could i just say that i would expect a manager to suggest that we are all our own safety officers but I would not have expected it from a Health and Safety professional and i do not think the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) would be very happy with the statement you made " Basically everyone is their own safety advisor" the training is completely different operatives only receive awareness training. You most certainly have the right to agree with xxxxxxx but that does not mean it is right because if we were “Basically everyone is their own safety advisor" we would not need Mr xxxxxxxxxxx, that is why people sit NEBOSH examinations to become Health and Safety advisors This above paragraphs is a response I had from a safety representative; it was on the back of an e-mail i replied to. I haven't included all of the response for confidential reasons. Part of my e-mail I said "Basically everyone is their own safety advisor" meaning we all have a responsibility to our own and others safety. I would be interested to hear comments from other isoh members on his response, please bear in mind the culture at throughout the trade section of the company is a dependant culture. I have only been employed by the company for just over a year, I am on a long hard journey of trying to change the dependant culture into one of an independent one.

Good point Ciaran Bascially it was a response from me with regards to driving in bad weather conditions, we have a large fleet of vehicles. Housing Association. My Response. Drivers need to make a decision on weather to continue their journey or pull over to somewhere safe and contact their supervisors to advise accordingly should feel if driver conditions are unsafe. There seems to be dependent culture here where as there is an emphasis on management and supervisory control. The main aim for xxxxxxxxx is for a Independent culture where as employees focus on personal commitment to and responsibility for safety, employees should follow safety rules and procedures as well as look after their own health and safety and make choices to keep themselves safe. Basically everyone is their own safety advisor.

Refer them to the Road Traffic Act. The onus is on the driver to take account of the prevailing conditions hence if the road is icy and the speed limit is 60mph, you adjust your driving behaviour. Why not ask your local police force if they have somebody available to deliver a talk on driver safety. I ran one over here with the Irish police and it was very effective.

I would not use the term 'safety advisor' for others, but in principle I agree with the sentiments alluding from it. I believe that everyone knows how to work safely, but from time to time people don't for various reasons. Personal responsibility should be high on list of desirables, no one can be supervised all the time and people need to be reminded of their obligations to themselves and others.

I agree with Ray - not everone is their own safety advisor, but certainly everyone should be their own risk assessor. We all are constantly assessing the risks to our well being, from crossing the road to many of our everyday work tasks. Mostly it all happens subconsciously though.

Personally I think I agree with sentiment that everyone needs to take some responsibility for their own actions and situations as they arise. I thinks that's all it suggests really. Let's not get too hung up an the term 'safety advisor'.