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Posted By Homer
Like many of my colleagues I have the HSEQ plus training as part of my day to day management responsibilities. I enjoy it and think I do a good job all round.
However it seems that some of the senior management in the company think the whole H&S thing is entirely my responsibility and that includes even when our on site guys stuff up.
Yes everyone knows that ultimate responsibility lies with Directors and MD but they seem to think that I am not doing enough when someone else stuffs up.
Has anyone else experienced this and what did they do? It's fine suggesting moving on but to where in area as there is family to think of.
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Posted By Darren (Daz) Fraser
Hi Homer
This is a common occurrence, that is faced by all of us at some point in our career.
Education and perseverance is the name of the game.
There are some basic PowerPoint's on the web with regard to senior management responsibilities.
If you are based in the UK, look at either of the following links
www.iod.com/hsguide
www.hse.gov.uk/leadership
also look up the forthcoming Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007 (effective April 2008, and find the guide (21 pages) and / or the understanding document (4 pages), and then make your senior management team aware what this will mean to them as individuals.
You could also try to explain H&S to them in a language they understand, Finance director - the cost of an accident, Production director - the cost of downtime / lost production units etc.
If you can get the MD and Board on your side, that is half the battle won. One way of doing this maybe to look at putting 18001 for example into place, this requires management commitment from day one, you could for example demonstrate the benefits to the business, such as potential insurance premium reduction, reduce accident costs, increased production etc, to get them to buy in to a management system. If your organisation already has (001 and/or 14001 then you will already be aware of the benefits, and should without to much difficulty be able to integrate all your systems.
The path to management commitment / ownership of H&S is a rocky one at best, but keep on treading along it, you are not alone.
Hope this has helped in some small way.
Good luck in your quest.
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Posted By Bob Shillabeer
Yes you are right, moving on is not the answer, from the tone of your posting you seem a bit down. Try and get the ownership message across to the senior managers a bit by getting them involved in the day to day issues you face. This is easier said than done I know but try and get them to realise what is exected of them and what you are doing to service that need. You won't do it ata stroke and it may take a while to even start the process, try and form a link to some senior managers being prosecuted for breaches and explain it is they who face the prospect of a fine or even being barred from office, that usually helps focus the mind. But be prepared to being faced with a more probing view by the directors into what you are doing, remeber you are the person who is there to ensure they are both protected and made aware of the risks they face so will need to come up with constructive actions for them to implement.
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Posted By Darren (Daz) Fraser
That should read 9001 and/or 14001
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Posted By Ron Hunter
Homer,
You say "Directors and MD but... seem to think that I am not doing enough".
Are you and they clear as to who has what responsibilities and accountabilities? A talk or review around the Organisation's Policy Statement, its intent and meaning, may be enough to resolve this.
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Posted By CFT
Hi Homer
Just out of interest where are you in the 'pecking' order? I ask because you may be trying to cover far to many slices of the pie.
Charley
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Posted By Lee Mac
Homer,
It's an all too familiar experience that has a habit of presenting itself to us SHEQ bods.
However, it can only be changed by the likes of you and the rest of us to educate the misinformed.
Site management in my experience are quite susceptible to not being "aware" of their responsibilities.
As a previous poster has mentioned- powerpoint presentations can work- esp if it is only you and a few site managers- each has an opportunity to put their cards on the table then go through the presentation (if it is HSE endorsed, it definitely adds more meat to the arguement).
Allow plenty of time for feedback and Q&A at the end.
MDs in my experience can be selective, however once you or I inform them of this or that prosecution, this can turn the tides.
Lee
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Posted By Richard Altoft
start a newsletter within the company, ensure it is helpful, fair and balanced and by the way always include a lot of court cases where directors, managers and supervisors get prosecuted.
R
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Posted By AF
Homer
Have your responsibilities & duties been outlined by the MD/Directors (ie Job Description)?
What exactly do they expect from you?/Have you been set objectives and targets? - this way you and they know what is expected and if you are doing enough!
What exactly do they (MD/Directors) know? If they keep on blaming you, then perhaps you are not iterating the safety message across
Remember - It has to come from the top down, if after all your efforts there is no change - then look elsewhere and move on.........!
Like a preavious posting, many of us have been there and done it, even to the point of moving on when no support is available from the top.
I suspect the forthcoming corporate manslaughter legislation will eradicate/reduce the need for many of us to move on, as the MD's/Directors/Boards should and will promote H&S.
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Posted By Homer
It's reassuring to know that I am not the only one that has faced this. Yes I am probably a bit down as I really throw myself into my job and genuinely believe our noble profession will and can make a difference.
Thanks for all the responses and support. It's time to come out fighting.
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