Posted By Ken Taylor
No, no and no.

Just tell the HSE inspector the truth yourself. They can be reasonable and realistic at times

Posted By Kieran J Duignan
'Feedback' is often a useful concept to engage with a 'stimulus' you find initially irritating.

You've received feedback, through a HSE officer, about your work situation.

You evaluate it, classify it as 'irritating' but also as valid. Decide on corrective action and on managing your feelings intelligently. Implement the corrective action. Communicate with others.

Welcome further feedback, from employees, HSE and senior management.

A 'virtuous' cycle of learning. Low stress. Even some fun.

Posted By micklecats
I don't wish to appear bitter, but here's me, recently redundant, struggling to find work. Then there's MSM, in full time employment.
Perhaps I need to portray myself differently at interviews in future.
Forget common sense, involvement, buy-in, team work, trust and respect - they are obviously getting me nowhere.
Does anyone have the email address of the Women's Institute? I think I should be seeking work with them from now on.

And yes, I know sarcasm is the lowest form of wit.

The HSE are one of the best providers of advice there is. I always use(d) the old greeting:
'Oh, I'm glad you've come, I need your help with a problem area we have.....'
This can give them an indication of your intentions, showing them that you actively want to improve (even if you are an easy touch with the shop floor).
I have had the inspectors on site after a complaint. I even knew who complained.
So what? There was nothing to be ashamed of, so why worry about an inspection? It can create an opportunity to tackle that issue that may have been lacking MGT support, or had been put back because of funding.
I suppose MSM never has these situations as his MGT team are all totally motivated.

Ok, I am bitter - I admit it. With good reason. If anyone has any work for a midlands based big soft EH&S guy who uses effective people management and leadership skills, let me know. But be quick as these contact details will cease to be at the end of the week.

Looking forward to next week's exciting installment.

Posted By Kieran J Duignan
Mark

Occasionally, there's a request to this Forum for ideas for learning that members feel they need in order to develop evidence for a submission for RSP (Registered Safety Practitioner) status.

One of the options now open to you is to regard the answers you have received to this thread, and previous ones, as a diagnosis which you can use for your 2005 - 2007 Personal Development Plan.

This is not intended as sarcastic but rather to encourage you to realise that IOSH members are willing to assist your development, and it's up to you to use the feedback they offer, free of charge.

Your questions also prompt me to wonder about the behaviour of your own line manager in the 'real world'. How well do you listen to him or her?

Posted By MarkSMark
Thank you

If the inspector comes on site in response to a complaint can they go anywhere they want- or only places in relation to that complaint?

Also, if there is a restricted security access area for classified research projects can the HSE inspector demand entry to them? Is there any case for refusing entry on the grounds of secrecy? I understand that an inspector can only enter at reasonable times- is it unreasonable for them to enter at a very delicate stage of a research project?

Finally, can I refuse the inspector to enter if I think he does not have sufficient knowledge to comprehend what work is going on in a particular area? If further training is required for the inspector to enter an area (such as a very tightly controlled hermetically sealed environment) how is the cost of the training covered?

I know there's a lot of questions but thank you for your help.

Mark

Posted By fats van den raad
Cough...cough....cough....... nearly choked on my apple from laughing. Thanks Mark, that really brightened up my day. Please,please please do us all a favour and tel the inspector that you dont't think the timing of his/her visit is reasonable as you are at a critical state of operations. Then tell them that they can't go in toa certain area coz they are not qualified or experienced enough and then tell them that you will train them, but it's gonna cost them!!! Please do it and let us know how you get on.!!!

Posted By Hilary Charlton
Mark

You cannot refuse access to the HSE Inspector to any part of your site for any reason. Additionally, I do not think you are competent to judge what the Inspector knows and does not know.

The Inspector is not in the slightest bit interested in any plans you have ongoing at the moment, they want to judge how far you have gone in protecting health and safety - have you gone as far as is reasonably practicable.

I know this because I had a visit last week from an HSE Inspector - they're nice people, happy to help and realistic in their approach. Notwithstanding this, you absolutely must be open, honest, above board and do not try to bar access to any area, by all means say that it is an intellectually sensitive area and let them decide.

Hilary

Posted By Paula BrattonYoung
Hi Mark
In my experience, an HSE visit is a positive one. If you've got problems, they're the best at helping you sort them out. They're not ogres and will do everything they can so long as your company isn't putting lives at risk and you're helping yourself. Don't get on thire wrong side by making life difficult for them, welcome them and ask for help. They're on health and safety's side, however scary...
As for someone snitching, don't take it personally. People are never happy with us in health and safety because we can't please everyone. At least this is one problem which will get sorted...
I've managed 6 HSE Improvement notices for different companies (thats what I do) and lived, so if you want to contact me off forum, please do.
Paula (blackbiro@msn.com)

Posted By c spencer
Mark,

Firstly I must ask the question are your pulling our legs with this question or have you not got no qualification with regards Health & Safety, Do you hold a Health & Safety Position? If you do not then it is understandable, but if you do then there are other ways to ask question such as this. Reading these threads you have posted suggests that you have something to hide and have not got a clue. The person who snitched to the HSE has probably raised his/her concern to someone in the past within your company, but got a negative response back.

If you find the person who snitched, I suggest you nominate them for a safety position. It sounds like you could do with the help of this person.



Clive

Posted By steviezenga
Marky

I think the night first aider was an Industrial Espionage "sleeper", flushed out by your strict regime and use of CCTV.

It's not outside the realms of possibility that the "HSE Inspector" is another cunning plan to infiltrate the hermetically sealed environment at this delicate stage of your secret research!

Test to see if he/she is a real HSE Inspector by following the advice of Fats to the LETTER!

Good Luck.

Posted By Steve Holliday
And in a few misguided words Mark insults hundreds of LA Inspectors. Bravo.

Let’s just hope that his HSE Inspector does not talk to his/her LA counterpart about this post. Or is Mark just trying to get an agenda point at the next HELA meeting?

You’ve got to hand it to him though, despite numerous posts questioning his competence, employment status, intelligence, sanity and even his very existence, MarkSMark continues to ply his own unique path through the world of H&S.

Mark can be one of only 3 things:-
1. A prank caller
2. A misguided soul who at some point will become better educated, more experienced or shot by his own troops (or a LA Inspector).
3. A true H&S visionary who will have the last laugh on all of us by creating the best safety record and culture of them all.

Personally I wouldn’t bet against 1 or 2. I truly hope its 1, but if it is 2 we should all be supporting and responding helpfully to Marks postings in the hope that Mark cottons on to the fact that if he asks a question and everyone responds in the same way, surely there must be some merit in the answers.

If nothing else, I bet MarkSMark has had more people shouting at their monitors than anyone since a certain antipodean gentlemen stopped posting comments about degrees.

Posted By P Williams
I would like to come to the defence of all LA EHOs who enforce H&S.
Firstly why was the EHO there? If it was in a H&S role then it is likely that your premises are LA enforced therefore in the main you can refuse access to the HSE inspector because their powers of entry will not apply to your site unless they are coming with regard to other issues eg s6 requirments or a CDM project.
Secondly I would like to remind you that LA EHOs enforcing H&S have exactly the same powers as HSE inspectors and usually more.
Thirdly, I an inspector demands to access part of your premises that require specialist training or equipment and the inspector does not have the necessary training or equipment etc then you are right to refuse access until you can satisfy yourself that it is safe for the inspector to enter. Afterall you have a duty to the inspector's HSW under s3. If anything the inspector will be impressed by this, so long as you can justify it.

Posted By Brett Day

Just read this thread and it reminded me of a company that I worked for when I started H&S.

The HSE turned up for a random inspection, our premises was in the target area for one of their 'blitsez' and met our Sales Director. Now the building is all security locks, we did a lot of MOD work and we had problems with sales people cold calling.

When the HSE arrived they asked for access, only to be told by the director to go away and make an appointment, when they told him of the right to inspect, he told them that it didn't sound right so wait here whilst I check with our H&S manager (I certainly wasn't the manager at the time but trying hard p*?!ing in the wind trying to get things done).

When I confirmed what the inspectors had said he went absolutely white as a sheet. then went and let the inspectors in.

Two improvement notices later I suddenly got the resources I'd been asking for the last 2 years.

So MarkSMark you wouldn't be posting from a small company in the south east would you ?????