What would you do if you have joined a company and realised they were only playing at safety and feel they brought you in as a tick box.

I was in the same position.

Things have improved 'slightly'- I must admit that its been a battle and very disheartening. Along with the pay!

As Animax01 has said- look for another job if things don't improve. I am.

Andy

What is the level of your position in the company ? You will have an immediate superior who you need to be involving in your day to day attempts at improving the culture.

I was once in a similar position, the first H&S Manager in a construction company and they thought I was there only to do the construction phase plans but I just went off and expanded the role as I saw fit.

I now get requests for H&S work as self employed from the owner of that company because we eventually had a brilliant working relationship and he could see the merits in having proper H&S.

Do not rub anyone up the wrong way, stay cool and talk to people as human beings. Get the workforce on your side by not being aloof and they may assist you efforts to get improvements.

If the pay isn't good then why take on the role in the first place? Surely the level of pay would have said something about the importance placed upon the role.

Good luck.

This is such a difficult position to be in; I can relate. And to some degree it depends, do you have a manager or a team that supports you/your role? Is it just one person or the whole culture? etc My concern, for me, is sometimes running away from the challenge before giving it a chance, but obviously not flogging a dead horse.

My advice would be:
Keep a record of significant conversations, emails etc.
Try not to wind people up too much; give them information and advice that allows them to make informed decisions, if they make wrong decisions that's up to them,
Don't compromise yourself or your principles or put yourself at risk (my managers favorite saying is 'principles don't pay the rent' my favorite response (mainly thought but not said) is 'maybe you're in the wrong job'.
Get to know the company, give it time to see some minor improvements,
if you can encourage external accreditation, it adds weight to what you are already saying to them.
Try not to take it personally, see it as an opportunity to learn.
Take up a contact or high intensity sport which helps with stress control!! ;)

But at the end of the day if this is the commitment that they show to you and your role then I wouldn't have too many problems keeping an eye on the jobs pages; protect yourself along the way and definitely agree with laughing.

Good luck.

I totally agree with that. I have been known- in the past, I hasten to add- to be quite confrontational, and I knew after that I had lost the battle. Lesson learned.

The only thing I have to do now is master the art of a 'poker face'. Apparently my face gives away quite a lot of my thoughts!

Andy

Invictus

Learn the relevant techniques for analysing the statements on which you base your judgments

This can enable you to advance arguments for improvements based on relevant analysis of relevant data.

It an also enable you to advance your case on the same basis in applying for an opportunity where an alternative game, more to your liking, is played.

Feels like my position too. I am trying to do my best, but its is such a slow process.

It happens, but learn from your experience and decide if you want to roll your sleeves up and get stuck in as best as you can or you actively seek an alternative employer.