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Posted By george guy
Good morning to all
I have a question that has been on my mind for some time, and would like to have others views on this;
Are we willing to throw in the towel too easy when we feel beaten?
I ask this because i have noticed on numerous threads that the most common answer is to find a new job. It may well just be me but i do not think finding a new job is always the answer.
I have found in my experience that the role of H&S professional has always been a challenge and would envisage it always will be.
You are usually sandwiched between the board of directors/senior management and the workforce, neither really appreciating your involvement or advice.
We face day to day challenges and how we deal with these differs with individuals. It may take time to alter a bad practice or even the culture within a company, this may well be at board level or shop floor. To face these challenges you need more than qualifications you need to be open, approachable and patient but with a tenacious and confident personality.
Confrontation is part of the job and we need to learn how to deal with it and overcome it.
You must not doubt yourself and you must be willing to take a step back at times. The drive for change must be led by you and the pace must be acceptable for all involved. You must always control the momentum. Too fast and people will feel railroaded too slow and loose confidence of people.
It has taken nearly 3 years for the change in culture to be evident within my workplace and it has been an uphill struggle, not always been positive but there is still more to do. I have always looked at the positives and tried not to dwell on the negatives, you need to gain every-ones confidence and this takes time. Profits/Cost/Time will always be the main hurdles to H&S but that is what makes it a rewarding challenge for all of us.
I believe if all who work for the company arrive home safely after their shifts then i have done my job and can sleep happy.
George
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Posted By Peter Leese
Interesting George and agree some of your sentiments, but I'm having a slight problem reconciling your penultimate paragraph where 'there is still more to do' with your 'seeking a new challenge' in the Careers Forum.
Was it a quick change of mind?
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Posted By Raymond Rapp
George
Whilst your propositions are morally correct in the real world life is not so simple. Many people are looking for advice, sympathy or both. For example, some new starters may lack the confidence to take on an intransigent employer. If they do, they may well find themselves out of a job. Either way, with little experience it may not be easy to find another position. I know I have been in such a position.
This Forum should be about supporting people who may for one reason or another, lack the assertiveness of others. Looking for another position is a viable alternative in some instances, as Peter has pointed out (ouch!).
Regards
Ray
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Posted By george guy
hi Peter
Good point Peter
with reference to my post in the careers forum, that is purely seeking new challenges due to wanting to gain further experience in different environments and not because i find my present position to be too much of a challenge.
the company is in a position now where they are heading in the right direction and i feel that, dare i say, the hard work has been done. Even though they still have a long way to go regarding the culture.
my point that i hoped to get across, although i admit i may not have achieved, is that people all too easily give in and look for another position. where they will probably come across the same challenges.
people do not want to be advised to look for a new position but would rather received advice on how to overcome these challenges.
some may be lucky in that they have full cooperation from all within the workplace.
but to be honest i think we all thrive on the challenges.
george
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Posted By Merv Newman
If Friday is the day for rants and jokes, is Saturday the day for philosophy ? (another word for navel gazing)
of course it is an up-hill job. We are trying to get management to put resources into H&S and they hate spending money on anything other than production. We are trying to get people to change their habits and behaviours. Which they hate doing.
How can we make them love it ? Sometimes (often) it's tough. Sometimes (not often enough) it's fun. But if you throw in the towel now and change employer you could just as easily find yourself in exactly the same position. And a longer commute. My advice is to try to tough it out. Either that or change your approach. Be a bit more user-friendly.
I got dumped into this trade about 30 years ago but had a good supportive boss and got some training.
Then I got put on a project to build and start up a new plant in France. In the previous 12 months they had burnt out three safety people. One got sacked, the other two had nervous breakdowns. The problem was a totally demanding and non-supportive plant manager.
And I didn't speak French, nor did I know the French legislation.
Tough it out and enjoy the adventure, or quit ?
I'm still here. The plant manager is long gone. We only had one LTI in the 10 years I was at the plant and life is good.
Advice ? Count your successes. Even the little ones.
How many people said hello to you with a smile yesterday ? More than one and you are doing ok.
Now is that philosophical enough for you ?
have a nice day. and I reallyreally mean that
Merv
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Posted By steven bentham
A quote from another challenging profession:
"The general trudged wearily into his tent and threw his helmet on the bunk. Another large dent was noticeable in the already battered headpiece.
He made a mental note that he must see about getting a new one. Obviously, as chief of all the ground forces in the area, he shouldn't be seen wandering around the battlefield with a battered helmet.
He sank into a chair and pulled off his mud-splattered boots. It had been an exhausting day. From the predawn preprarations, through the attack and smashing victory, to the relentless pursuit, the general had been on the move.
Now, he had won a major battle which would probably spell the end of the campaign and might even bring about the end of the war.
He felt a deep sense of accomplishment, but was too tired to be jubilant. Besides, there was still a great deal to be done.
(Julius Caesar)
. . . Its always been a hard slog George
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