Posted By David I have been asked to report to my Director on how safety culture can be improved. However I consider the Director to be a large part of the problem. Although great emphasis is placed on safety the company management style is very directive and significant issues around funding and resources are not addressed. Safety Culture is seen very much as a problem for individual departments Can anyone recommend any reference material which highlights the crucial role of company directors to help me prepare this report in the most diplomatic way possible?!

Posted By Ian Waldram As IOSH President, I presented a paper at the Butterworths Tolley Conference on October 18th titled "Helping Leaders to Lead", which was primarily about the importance of leadership behaviours - not just from Directors, but certainly including them. I've e-mailed a copy to you, feel free to use it, but please acknowledge IOSH as the source. I'd also be happy to have your comments on it. There is a Powerpoint presentation that is less comprehensive than the paper.

Posted By Bruce Sutherland Proper reply this time not just chasing a freebie set of slides - perhaps the issue is the relationship with the senior management and telling them things they they probably do not want to hear! Several of the people who have replied to you are ex HSE / consultants and in that role would be more than happy to tell a senior memeber of staff exactly what the score was - it is however much more difficult when it is your boss / bosses boss etc. The main thing is that you need to balance the legal / cost / and moral arguements - the costs of accidents/secret syphon / HSG65 approach is useful and shows that we are not afraid to talk numbers - the law is the law, and has some effect but most organisations break quite a lot of legislation most of the time and get away with it - corporate killing may help - the moral line can be quite effective - inquests are not fun! I feel that the answer does not lie with a single approach, but by careful selection of appropriate tool. We can only guess what the state of your organisation is.. you will obviously know and hopefully choose appropriately! I would aim to try to put across the risks to the company and the individuals involved so that at least they have been warned! Please phone if you wish to discuss cheers Bruce 01364 644583

Posted By Terry Smith Your predicament is not uncommon. You may wish to grab attention by focusing on the cost of incidents, both direct and indirect. The HSE booklet "The costs of Accidents at Work" provides useful statistics and graphics. Use HSE to educate the management team on the "Four C's" and the need for managers to lead by example. Prepare some ideas for key managers to adopt to set good examples. In not knowing the details of your organisation it's difficult to be specific. Hope my thoughts prove useful. Could you please send me a copy of Ian Waldram's paper and the Powerpoint presntation. Many thanks - Terry Smith

Posted By Ian Waldram I need your e-mail address Bill. For others who would like a copy, I suggest you contact me directly "ian@shequality.fsnet.co.uk", as very little of this thread is helping David further with his original request!