Posted By GaryC40
whilst watching QT the other night it struck just how much this country has changed over the last 30 years in terms of race / culture diversity. The last 5 years has seen a huge change in the construction industry in regard to the amount of eastern block people seeking employment as Joiners, plumbers and so on. I am also aware that hospitality, industrial bakeries and many other industries are taking advantage of the 'foreign' skills on offer.

I wonder has this change profoundly affected health and safety for the better or worse?

Is there a significant problem of racial violence / aggression in your workplace?

Have you had to revisit your policies and procedures to include reference to culture change?

Me, well i cant really comment because the area i work and live is predominantly white caucasian, in fact not one person in my organisation is from outwith the UK or from another culture.

However i have experienced / witness (occasionally) a type of UK 'District-ism' in that because one is not a 'local' by birth or parentage then they should not be employed or live here. This has caused aggression and stress on a few occasions, but is mainly in the guise of schoolboy humour or office whispers.

It seems to me that under the veneer of respectability lies many cultural hazards for the health and safety profession to deal with.

Any views

Gary

Hi Gary

Did you see Panorama the other night - tells a very different story. Try 'did you see' on the inter web thingy. I was disgusted and shocked to see such blatant violence and abuse. I sincerely hope that this was a minority but even that is too much. I also hope the team who made this extraordinary eye opener (for middle England like me) get an award.

I think that sometimes when we take our eye off the ball or when social climate seeks a scapegoat; racism, sexism etc often find a way back in to society.

Keep stamping it out I say, but it may mean that there is a danger of appearing patronising when the majority of society seem to have matured past our inexcusable and ignorant past.

Rhetorical Q - We have to include on RA's - especially for those in the public arena, but, by looking are we asking too much and using a 'spotlight on difference' ourselves I wonder - difficult one.

Searchlight Steve

Gary

There are major and serious issues behind all that has been said on this thread and the current HSE Consultation with respect to diversity indicates that the topic will become even more important as time passes. It is one of the reasons Council established a Working Party to review the needs of both the Institution and individual members in this area. The work has started and I, as chair of the working party, am happy to receive all comments and evidence on this topic.

Working in London for a large employer, we have a very mixed composition of staff. Whilst I see no racism (in five years, not even a hint of it thankfully) I do see "classism" (is there such a word?) where those at the lower end of the pay scale are almost expected to care less, and count less.

It's a tough job sometimes to avoid being patronising or to miss the target audience without being able to meet and know everyone on an individual basis ... something which work levels doesn't permit.

I honestly believe that further integration (getting to know each other) will diminish the problem ... that only happens with proximity though.

We all understand our friends better than our distant neighbours.

I have experiened this as well, however this is just another diversion method used by ignorant people that will use any 'angle' to resist change / improvement. I was interested to read that HSE are looking in cultural change and its affects in the workplace. I was hoping to use this subject for my MSC but wonder if its way to diverse?

Gary