Posted By Philip Plume Hi all, I have been asked by one of our directors to give a presentation on 'directors responsibilities for health and Safety', to the board. The aim of this is to secure more board leadership which will in turn influence a more positive health and safety culture throughout the company, and facilitate more training and increased awareness of responsibilities at middle management and supervisory level. I have one years experience in a health and safety management role, a role which i believe I am under qualified for, (CIEH advanced Health and safety in the workplace) and I have never done anything like this before. The director who requested this has asked me to shock the board. Is this a good tactic or will it alienate members of the board and create bad feeling towards me and my position. What is your experience? I would be interested to know how other people with more experience than me would approach this issue. If I use this approach I want to show news paper/Magazine headlines of successful prosecutions. Where can I find this type of thing? I would be thankful for your views on this matter. Phil

Posted By GARRY WIZZ A few pointers, Firstly rely on your knowledge of the job, You maybe ify on all of the H&S but this detailed knowledge of the firm is reliable info that you can use to good effect. Shock & Awe, a tactic to be used if it applies to your place of employment, is it a safe place ?? Do not over play the threat as this will back fire badly if they see through it, be factual. You could demonstrate a realistic hypothetical situation from the work place that could land the board in trouble. Appear to the board very confident even if you do not feel so.Speak at a measure pace, nervous people speed up and its evident to them listening. I did say to my boss, I am all that stands between you and a jail sentence. End on a positive note, Show a profit in H&S Prepare your presentation and then deliver it (as you would to the board) to your wife/girlfriend/family. become familiar with your prepared script. This will help you immensely on the day. Arrive at the meeting early, chill out they cannot shoot you. PAUSE, before you answer a question, thinking time.... Have a plan of action should you be asked a question that you do not know the answer to. a bit of research on the topic and you are home and dry. Good luck, you could come out of this with big points and more resources. Garry

Posted By Darren (Daz) Fraser Forgot to answer the final point of your thread. The information can be obtained from the HSE prosecution database - search for Section 37. Also find details in all the monthly H&S publications, however may hit copyright issues, but could pull pertinent facts. The but should actually be put, teach me to check before posting. Let us know how you get on.

Posted By Pete48 Trying to shock a board of Directors is not a good idea in my book. You need them as allies and leaders not frightened rabbits. Remember they are, by nature, risk takers and they do know how to manage risks (well hopefully they do anyway. So don't preach, introduce the areas that need their risk taking skills. How much of a risk do we want to take over manual handling? This might, for example, work better than we have to risk assess manual handling.......you go to jail. Have several examples of things they can do starting immediately after the meeting. You could try doing a comparison with their controls in other areas of business. For example, what financial controls do they respect and why? What controls (risk management) does it give them and why are they a good thing for them and the business? Then do one one two direct comparisons to the current controls and info flows on H&S. Use the IOD stuff on responsibilities if you need to give them an overview of current best practice and make sure they know it is IOD led! And last but not least, use the Director who has asked for this as an ally. Involve her/him in building the presentation and ask for input from the Director.

Posted By Mike B Philip, there is an excellent document on this website under technical information/ iosh guidance notes/business risk management. This is well worth a look if you haven't already seen it and should be helpful with your presentation.

Posted By Paul If you want to shock your directors into more H&S from the top downwards,explaining what can & does happen due to lack of H&S from the top. Try and invite someone who has been involved in an industrial accident. Who could explain how & why he/she is in this position the management at all levels.Having listened to this individual it might change there way of thinking about H&S towards,not only the work force but also there working environment? The director/s seeing what you are trying to achieve for the better of the company and its workforce,without the psychological bulling of you will go to jail. Might just work wonders? H&S is changing for the better again,take the 1974 work act it was put there to stop the very task you are trying to improve,not only at the top,but for everybody within a company irrespective of its size. Remember we are all HUMAN it is natural to listen. Ask IOSH if they know of any mutilated people who have been in an industrial accident and give presentations on your very subject.

Posted By Philip Plume ? Introduction to the main causes of the RIDDOR reportable accidents, simple accidents ? Update on where are we at the moment. And how we manage H&S ? A significant change needed in how we manage health and safety:- Core business principle, lead from the top. ? How this can be achieved ? Introduction to the core principles and the four point agenda contained in the guidance from the IOD and HSC. ? How this can be practically applied: - introduction to OSHMS, and brief outline. ? What may happen if we continue as we are, maybe nothing, but possible:- Accidents, ill health, inspections, lost production, fines, prison, etc etc ? Example taken from the guidance of bad practice. Director jailed and company fined. This was followed by a picture from my workplace demonstrating how this case could directly relate to what we do here. ? The flip side to this :- Lower accident rates, Fewer or no claims, Less absenteeism and staff turnover rates, Lower threat of legal action Fines, Prison sentences ? Case study taken from one of our customer demonstrating how they improved H&S management systems and what were the benefits to them ? 7 simple,but visible actions that the board could complete straight after the meeting, these were basically following the rules we already have such as:- Wear high visibility vests where appropriate. Don’t take shortcuts to the car park Wear ear protection where necessary Scan in and out of the fire register/security system religiously Stick to site speed limits Don’t park in the disabled bays Chastise anyone who does not follow the same rules as you ? 3 involved actions Undergo board level training on health and safety Agree who will be responsible for health and safety and who I will report to Decide what Barfoots policy on health and safety is The reaction was fairly none committal, they all agreed that the 7 simple actions should be happening, but not much else. The director who asked for this presentation supported me during the presentation and told me afterwards that the presentation was good and that it was pitched just right, however not much was said after I left the room. I now have to decide on the next step as I think I may have to really push hard for change. Thanks again Phil

Posted By Philip Plume The first half of my last post is missing, so here it is; I delivered the presentation on wednesday of this week, it was a 15 min short snappy presentation which was well rehearsed thanks to your suggestions. I was very proud of it, and myself. It ran along these lines.....