As we all actually know, making people aware and involving them in Health and Safety management has a positive effect on improving the safety of the workplace. This is a key point in the Health and Safety Commission Strategy document.

 

Health & Safety Executive Inspectors have recently (DEC 06) been issued with a document encouraging them to look for ‘worker involvement’ during their routine visits.

 

They are looking for evidence of how employers Inform employees, Consult with employees and Incorporate those processes within their management system.

 

Obviously employees have access to the Information and Risk Assessment sections of the system.

 

They also have access to the HSE Guidance Publications section (copies of relevant publications should be printed off and be available in common areas).

 

Walkabout Inspections should be delegated across all roles, including Apprentices, Technicians, Dealer Principal, etc. It is often surprising what a ‘different’ pair of eyes sees around the premises.

 

Staff interviews are an informal process of engaging employees to gauge just how aware they are of risks and what they understand from the system.

 

Monthly meetings have a structured agenda that can be used to identify concerns from each department.

 

Health & Safety Management is something to be done with the employees, not to them!

 

HSE Inspectors are tasked with looking for evidence of that approach.

 

See also Information – What to do – When an inspector calls;

 

HSE Extract, reference Inspectors: