Recently joined IOSH and picked up this thread. I on occasions come across similar views as I attempt to develop a positive safety culture throughout the British Army. The majority of problems I face result from individuals perception of Health and Safety and those people involved with managing the situation. We should change a lot of the phrases we use and some key terminology could better describe our business. Soldiers do not join the Army to be safe. Risk is part of everyday life so is it surprising that the automatic response when they hear or read the term Health & Safety is to switch off. We could perhaps be using terms such as Forceprotection or Workforce Protection. We need to get better buy in from those people we lead. Leadership is also key to a positive safety culture.

I think as long as so many H&S folk see 'elimination' of risk as their end game, and introduce completely over the top control measures, the public will continue with the 'elf & safety' view - and often I am on their side. The whole H&S push should be for controlling risk and not eliminating it. This means accepting some risk. As long as ERIC remains best friends with so many H&S professionals, the public cynicism will be alive and kicking.

Yes. And in the main, it's the H&S industry! Still blaming anyone and everyone else for the widespread negative perception of this 'profession' will take matters no further forward, but probably serve only to entrench attitudes and further disengage all of those who you wish to save from themselves.

Hate is such a strong word. Just talking about electrical here. Before I took the NEBOSH courses I used to think that the H&S people I rubbed shoulders with were a pain in the bottom. Now I hold both Occupational and Construction certificates (with distinction) I know that most of them really are! Even here, in our own little cyber space the same old (electrical) nonsense is spouted. So little wonder Elves are held in what is little more than contempt. The 'we know best' line is laughed at to be honest. Qualified men/women such as plumbers and electricians etc as a rule, do know how to look after ourselves as we understand our roles. Far too many people go on courses and the try and work out 'job analysis' when in truth this can only be done by people who really know what the job entails. It seems to me that for an electrician to try and give advice to a chap/girl working in the a field outside their own is a joke. How can someone with a cooking background give reasoned advice to electrical staff when all they know is taken from a book in the classroom? Even on the construction course that I took, the reference book had the incorrect electrical definitions but when I offered up ,and proved, the advice given was incorrect, I had to put these answers into the examination paper.

Personally I'm always ready to learn, although I do not always like being taught." Sir Winston Churchill. Most of us have been driving for a number of years I guess. How many of us have said "Thank you" to the spotty 17yr-old who from the backseat reminds us about rear observations, signals, and speed? If doctors, nurses, and health and safety professionals smoke tobacco and speed whilst driving it is obviously nothing to do with training standards or information. All of us know the personal risks (and vicarious risks) associated with these two conscious decisions and the outcomes. Yet still we make them. It appears to be the human condition to ignore what we want to, to dislike what we disagree with, and to avoid everything that is not completely enforceable. I will always try to make my training informative and enjoyable - but I have no illusions that most of it will be forgotten in time as it is seldom reinforced or monitored with consequences.