Hi all I currently work for a small fabrication firm as the H&S officer. I've had a seriously hard time pushing things forwards into this century so far. The Company is switching to another external H&S consultant and I'm reading/annotating the draft H&S policy. I feel I am being named as responsible for so many roles & responsibilities I simply cannot fulfil due to a lack of support, resources or communication. For example; an unguarded bench saw with was purchased off Ebay without consulting me on PUWER requirements. It has no guards, no ESD or brake on the saw blade. I advised the powers that be that there was no way they were getting the workshop staff to operate that. I was verbally advised that this was for home use and was only being stored there. A few days later I found the same bench saw with a guard made from aluminium channel, a plug wired on and a steel frame with castors had been fabricated and fitted. There was swarf all around it. Being legally named in the H&S policy as responsible for all equipment being compliant with PUWER, EC Machinery Directive etc. BEFORE being put into use; I am right in thinking unless I physically stand in front of the saw and stop people using it I just have to hope and pray no one gets hurt or would a written record advising the Directors that it breaches many regulations be enough to absolve me legally? Morally is a different story, granted...

Hi Pikeman Thanks for the advice. I've been regularly reporting my H&S concerns and CC'ing my personal email in so I can keep a written record of my advice. I have been trying to get them on an IOSH Directing Safely for the whole time I've been here and have repeatedly developed action plans that I circulate and are ignored. Unfortunately; as I have no NEBOSH certs I may well have to back pedal my career to avoid prison...

Pete It sounds like you are doing the right things here. Keep going with it, I was told that when working in H&S you have to be like a dog with a bone - do not just let it go. Keep putting everything you advise in writing. That way if, heaven forbid, something does go wrong and someone gets hurt, this will give you some evidence of what you have done. Your advice RE the saw is sound an is basic stuff which they should have been aware of. I only ever document the advice I give that is ignored / not taken - documenting everything would be a nightmare.... You have got to protect yourself this is your livelihood. Don't back pedal your career unless you are 100000% sure you don't want to do H&S and, if you can, get yourself on a course and get a qualification for two reasons. 1) it helps demonstrate a higher level of competence and 2) it will give some weight to your advice as you are now officially "qualified", I have always found that the designation that IOSH offers has helped with this too (others will disagree - I know that's a hot topic!). In short, keep going and remember that this forum is here full of H&S people to support you.

Thanks for the advice and support all! I've been trying to safeguard myself as best I can. I was promised my NEBOSH certificates when offered the job here over 2 years ago. Another bone of contention. Guess there's not much more I can do. I do feel slightly more at ease now though :)

Hang in there. Remember you are there to protect your work colleagues from your shared management! Email is your friend. Send an email..." confirming that on the xx/xx/2015 I saw in use a saw which previously I had been told by XX was being stored for offsite home use.This is not the case, and I confirm in writing that this machine should not be used with immediate effect". Copy various managers and when the ask why you have done this, tell them this is what you are going to present to the Court, should an accident occur. Should start to wake them up. I do agree that there seems to be an urgent need for education - why not attach a link to a recent HSE prosecution for unsafe machinery with your email that has resulted in managers being fined.

We can all advise you of the rights and wrongs and laws and what you should or should not do etc., but ultimately it's for you to decide as you are the one in the hot seat. You are responsible for the advice you give. The NEBOSH will not change your situation if the management will not listen to your advice now then they will not likely listen to you with a NEBOSH. I would be considering my options on who I work for, albeit I do appreciate that may be easier said that done. If you want the qualification to improve your employment prospects then I would suggest you consider funding yourself, if that is feasible, and then apply for other jobs. Ultimately it's your decision. Regards

SDCL You have my sympathies. I was in the same position as you some years back- the HSE had already been involved (a near fatality). The HSE advised them to get a Safety Manager (they already had a safety officer who was a puppet). I was commissioned for 6 months - after six hours I had a good vista of what this outfit was all about. Some two months into the commission the HSE arrived back as they had promised, unannounced to me by the corporate bods including the safety officer. The latter greeted the HSE Inspectors. There were two of them. They asked to see the Safety Manager - me. The Safety Officer introduced them to me. The inspectors indicated they wished to talk to me and tour the site/works. The Safety Officer wished to be enjoined in the talk and walk. The Inspector's rejected his request. These folk are no mugs and wernt about their tasks with admirable professionalism. Some few months later a new regieme took over and after six months I bailed out. Best wishes Jon

Thanks for the replies guys. I've been protecting myself to a certain level but Alfasev is right. I've had people I previously thought trustworthy turn on me in other situations. Nothing like money to make people change (excuse the pun). I'm going to try my best to armour plate myself whilst I find a way out. A paper trail always beats "he say. she say".