Construction manager Neil Pepper takes us through his experiences as a safety professional, and how his reputation often precedes him.
Twenty plus years ago, when I was a new safety professional, attitudes and approaches were notably different than what we expect today. I learned from experienced colleagues in the field that you just sort of turned up, pointed out the bad stuff people were doing, and issued improvement notices or prohibitions closing down works.
Back then, the notion of positive reinforcement and ‘one team’ approaches were quite embryonic. We were the safety police, the Department of Stopping Works!
Building a healthy, collaborative culture
So yes, I was part of that old culture. I did my share of negative reinforcement and shutting down work sites, no question about that.
I got completely used to being shunned when I turned up at site, where 100 supplier staff would move pointedly away from wherever I was stood. The conversations would dissolve into quiet whispers and furtive glances. I learned to live with the isolation and suspicion, and the fear that some clearly felt.
Today we’re in a much healthier and collaborative environment. I’m pleased to be able to say that. Safety or compliance professionals are generally now encouraged to work towards visible safe solutions whenever possible, rather than a slam dunk of simply stopping works and walking away, leaving the teams to find the solution whilst feeling both alienated and unsupported.
It seems though, well at least in my own case, that you can never quite escape your past.
In recent years (certainly in the last five to eight), I’ve rarely had cause to take action to close down any sites. I’ve stopped works temporarily whilst we have worked through a solution – especially when a closure action would have impacted the operational running of a service in the morning.
I’ve taken people out of work groups whilst I’ve made the trip back to my vehicle to find a suitable pair of glasses or gloves. I jokingly refer to my vehicle as Thunderbird 2, as it carries so much equipment for all such moments.
Despite all of my efforts, I’m still the Department of Stopping Works for some. Any knowledgeable and experienced safety professional can find a reason to stop works if they apply their mind long enough to the task. The real challenge is to actually find an implement a solution that allows you to continue without any notable risk to staff, customers or assets!
On occasion, of course, the only correct thing to do is to stop all activity: you simply run out of all options. One thing I’ve come to be most conscious of over the years is that you have to live with every decision you make for the remainder of your life.
A few years ago, a compliance-based colleague called me in the early hours of the morning to say that a group of contracting staff had some concerns.
They were moving materials on an escalator somewhere in the business and when he challenged them they replied “Ah, but Neil said it was OK.”
I politely asked for some more information, and the chap went off to find out.
Ten minutes later, he called back and I could instantly hear the amusement in his voice. “Well Neil, I guess you don’t remember the solution you approved for this team SEVEN years ago, eh?”
Does your reputation precede you? Do you have any advice to change people’s perception, especially when you have to make tough decisions? Let me know in the comments.