After many years as a H&S Practitioner I've finally decided enough is enough and I'm moving on in a different direction.
Though I've loved my job I feel that it seems to have lost its focus as the reason I adopted this career path is I wanted people to be safe, not get hurt and go home in the same condition that they came to work. Now however the job seems to have moved further towards administration (due to insurers and not safety practitioners) and for want of a better phrase 'backside covering' in all directions.

It's also become monotonous when people expect me to wave my magic 'safety wand' and fix all their ills.

The ridicule that we are also subjected to via the media, and also the governments stance on our profession has also had a bearing. I used to be proud to tell people that 'I'm a Safety Manager, I try to stop people getting hurt and I save people's lives'. Nowadays if anyone asks I'm tempted to say 'I'm a Plumber!!'

Please don't think I'm a Moaning Minnie who's having a bad day I just wondered how others out there feel?

Andy

AW long time no see.

I've talked to a few people who went out and invariably they want back in after a short time. If you didn't care it wouldn't annoy you, that's the curse of the profession.

Jeff

Andy

I think many people go through the same feeling on any number of different jobs, and I would be lying if I were to say that I haven't felt the same. Keeping the spark alive can be difficult. Many of us will have had our advice ignored, lack the genuine demonstrable support of senior management and my personal favourite is the almost constant clamour for a risk assessment to be done, only for the actual content of the assessment to be totally ignored. Hopefully you'll find the motivation to continue, if not then good luck in whatever you do.

Plumber! Any good at mending leaky taps?

"I'm moving over to auditing"

And we all know that auditing never kept anyone safe !

But far less stressful!!

walkera

Best wishes with your new venture.

I have changed professions several times and now I'm too long in the tooth to consider another occupation, but not too far away from retirement...thank the Lord.

Agree it is all about paperwork, I started as union rep and used to relish the arguments with management about safety and people going home in the same condition they arrived. I have been on the other side a number of years now but find that the unions don't have the same enthusiasm that I have about people going home safe. They seem to be waiting ready to pounce. I still enjoy the difference everyday brings.

I am also an auditor and find that all I am doing is arguing with myself about the amount of documentation that I want to see that I haven't produced because I think it is just being over zealous. If you know what I mean! Good Luck.

Sorry I couldn't leave it at 13 comments as I'm superstitious

Andy

That's not the Ray Rapp I know. The secret is not to take it too seriously ... no matter what, and to appreciate that you are not able to change the world.

I must admit , I do feel like a traffic warden. Sometimes mentioning health and safety works in your favour. Whislt at Pizza Hut , the hot glass plates shattered so I told them that they werent allowed to serve the food currently on it. They did as I told them ( I didnt work there bear in mind). Then when they thanked me for letting them know , my partner mentioned my role and then for some reason we all got free desert?

I gather by health and safety nonsense you are not talking about the real issues in health and safety. I was talking to a friend on friday who informed me that a worker with him who was 17 had been given a nail gun toi use and the nail went through his hand, I asked him had he been trained and did he have a specific assessment for him. As usual he ranted about how health and safety was stopping them doing work etc. I asked the question if it was your son how would expect him to come home. He refused to answer and text me the next morning apologising and said it was the first time he had thought about it using his son as an example. I asked the question again and he text ' in the same condition as he went out in' job done. He owns the company and is now looking at specific assessments and training for young workers.

Just as a side note my dad broke both ankles in an accident that could have been prevented in the so called so called 'credible merchant navy ' I wonder how many others have been injured or killed whilst serving?

Hi Walkera, and everyone else,

I as sorry to hear you feel this way about your rolls within H&S, I have been working in this roll for 6 years as a part time assistant / coordinator within a QA roll and currently looking for a full time position as H&S and Risk Assessments are my passion.

Walkera,

Good luck, and I hope you have a Safe and Healthy future. :)