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Health and Safety: It’s EVERYONE’S Responsibility

18/01/2016 We read an interesting blog recently on the Health and Safety Executive website. It was by Dame Judith Hackitt, Chair of the Health and Safety Executive, and brought up the very interesting topic of who within an organisation is responsible for the health and safety of its workers. A very good question ...

We read an interesting blog recently on the Health and Safety Executive website. It was by Dame Judith Hackitt, a British engineer, civil servant and Chair of the Health and Safety Executive.

Ms Hackitt said that one of the memories that stayed with her most from her first full time employed position after graduating from university was the emphasis her employer placed on safety from day one, and every day that followed.

Driving into her workplace each morning, she and her co-workers were greeted by a sign that declared, "You are responsible for safety". As Ms Hackitt quite rightly says, "We are all responsible for our own safety and for the safety of those around us - regardless of role, seniority or job title."

Not my Job?
This firm belief was brought home to Ms Hackitt when she attended a conference. A legal firm that regularly represents companies and their employees in cases under investigation by the HSE staged a role play exercise. The scenario was based around a worker who had suffered a serious injury at work. A ‘HSE inspector' was interviewing a ‘first line supervisor', and asked if he had considered the risks involved in the job and the potential for the worker to take shortcuts, which in doing so would put him in a situation where he was at risk.

The response from the ‘supervisor' was, "that's not my job - that's the health and safety manager's responsibility'.

When the role play had finished, the solicitor informed the audience that "not my responsibility" is the phrase they hear most from managers, supervisors and employees during investigations.

At this point Ms Hackitt said she wondered how we got to this point, saying, "Surely the role of the health and safety professional in any organisation has to be to ensure others understand their role and their responsibilities not do it for them?" She said the responsibility should always be retained by those doing the work and those who supervise it.

What is the Health and Safety Culture in YOUR Organisation?

Ms Hackitt's blog concluded with a very good suggestion: conduct your own litmus test: pose the same question to a supervisor, manager or worker in your organisation. Will they know and accept their responsibility, or instead would they cite it as the role of the health and safety manager? Run the test: it could prove an interesting insight into the real culture of health and safety within your organisation.

You can read Judith Hackitt's blog, ‘Risk Assessment - Taking (away) Responsibility' in full here.


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