Rank: Forum user 
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Hello all,
I'm looking for ways to engage my workforce in health & safety this year. We have run some initiatives in the past - along the lines of European Health & Safety Week.
Have any of you implemented a worker engagement programme within your company? And would you be willing to share some of your experience?
Any suggestions / help / assistance offered would be gratefully appreciated!
Alex
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Rank: Forum user
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Anyone got any suggestions?
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Rank: Forum user
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Alex
I am a H&S Manager of a Construction/Fit Out company. I introduced a walk round inspection by individuals from each of the contractors working on sites, looking at health and safety issues and looking at how they could resolve the issues. There was no finger pointing, no blame, any issue that was found had to be there problem and they had to correct the problem.
I found that the number of health and safety issues dropped, the number of accidents dropped and also the site teams started to communicate with each other and coordinate there workload with others on sites.
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Rank: Forum user
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Many thanks Jim - much appreciated.
All,
are there any other ways I can involve my guys in the management of health & safety?
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Rank: Guest
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Alex
A method for engaging a workforce that is having substantial impact is improving levels of wellbeing and regulating sources of stress.
You can get the ball rolling by a survey of the workforce on their perceptions of wellbeing and sources of stress. Then make appropriate adaptations in liaison with line managers/team leaders and audit periodically to monitor how well they are embedded.
This works most effectively where safety/health professionals negotiate effective methods of contributing to high performance.
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Rank: Forum user
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We usually do something along the lines of the European Helath and Safety week as well as running OHS education days every two months (subjects such as healthy eating, posture, exercise, DSE - we try to vary the subjects).
More importantly we try to get employees involved in as much decision making as possible. So we have focus groups for things like safety shoes (trials of for and comfort etc.), stress (gaining their thoughts on which areas might be more stressful, how to issue the questionnaire, what corrective measures should be available) and a host of other subjects. There is always a H&S person there to guide the group but we get as much input as possible on our projects from our employees. It is an interesting way of doing things and it challenges some assumptions and ways of thinking (don't do it unless you have a thick skin!). If you need more information I will happily provide it.
We also do the usual such as thorough training for fire marshals, first aiders, safety reps, manual handling trainers etc.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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I involve members of the workforce in the review and compilation of risk assessments. It gives ownership and understanding of the process. I take so many employees and managers from different areas and have them review exisiting assessments it also gives the opportunity to offer training in the R/A process. We have senior managers and managers carrying out inspections to a set format and have an annual plan set out. This helps to portray a management led system.
A health and safety committee us also an ideal way to bring the workforce on board. We have a suggestion scheme with a reward system for any idea that is adopted, but we ensure that we feedback to all who make the suggestions.
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Rank: Forum user
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Alex,
All the suggestions above are all valid and I have found them productive to differing extents. I have also found that nothing beats getting out and amongst the workforce and letting them see that you are on their side and have their interests at heart when carrying out your duties. There is no greater tool or platform to engagement in my experience than being approachable, supportive, consistent and listening to the guys at the sharp end. I also wear the same uniform as the workforce through choice, I feel this also helps with communication and how you are percieved throughout the group of people who need your guidance and advice most. I work in Local Government and it has really made a positive impeprssion with the operational workforce.
Only my humble opinion but it seems to work for me ( along with all the other matters concerning consultation, communication, involvement, ownership etc)
Hope you find this helpfull
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Rank: Forum user
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Hi all,
Thanks very much for your posts - much appreciated.
I think it might be useful, given the number of views this thread received relative to the number of posts, to keep it open for people to dip into as and when?
So if anyone else has any other ideas why not share them? I'm currently looking into a couple of initiatives which I hope to tailor to my own company. If anyone wants to know how I get on then let me know.
Thanks again.
Alex
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