What Makes A Good

Safety Professional?

Nicola McCracken CMIOSH, ICIOB

Employment History:

2002 to present – Lagan Construction – H&S Manager

2000 to 2002 – Highway Plant Co Ltd – H&S Manager and Plant Instructor

1991 to 2000 – John Laing Construction – began as Assistant in the H&S Dept and progressed to H&S Manager

Recent Contracts:Benazir Bhutto International Airport, Pakistan, £156M

Recent Contracts:Enniskillen Wastewater Treatment Works, NI £11.4M

Recent Contracts:Limerick Tunnel PPP, Ireland, €400M

What Do Companies Want in a Good Safety Professional…

Job Advert Jan 2015 – Health and Safety Advisor – Thames Valley

One of the UK’s largest utilities companies is seeking an H&S Advisor to join its large safety team. Working across a wide variety of water utilities projects, this will be a multi-site role across the Thames Valley region.The Role:• Carrying out audits, accident and incident investigations, producing SHE performance reports, carrying out root cause analysis and on-site H&S training as required on sites in Swindon, Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire• Successfully manage the H&S performance of a variety of sub-contractors, building strong relationships with a range of different stakeholders• Influence and develop H&S awareness successfully at site level, contributing towards positive cultural changeThe Candidate:• NEBOSH Diploma is desirable • Experience of utilities and related areas of construction and infrastructure is highly desirable• Excellent communication skills, and the ability to forge strong relationships with a range of stakeholders• Well-placed and prepared to travel fairly widely across the Thames Valley region

Job Advert Jan 2015 – Health and Safety Advisor – Manufacturing and Distribution

A global distribution organisation is looking to appoint a H&S Advisor to join their existing team within a fast-paced, 24/7 distribution operation. The successful candidate will be tasked with developing and maintaining a positive H&S culture on the shop-floor. This is an exciting opportunity to join a FTSE 100 company and will suit an enthusiastic H&S professional with the ability to influence and engage others.The Role:• To work with key stakeholders in order to develop and maintain a positive H&S culture• Carry out training and audits on a regular basis• Support others with day-to-day H&S adviceThe Candidate:• Demonstrate the ability to engage and influence others• Maintain a hands-on approach – The ability to build working relationships is vital• Experience in a distribution or similar environment • Hold the NEBOSH Certificate as a minimum requirement

Job Advert Jan 2015 - Divisional HSE Manager – Manufacturing and Distribution

A global manufacturing organisation is looking to appoint a proven HSE professional for a newly created position. This is a highly strategic role that requires the ability to influence stakeholders across multiple sites. It is essential that applicants have experience within complex and high-risk organisations.The Role:• Lead the HSE performance and standards within this division• Work with key-stakeholders in order to review and develop performance• Develop and maintain a culture, coupled with workable and robust systems• Work with the wider management teams in developing future programmesThe Candidate:• Candidates must be a Chartered member of IOSH and degree qualified• Experience in a similar position• Previous experience of leading other key-stakeholders• Proven multi-site experience • Experience in manufacturing would be advantageous

Job Advert Jan 2015 – HSE Manager – Service Sector

A London based charity and social housing provider is currently looking to recruit a Health and Safety Manager. Primarily London based you will act as the central focal point for all H&S activities. Operating at highly visible managerial level you will be required to influence and engage with senior stakeholders across the business. Suitable candidates will be qualified to NEBOSH Diploma level with proven managerial experience. The Role:• Act as the competent person for the housing trust• Provide top level advice and guidance to the board• Engage with external enforcement bodies• Design, develop and implement H&S policies and procedures• Act as the focal point for all H&S activitiesThe Candidate:• NEBOSH Diploma qualified• GradIOSH or CMIOSH• Able to develop and deliver bespoke training packages• Strong communicator, able to influence at all levels• Experience of drafting H&S policies and procedures• London based

�Key Areas I will look at:

�Personality

�Approach

�Teamwork

�Adaptability

�Communication

Personality – Is it important?

� Definition: Personality is made up of the characteristic

patterns of thoughts, feelings and behaviours that make

a person unique. In addition to this, personality arises

from within the individual and remains fairly consistent

throughout life.

Personality – Is it important?Management Skills Matrix – Self Assessment of Behaviour:

Confident Encouraging of others

Caring- “social worker” Enterprising

Challenging Persistent

Entrepreneurial Assertive

Enthusiastic Giving Praise and Recognition

Good at follow through Construction Reprimand

Innovative “Can Do”

Persuasive Realistic

Personality – Is it important?

� Health and Safety - dry subject - you are more likely to engage with others in the workplace if you can bring legal requirements to life.

� Important to be able to advise clearly on legislation and deal with those who may be negative towards the real meaning of h&s at work.

Personality – Is it important?

� HSE Website – Top H&S Myths:� Children being banned from playing conkers unless they are

wearing goggles

� Office workers being banned from putting up Xmas decorations

� Trapeze artists being ordered to wear hard hats

� Pin the tail on the donkey games being deemed a H&S risk

� Candy floss on a stick being banned in case people trip and impale themselves

Approach – how to make this work?

� Try to be seen as adding value

� People management skills vitally important

� Hard line or soft – depends on situation:� Accident / incident investigation – legal v moral� Senior management v peers v subordinates� Dealing with customers / clients / other

interested parties� Internal Issues with employees

Teamwork – What really gets your foot in the door

Internal stakeholders in the business:� HSEQ Dept� Other departments eg HR (overlap re Occ Health and Drug

and Alcohol policies etc.)

Prequal and Tendering� Construction sites – difference between site team looking

forward to you coming or seeing you as just wielding a big stick if you only audit and appear to criticise

� Companies within the Group

It is also key to understand commercial issues

Teamwork – What really gets your foot in the door

External stakeholders:� Construction groups – CITB, CEF, CIF, CECA etc� Safety Organisations – NISG, NISO, Buildhealth etc� Statutory Bodies – HSENI, HSE, HAS

Vital to Forge Links

Adaptability / Flexibility – just how many hats?

� Flexibility is vital to succeed:� Need to adapt approach to differing situations� Provide information in different ways to different

people� Daily planning – can all change if an incident

occurs or urgent information is requested� Travel Issues� Company Pressures

Adaptability / Flexibility – just how many hats?

Example of Working in Pakistan- necessary to adapt and use skills to deal with different cultures and environments than we are used to. Life seen as cheap and health and safety at work non-existent.

Adaptability / Flexibility – just how many hats?

Pakistan Experience

Communication – the right and the wrong way

� Internal v External

� Importance of having ability to remain objective in volatile situations

� Be informed - Have your facts before meetings –good preparation essential

� Know who you will be meeting / talking to

In summary:

Health and Safety is a skill but also requires knowledge!

Be approachable

Understand humanbehaviour