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dgc837  
#1 Posted : 09 October 2017 19:35:56(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
dgc837

Not sure if this is the correct forum however...... There is a train of thought noting the "safety team" are somewhat accountable when it comes to the company accident stats. Finding it hard to accept but felt it worth a post to see if any others were of the same mindset or had experienced similar?
Roundtuit  
#2 Posted : 10 October 2017 07:22:16(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Roundtuit

Sounds like a typical poor management culture where the perception is the safety team are the only ones with any responsibility for ensuring Health, Safety & Well-Being at site

Whilst such teams can assist management with its duties this can only be so far without clear direction, definition and most importantly support

Perhaps the site managment (including supervision) are overdue some education regarding the impact of the 2016 Sentencing Guidelines and the current consultation on manslaughter - it would be highly unlikely the safety team would be the ones in court

At the end of the day the safety team may act with the delegated authority of the management however they cannot be delegated the responsibility

thanks 2 users thanked Roundtuit for this useful post.
dgc837 on 10/10/2017(UTC), dgc837 on 10/10/2017(UTC)
Roundtuit  
#3 Posted : 10 October 2017 07:22:16(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Roundtuit

Sounds like a typical poor management culture where the perception is the safety team are the only ones with any responsibility for ensuring Health, Safety & Well-Being at site

Whilst such teams can assist management with its duties this can only be so far without clear direction, definition and most importantly support

Perhaps the site managment (including supervision) are overdue some education regarding the impact of the 2016 Sentencing Guidelines and the current consultation on manslaughter - it would be highly unlikely the safety team would be the ones in court

At the end of the day the safety team may act with the delegated authority of the management however they cannot be delegated the responsibility

thanks 2 users thanked Roundtuit for this useful post.
dgc837 on 10/10/2017(UTC), dgc837 on 10/10/2017(UTC)
Oliverp1  
#4 Posted : 10 October 2017 07:23:45(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
Oliverp1

I would say its down to everybody if the safety team implement something and not all managers buy in then its never going to work. 

thanks 1 user thanked Oliverp1 for this useful post.
dgc837 on 10/10/2017(UTC)
DavidGault  
#5 Posted : 10 October 2017 07:28:23(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
DavidGault

I have come across that attitude.  "This happened on your watch" seems to be the approach despite the fact that it is not the EHS Manager's watch but the department manager, team leader, staff's watch, so to speak.  EHS Managers and their teams can give guidance and influence the culture but they are not omnipresent and all employees need to take responsibility for their actions.  I have found in the past that poor safety on a site tends to be just one symptom of a badly run business (or at least a department).

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dgc837 on 10/10/2017(UTC)
RayRapp  
#6 Posted : 10 October 2017 07:37:52(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
RayRapp

I agree with David's synopsis, it sounds like a blame culture exists in the organisation and the finger will be pointed at whoever is convenient at the time - everyone is responsible for good safety including senior management. Indeed, senior management set out the policies and practices, they are therefore more responsible than anyone.

Understanding the main causes of accidents/incidents is a precursor to preventing them through robust investigations. However a prevailing blame culture will inhibit the process where it is more imporatant to find the culprit than it is the underlying causal factors.  

thanks 1 user thanked RayRapp for this useful post.
dgc837 on 10/10/2017(UTC)
Steve e ashton  
#7 Posted : 10 October 2017 09:45:34(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Steve e ashton

It depends where you are in the world... In the UK, it is unlikely if not impossible unless the safety person/people were trully incompetent... In middle east, US and some African nations, then yes, it would be considered to fall at safety's feet...
thanks 1 user thanked Steve e ashton for this useful post.
dgc837 on 10/10/2017(UTC)
RayRapp  
#8 Posted : 10 October 2017 10:15:00(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
RayRapp

Originally Posted by: Steve e ashton Go to Quoted Post
It depends where you are in the world... In the UK, it is unlikely if not impossible unless the safety person/people were trully incompetent... In middle east, US and some African nations, then yes, it would be considered to fall at safety's feet...

True, but that is a cultural thing largely because those areas do not have mature safety and enforcement systems.

dgc837  
#9 Posted : 10 October 2017 20:08:03(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
dgc837

Great responses all and timely (thank-you). It does appear that this is a common perception and it's the safety teams job to keep everyone safe...if only. I wholly agree we are all in together and it starts with the individual and the actions they take, managers and their attitude to safe behaviours and leaders all all levels leading safety by example...if only!
A Kurdziel  
#10 Posted : 11 October 2017 12:46:25(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
A Kurdziel

In the original posting you mention H&S statistics are blamed on the H&S team. Could it be that the powers that be don’t like you collecting and collating such statistics and they would rather the numbers just disappear based on the well-known management principle that ignorance is bliss?

dgc837  
#11 Posted : 11 October 2017 19:48:35(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
dgc837

Originally Posted by: A Kurdziel Go to Quoted Post
In the original posting you mention H&S statistics are blamed on the H&S team. Could it be that the powers that be don’t like you collecting and collating such statistics and they would rather the numbers just disappear based on the well-known management principle that ignorance is bliss? Bit harsh but it does at time appear we are more focussed around numbers as opposed to what drives them....
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