve H&S in their day to day activities so that hazards are designed out or, where this is not reasonably practicable, the resulting risks are effectively controlled. The success or failure of this position will be dependant on the amount of involvement with management. Subsequently the role is constantly shifting from a historical reactive role to a more proactive one to achieve the deliverable aims and goals of the business. As the business develops, it has to adapt to the needs of the marketplace. However, the generation of projected revenue goals remains the ultimate aim of the Company. Therefore, to meet the current expectations of stakeholders, the requirement to protect our financial resources is high and this can only be achieved through a overall risk management approach. This is an excellent opportunity to broaden your experience in a dynamic business environment and will involve you in a broad spectrum of service sectors including construction, physical asset managment, M&E engineering and telecomms network and data centre management. Interpersonal skills and the ability to work with people at all levels are critical to the role that you will undertake. You must be prepared to travel at short notice but the role is essentially office based at the European Headquarers in Reading. You will hold a current full driving license. Reporting into you will be an International H&S Adviser based in London and a regional H&S manager based in Sydney Australia covering the AsiaPac area of the our business. As a minimum, you will possess a degree level qualification in a H&S related topic, have a NEBOSH Diploma or its equivalent and be a corporate member or IOSH, preferably with RSP status. Salary is negotiable but is reflected in the importance of this role. We are looking to fill this position as soon as is practicable. Interested applicants should forward their CV to: Tony Lucas Reading International Business Park Basingstoke Road Reading. RG2 6DA Email: tony.lucas@uk.mci.com

Posted By Richard S Pigg Sorry John, I think you are being unnecessarily harsh. The role is with MCI Worldcom and so by definition is going to be mullet-site. Given the vagaries of this countries public transport system for many jobs a driving licence is essential (by the way Full means not Provisional). For example it takes me 75 minutes to get to a client of mine in Nottingham by car and over 5 hours by rail. So on that basis given 2 client visits per week I would effectively be in the office for one day less a week. Effectively you are paying someone without a driving licence and car to do 20% less work. It is the employer’s perogative who they employ as long as they adhere to current law. Regards, Richard Pigg

Posted By John Allen Richard, I would still argue that a driving licence is not essential and it is unfair for the employer to stipulate one for a non-driving job. I am well aware of the vagaries of the public transport system having lost our local rail service more than 30 years ago and more recently having seen our bus service all but disappear under privatization and de-regulation. The “driving licence essential” stipulation in a non-driving job advert is part of the acceptance of the situation rather than any step towards improving it. I don’t have any reference to the possession of a driving licence on my CV, which is otherwise immaculate and eminently suited to the position – so do I get the job?

Posted By Mike Craven Was with you up until the last bit, Richard. But giving the job to the person who lives 5 miles away as opposed to the one who lives 25 miles away - come on!!! As it happens, I live 25 miles away from my current place of work and lived 5 miles away from my last place of work. It takes me 30 minutes to get to work in rush-hour traffic thanks to the newly completed M60 motorway. I know of a number of colleagues who live much closer who would love to be able to get in so quickly and easily. Previously, it took me about 45 minutes to travel the 5 miles - most of the time being stuck on the A6, A635 or M60 (westbound). People don't necessarily jump ship to have a shorter distance to travel to work - they go for better remuneration, promotion-prospects, job-challenges, etc, Mike

Posted By Dave Wilson John, You having a laugh mate? As just about anyone will tell you that having the ability to drive in the 'safety world' and I would assume also for the company advertising this position is absolutely essential. It's quite simple if you do not have a licence then do not apply! Most prospective employers when advertising quite specifically ask for certain requirements so that it narrows down the field when the filtering process of CV's takes place, This organisation have quite a specific brief but trust me there will be people out their with NEBOSH Cert, BSC Dip etc who really do think that they could do this job! So get the 600 CV and make two piles ones that fit the critera and ones that dont, staep two throw the 580 in the bin that dont. step 3 have a look at the rest and draw up short list. intreview? If you fill the criteria then apply if you dont then do not as you are wasting yours and the their time! Would apply myself but going into hosp soon.

Posted By John Allen Dinosaur thinking! Sorry guys but in thirty years of HS work I've never been in a situation where driving ability was part of the skill set that would have solved the problem I faced. If the person is good enough then provide them with a driver. I travel regularly offshore by helicopter but despite a morning's fun in the simulator once I couldn't possibly fly one. Fortunately someone who has that skill set is available. As I said previously I don't put driving ability on my CV and wouldn't require it of anyone else. If you are not part of the solution you are part of the problem.

Posted By Karen Todd I have noticed in recent job ads in the paper the following phrase: Applicants should hold a full driving licence, or have access to a form of transport that will enable them to fulfil the requirements of the job. Presumably so there is no disability discrimination. Karen

Posted By Geof Isn't it strange that on a forum like this we have individuals who think they can dictate what 'skill set' an employer can ask for, without regard to efficiency or cost. It's OK Fred, we don't need you to drive down to the station to get to work, we'll just send the helicopter out. Wow, a different world. Do you have a driving licence and a car John?

Posted By Kelvin Hughes Dear all. With regard to holding a “Driving Licence”, do companies actually check the licence validity on a frequent basis i.e. six monthly periods? Example. A contract manager of a building company employs a carpenter and supplies him with a company van. Three years later the manager gets a knock on the door from the local police, informing the company that they could be prosecuted for allowing a disqualified driver to drive their vehicle. It turns out, that the carpenter had lost his licence six months earlier due to the ‘totting up process’ and had not informed his employer. The company did not get prosecuted and sacked the carpenter. Now they check the licences of their drivers monthly. So, if the job requires a driving licence, the company who employs that person should also check to see if it is still valid on a frequent basis. Regards Kelvin

Posted By Rob Todd Hi All, I have been following this discussion for a while and think it's about time I stuck my oar in. In my position as an H&S Manager dealing with International Operations, I would say that the need for a driving licence was not only an absolute requirement but to go further and say that (depending on your area of operation) all terrain driving training would be necessary. In recent visits to Iraq and Afghanistan, we have been in areas where bullets and bombs have been flying and, in most cases where there is a kidnap attempt, the first person to be shot is the driver to disable the vehicle. The front seat passenger should then be able to immediately take over! Obviously this is mainly in hostile environments but when the advetisement just say's "international" - to my mind that means anywhere you may be sent. Rob

Posted By Geof I was always taught to stop digging when in a hole!