INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF AND SAFETY MANAGEMENT

Issue 11/2016 Visit our website at www.iirsm.org The true cost of reputational damage

If your company appeared in court As well as the dramatic increase in the recover. It is unlikely that 31 separate deaths tomorrow and was hit with a multi- levels of fines – which incidentally are more would have prompted the same response. million pound fine, could it survive? likely to make the headlines – Section 10 of Last year a Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Even if it had the means to pay, the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate survey revealed that only 19% of senior the reputational damage it would Homicide Act allows the courts to impose executives would say their companies suffer would almost certainly have a publicity orders on convicted firms to attract deserve an “A” for their ability to protect detrimental effect on . additional adverse publicity and potentially against and respond to reputation , Since the revised Sentencing Guidelines damage its reputation. Previous notices have while 39% said the maturity of their risk came into force earlier this year, big either appeared in local newspapers or, in strategy was average or below average. have been hit with huge penalties the case of joinery firm Peter Mawson, on its In today’s global, fast-moving social thanks to their turnover. The pages of this website. Mobile Sweepers (Reading), which media landscape, reputational issues can issue alone document Tesco’s £500,000 fine was convicted of corporate manslaughter in spread and amplify extremely quickly. Often after a worker suffered bruises following a February 2014, was required to take out ads it will come down to the speed at which fall, Network Rail’s £4 million penalty after a in two local newspapers. issues are identified and how they are pensioner was killed on a level crossing, and But it’s not just killing workers that subsequently handled. Merlin’s £5 million fine following the Alton attracts bad publicity. After the King’s Cross Does your organisation have a strategy to Towers rollercoaster crash – the biggest fire in 1987, travel on London Underground protect its reputation? Perhaps it’s time you penalty to date for a non fatal incident. dropped by 6% and took two years to addressed this emerging risk.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE Rooftop fall costs Cyber : Robot protects Case study: how 03 supermarket giant 06 guides, research and 09 workers in 10 Mobile Mini drove £500,000 white papers hazardous oil fields down accidents News Prosecutions News Prosecutions

SAFE SYSTEMS OF WORK MENTAL HEALTH WORK AT HEIGHT Alton Towers operator fined Survey reveals Tesco in court £5m over ride collision scale of problem after worker More than three-quarters of employees have experienced poor plummeted 30ft mental health, and almost half of workers would not talk to their through skylight manager about a mental health issue, according to a new report. Supermarket giant Tesco has been fined Released to coincide with World £500,000 after a maintenance worker fell Mental Health Day on 10 October, through a skylight onto the shop floor. the Business in the Community (BITC) On 13 June 2014, Andrew Burgess was charity uncovered that while employers part of a team carrying out repairs to are talking more about mental health, the roof and gutters of the Express store words are not translating into action. in Liscard Village, Wallesey, when the

More than 20,000 participants took incident happened. He fell 30 feet and © Google Maps part in a YouGov panel survey (3,036 suffered cuts, bruises and muscle damage. Judge Steven Everett said it was ‘a minor miracle’ Burgess had not been killed or seriously injured respondents) and a public open survey Customers in the store accompanied him (16,246 respondents). to a local NHS walk-in centre. ❝❝“I am shocked at a company 10 of the Construction (Design and According to the study, 62% had Tesco Maintenance and Tesco Stores the size of Tesco failing to Management) Regulations 2007. It was © Damien Mcfadden / Associated Newspapers/REX/Shutterstock© Damien Mcfadden / experienced physical, psychological or were prosecuted by the HSE following fined £200,000 plus costs. Victims’ solicitor Paul Paxton said “money alone will never replace limbs” behavioural symptoms of poor mental an investigation that found no risk take even basic precautions Tesco Maintenance pleaded guilty to health where work issues played a part, assessment or method statement had to prevent injury to its breaching Regulation 9 of the Work at The owner of Alton Towers has been fined the UK’s biggest theme park, he added. and 24% had experienced symptoms in been produced before carrying out the employees and further, to Height Regulations and Sections 2(1) and a record £5 million for the “catastrophic” The organisation originally said the the last month alone. work. 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act. rollercoaster crash last year that left five accident was caused by “human error.” But Three in four line managers (76%) Liverpool Crown Court heard that as risk injury to the public.” It was ordered to pay £300,000 plus costs. passengers with life-changing injuries and prosecutors argued the fault was with the believe that employee wellbeing is the shop has a false ceiling, the skylights Speaking after the hearing, HSE others seriously hurt. employer, not individuals. their responsibility, yet only 22% had had been painted white along with the before he could complete the task Burgess Inspector Chris Hatton said: “I am shocked The judge, Michael Chambers QC, said The court had heard how engineers received some form of training on rest of the roof, but the skylights were not fell through one of them. at a company the size of Tesco failing to Merlin Attractions Operations’ safety failed to notice a carriage that had stopped mental health at work. marked as fragile. Tesco Stores pleaded guilty to take even basic precautions to prevent procedures were “woefully inadequate” midway round the 14-loop ride. “Our findings show that we need A colleague began marking around the breaching Section 3(1) of the Health injury to its employees and further, to risk and a “shambles” in scathing criticism over They assumed there was a problem more openness, more training and skylights with yellow warning paint, but and Safety at Work Act and Regulation injury to the public.” the Smiler crash on 2 June 2015. with the computer and overrode the stop information, and more support for He added: “This was a needless and mechanism setting another train in motion employees and managers,” said Louise avoidable accident in which those injured and into the empty carriage. Aston, Wellbeing Director at BITC. “This WORKPLACE TRANSPORT were fortunate not to have been killed or Bernard Thorogood, prosecuting, said is why we are asking employers to take InBrief to have bled to death.” workers had not been given a system to three steps – talk, train and take action. The two-day sentencing at Stafford follow which would safely deal with the “Progress will only happen when Housebuilder fined £800k over segregation failings MoD receives Crown Censure Crown Court heard how the crash was like issue. He said engineers had not read or employers approach mental ill health The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has a 90mph car accident, and that the victims seen the ride’s operating instructions. as they would physical ill health – doing ●● CDM failing lands Crest Nicholson in court and the skin on his left arm and leg was been issued with a Crown Censure by waited nearly an hour in mid-air before Since the crash, a number of safety what they can to prevent ill health ●● Housebuilder did not monitor whether removed. the HSE for the second time this year paramedics were able to access the £18 changes have been made, including occurring or escalating, and ensuring segregation was effective He fractured his left hip, all the fingers over the death of a fusilier. million ride. improved access and a policy of closing proper support for employees when it on his right hand were broken and his left On 14 September 2011, 21-year-old Chambers said Vicky Balch and Leah the ride when winds exceed 34mph. happens.” Developer Crest Nicholson has been leg is now permanently shorter than his Dean Griffiths was lined up against the Washington, who each lost a leg, were prosecuted after a site supervisor right by 20mm. wooden wall of a compound at Lydd fortunate not to have bled to death in the was struck by an HGV at a site in Crest Nicholson, which ran the Ranges military firing range in Kent. For CCTV footage of the crash, visit Less than a quarter of line four to five hours they were trapped on the www.healthandsafetyatwork.com/ 22% Wokingham, Berkshire. project, was accused of failing to plan Two colleagues entered the compound, Smiler. On that day Alton Towers “fell well risk-assessment/alton-towers-merlin- managers have had training Reading Crown Court heard that and manage workplace transport followed by a safety supervisor, and short” of the safety standards expected of fine-smiler the housebuilder failed to segregate effectively by the HSE. one fired two shots at a target. pedestrians and vehicles, and failed to Prosecutors told the court the A bullet passed through the monitor whether workers stayed behind incident could have been avoided if the incorrectly placed target and hit EDITOR Registered in England and Wales This publication is intended to be a general Kellie Mundell Charity No 1107666 guide and cannot be a substitute for roadside pedestrian barriers. developers had taken action to ensure Griffiths in the neck as he stood on the [email protected] Company No 5310696 professional advice. Neither the authors nor David Cole was working on the workers stayed behind the pedestrian other side of the wall. It severed an DESIGNER the publisher accept any responsibility for loss Carrie Love PUBLISHED BY occasioned to any person acting or refraining housing project in Mulberry Grove in barriers and did not walk in the road artery and he died at the scene. LexisNexis from acting as a result of material contained December 2014 when he was pulled while heavy goods vehicles were moving. The MoD was also hit with a CHIEF EXECUTIVE ADDRESS © Reed Elsevier (UK) Limited 2016 in this publication. under a large bulk powder carrier. Crest Nicholson pleaded guilty to Crown Censure in March over the Phillip Pearson IIRSM, 77 Fulham Palace Road, Printed by Headley Brothers Ltd, Kent Reproduction, copying or extracting DIRECTOR OF MEMBERSHIP London W6 8JA, UK by any means of the whole or part of this He was walking along the nearside breaches of Regulation 36 (1) of the deaths of three army reservists on an AND COMMUNICATIONS Tel +44 (0)20 8741 9100 publication must not be undertaken without of the vehicle when it pulled forward, Construction (Design and Management) SAS selection exercise in the Brecon Clare Fleming Fax +44 (0)20 8741 1349 the written permission of the publishers. MANAGING EDITOR Website www.iirsm.org turned towards the nearside and hit him. Regulations 2007. As well as the fine, it Beacons in Wales (see page five of Louis Wustemann Email [email protected] ISSN 1746-1359 Cole suffered life threatening injuries was ordered to pay £10,984 in costs. Insight issue 04/16).

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PUBLIC SAFETY WORK AT HEIGHT BREXIT InBrief

Homeware firm’s ‘breathtaking’ Tough new safety rules for HGVs EU requirements Multi-million pound fine for driving in London will be coverted failure to manage risks leads to Transport for London (TfL) has ignoring visibility warning announced plans to introduce a tough new ‘direct vision standard’ for HGVs into UK law £2.2m fine operating on the capital’s roads, to cut the toll of accidents linked to drivers’ ●● Great Repeal Bill will instantly annul the blind spots. ●● Platform was unguarded ability for EU law to take instant effect The plans, now in consultation, in UK ●● Worker fell 8ft to his death involve rating all HGVs from zero to A proposal to end the European five stars according to the field of vision Union’s legal supremacy in the UK In what is thought to be the from the driver’s cab. will convert all EU requirements into largest ever fine following a London Mayor Sadiq Khan hopes to British law as soon as Britain exits the Local Authority prosecution, a outlaw all zero-rated cabs from 2020. union. wholesaler has been ordered The plan would also require all HGVs “The Great Repeal Bill” will annul to pay £2.2 million following on London’s roads to have a three- the 1972 European Communities Act the death of an agency star rating by 2024. Read more: www. (ECA), which gives EU law instant effect worker at the company’s healthandsafetyatwork.com/road- in the UK, and give Parliament the Buckinghamshire site. safety/tfl-direct-vision power to absorb parts of EU legislation Decco, which operates from into UK law and scrap elements it does industrial premises at Latimer HSE considers consolidating not want to keep. Road in Chesham supplying hazardous substances laws Prime Minister Theresa May and retailers and construction The HSE is asking businesses for © Facebook/Gipsy Lane Railway Crossing © Facebook/Gipsy Lane Railway

Brexit Secretary David Davis plan to Olive McFarland, 82, was hit by a train as she crossed this track near Needham Market in Suffolk companies with DIY, gardening © Chiltern District Council opinions on how it should revise three introduce the Bill as early as the spring, and housewares products, William Richardson suffered fatal brain injuries when he fell eight major sets of regulations governing with its passage through Parliament set received the fine at Aylesbury feet from this wet, wooden unguarded platform the management of hazardous to take place in parallel to withdrawal ●● Worker warned rail firm of danger unnecessary danger,” said Ian Prosser, HM Crown Court on 9 September substances in the workplace. The negotiations in Brussels. ●● More than 1,000 level crossings have been Chief Inspector of Railways. 2016 after admitting at an earlier hearing He was airlifted to the John Radcliffe regulations under the spotlight are closed in recent years Speaking during the Conservative “Over the past decade, Network Rail to breaching Sections 2(1) and 3(1) of the Hospital in Oxford but died on 3 the Control of Substances Hazardous party conference at the beginning of has focused its attention and investment Health and Safety at Work Act. December from his injuries. to Health Regulations (COSHH), the October, Davis said: “It’s very simple. At Network Rail has been fined £4 million on improving health and safety on The accident happened on 25 A site inspection subsequently carried Control of Lead at Work Regulations the moment we leave, Britain must be for a string of safety failures after a Britain’s railways. However, despite now November 2014. William Richardson out by Chiltern District Council officers and the Dangerous Substances and back in control. And that means EU law woman was struck and killed by a train being ranked as the safest in Europe, was working at the Decco site, helping highlighted significant health and safety Explosive Atmospheres Regulations must cease to apply. at a level crossing. there can be no room for complacency. to unload a delivery from a first-floor failures on the site. According to the (DSEAR). “EU law will be transposed into Olive McFarland, 82, was hit in August loading platform on the outside of one of council, the firm had a risk assessment If you work with hazardous domestic law, wherever practical, on 2011 by a train travelling at nearly ❝❝Despite now being ranked the company’s warehouses when he fell for working on the platform, which was substances, the HSE wants your exit day. It will be for elected politicians 100mph on a section of track that an from the unguarded platform edge onto reviewed every year, but it failed to input. Take the survey here: www. here to make the changes to reflect the employee of the rail giant said should as the safest in Europe, the concrete surface about eight feet consider the nature of the work that was surveymonkey.co.uk/r/hazardsub outcome of our negotiation and our exit. have been restricted to 55mph. there can be no room for below. being carried out. “That is what people voted for: During its investigation into the complacency.” power and authority residing once incident, the Office of Rail and Road again with the sovereign institutions of (ORR) found that Network Rail had failed “Rail safety remains a top priority for SICKNESS ABSENCE our own country. to act on “substantial evidence” that the regulator. We will always take action “That way, when we leave, we will pedestrians were at increased risk of against companies or individuals if failings have provided the maximum possible being struck by a train on the crossing, are found.” Employee absence rates remain stable, survey finds certainty for British business – and also due to the lack of visibility. The rail regulator said that following for British workers.” Plants obscured pedestrians’ view of the incident, Network Rail immediately ●● On average, public-sector employees took sector continued to be higher than the Those who did measure the cost of They also revealed that the the line and an audible warning device acted to improve safety at the Gipsy 8.3 days per year off sick private sector, with a median absence sickness absence estimated it to be an government would trigger Article 50 by was too close to the crossing to give Lane footpath crossing by redesigning rate of 3.7% in 2015. On average, public- average of £455.95 per employee for the the end of March 2017, and conclude people time to avoid oncoming trains, its layout and implementing a speed sector employees took 8.3 days per year 2015 calendar year. the two year negotiation process with according to the Bury Free Press. restriction for trains, which remains Sickness absence rates continued to off sick. This sum was significantly higher the EU by spring 2019. Network Rail pleaded guilty to in place. The company is currently remain stable during 2015, according to a In the private sector, median absence for public-sector employers, where Davis also tried to reassure workers breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and progressing plans to replace the crossing new study. rates were below the national median, the the estimated median cost of sickness concerned that key rights which were Safety at Work Act. The firm – which had with a footbridge. XpertHR’s annual sickness absence survey found. Employees in manufacturing absence per employee is £819.63. introduced on an EU-wide level will a turnover of £6 billion in 2015 – had its Since 2009–10, Network Rail has benchmarking survey has revealed and production took 5.7 days per year on In manufacturing and production, remain in place. fine reduced by a third for pleading guilty, closed more than 1,000 level crossings that employees took an average of 5.8 average, while those in services employers this was £523.32, and in private sector “To those who are trying to frighten but was ordered to pay prosecution costs as part of its level crossing risk reduction days’ sickness absence during the 2015 took just five days per year. services it was £416.74. British workers, saying ‘When we leave, of £35,000. programme. calendar year, equivalent to 2.6% of The study found that just over two- employment rights will be eroded’, I “In 2011, Network Rail’s safety working time – considerably lower than fifths (40.7%) of employers measure the For more on sickness absence, visit say firmly and unequivocally: ‘no they management fell below the standards 10 years ago. cost of sickness absence, though many www.healthandsafetyatwork.com/ Network Rail was ordered to £4m category/health/sickness-absence won’t’,” he added. required, putting members of the public However, absence rates in the public admitted this could be an underestimate. pay a fine of using Gipsy Lane footpath crossing in

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CYBER CRIME UPCOMING BRANCH MEETINGS BRANCH UPDATE When’s your London’s burning issues next meeting?

Central England 20 October 2016 | Northamptonshire Topic: Cultural change and safe leadership

© Matej Moderc Speakers: Dan Terry, Adrian Crawford, Anne Mallory and Andy Hawkes Don’t underestimate the threat Register: [email protected] Northern England To help you implement these measures, – it’s packed full of useful and insightful ●● New web page provides you with guides, 27 October 2016 | Newcastle research and white papers IIRSM has been working with IIRSM information, including: Topic: Establishing a safety members, Zurich Insurance and AMPG ●● Practical guide to cyber security for improvement programme for a high risk International to prepare a range of small businesses international business Did you know that 74% of small resources to provide information, guidance ●● Research report: Managing data template with the group after the meeting Speaker: Hugh Maxwell, Vesuvius ● organisations reported a security breach and easy to implement tips on how to in an evolving world – good data ● Fire risk assessment presentation from which was welcomed by his fellow Register: [email protected] TalkTalk’s Group Head of Health and Safety in 2015 – a 60% increase from 2014? protect your business and yourselves from governance ●● IIRSM’s Chief Executive was also in attendance members. These shocking statistics indicate cyber cyber threats. So whether you’re a big or ●● White paper: Managing cyber risk IIRSM Chief Executive Phillip Pearson crime is rising, so it’s vital we put in place small organisation, find out what you need ●● The facts – infographic United Arab Emirates was also in attendance, and provided an measures to protect all the data we hold to do to manage this ever growing threat. 9 November 2016 | Dubai In October, members of the London update of the Institute’s activities, as well within our organisations to stop the Take a look at our Cyber Security page Visit www.iirsm.org/cyber-security Register: [email protected] Branch enjoyed an informative session on as its plans for the next five years. On the threat from escalating. under the Info Hub section of the website, fire risk assessment in low to medium fire agenda are building the Branch network, South East England risk buildings by Branch Chairman Andrew broadening IIRSM’s scope to encompass OCCUPATIONAL SKIN MANAGEMENT Ammerlaan, Group Health and Safety the wider arena, and 10 November 2016 | Swanley, Kent Manager at TalkTalk. realigning our membership streams to Topic: Legal update by Gullands Solicitors The delegates listened to a presentation reflect this. Phillip also discussed a plan to Register: [email protected] on the legal requirements to carry out introduce new qualifications. A8000 Certificate of Competency – can you help? fire risk assessments, when to do them Members of the Branch had a general South Wales and who should do them. An interesting discussion around planning for the next than that due to inhalation Occupational Skin Management. 14 November 2016 | Taff’s Well, Cardiff discussion took place on competencies meeting, and guest speakers and site visits exposure. If you would like to know more, or Topic: Face fit – respiratory protection required to undertake a fire risk resulted in many suggestions and avenues One reason for this is for a detailed explanation of what the Speaker: Risk & Policy Analysts (RPA) assessment. to pursue. because the way in which module involves, please email Chris Register: [email protected] Andrew kindly shared an example the skin interacts with the Packham: [email protected] of a fire risk assessment for a building If you would like to attend the next (working) environment he manages, which houses more than London Branch meeting, please register your is surprisingly complex North West England 900 employees. He agreed to share the interest by emailing [email protected] and often not adequately 17 November 2016 covered in current health New fellows Register: [email protected] NEW BRANCHES and safety training. There are many myths and much Congratulations to the following North Scotland misinformation about the skin members who were recently awarded 24 November 2016 in the working environment. Fellowship status: Potential Branch Register: [email protected] The British Occupational Hygiene What may appear logical may not be Mukhtari Abdul-Karim; Tyron Bancroft; Society (BOHS) is proposing to introduce correct. There are many pitfalls that Raymond Bone; Shimjith Chiriyath; in Sri Lanka into its training programme a module on await the unwary or inadequately Mark Colquhoun; Patrick Darmdy; Yorkshire the prevention of damage to health due informed – hence the need for this Edward Deighan; Jeffrey Dutton; 29 November 2016 IIRSM’s international membership continues to the interaction between the skin and module. John Ede; John Fislwy; David Foy; Register: [email protected] to grow and we are keen to find ways for the working environment. The module is intended to provide John Hamilton; Calvin Hanks; Tracey each of our members to network, learn and This is an important development. those working in health and safety Harding; Karen Hoskins; Manish share their expertise and knowledge. Statistics show that occupational skin with an in-depth understanding of Kumar; Phil Maddison; Adai Onazi; London At the end of September, Manjula disease represents around 35% of all how to prevent damage to health due Ray Owen; Kevin Phillips; Umar 1 December 2016 | Hammersmith Hettiarachchie from Colombo Dockyard Phillip Pearson meets Manjula Hettiarachchie occupational ill health (WHO and EU to workplace skin exposure. Chris Puthukkadi; John Rutter; Paul Sawyer; Register: [email protected] in Sri Lanka visited IIRSM’s headquarters statistics) and that skin contact with Packham FIIRSM has been asked to help Peter Scholefield; Capt Kulwant Singh; in Hammersmith to meet with IIRSM Chief they are now keen to expand this with the common chemicals can result in cancer the BOHS to ascertain whether there is John Smith; Roger Smith; Lin Wai Ming; Nigeria Executive Phillip Pearson. They discussed possible association of IIRSM. or even fatalities. The statistics also sufficient interest in providing a distance Paul Williams; Adam Wilson and Dr the potential of setting up a Sri Lankan Do you want to be part of a Sri Lankan 2 December 2016 | Lagos show that damage to health due to learning course leading to a formal Yousuf Majeed. Branch – currently a group of about 20 HSE Branch? Register your interest by emailing Register: [email protected] skin exposure is actually more common BOHS Certificate of Competency in professionals meet on an informal basis but [email protected]

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BANGLADESH UNITED STATES UNITED STATES When the work was complete, colleagues Since 2010, OSHA has recorded more realised he was missing and found him than 100 safety and health violations at Foil factory death toll dead in the compacted waste. Dollar General fined Dollar General stores nationwide, and Hoboken crash train had no The Japan Times reported that the assessed more than $1m in proposed fines. rises to 34 incident was the third at ITO plants in again for blocked exits “In an emergency, no one should have automatic protection system about a month. On 20 August, a 56-year- to struggle to get out of a store safely, grab The number of workers killed at the old worker died at the same plant when Discount retailer Dollar General has been a fire extinguisher or shut down the power Tampoco Foil factory fire has risen to at he was crushed between a loading shovel cited again for blocking exit routes with quickly, but these dangerous least 34, with dozens more left injured. and a truck and, on 2 August, a 67-year- stacked merchandise. are exactly what our inspectors found As we reported in last month’s Insight, old temporary worker was killed in a In the latest case, Occupational at the Dollar General store in Bolivar,” the fire broke out on 10 September when conveyer belt at another plant in the Nara Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) said Larry Johnson, OSHA’s area director a boiler exploded inside the factory, an area. inspectors found exits blocked at the firm’s in Columbus. “Finding these conditions ageing building that had previously had store in Bolivar, Ohio. As a result, OSHA in one company location is bad enough, extra floors added to its structure. The PAKISTAN issued three repeated safety citations with but Dollar General’s willingness to ignore factory produced foil packs for consumer proposed fines totalling $156,772. Inspectors its immediate responsibility to protect products, including tobacco. Some of also found fire extinguisher locations not employees and shoppers in all of its stores the multi-national companies alleged Teens die in bakery marked and electrical panels blocked. is cause for real concern.” to have used the factory in their supply blast chains include British American Tobacco, GLOBAL Mondelez and Nestlé. According to the Three teenage workers have been International Trade Union Confederation, killed and two people injured in a boiler the cramped building was full of flammable explosion at a bakery factory in Shahpur materials and only had one working exit. Kanjran, Chuhng. Boost to garment factory conditions The explosion happened at the Cakes

AUSTRALIA © Startraks Photo/REX/Shutterstock and Bakes plant on 17 September. A The 29 September crash killed one commuter and injured more than 100 others rescue official said workers were boiling milk at the production unit when the Shift workers more at Investigators are looking at whether the train’s performance. It added that boiler exploded. The roof caved in and risk of injury brake failure, driver distraction or environmental and structural issues had the milk container also exploded. The a driver health issue might have delayed the recovery of a data recorder three teenagers, all aged 18, died before New research by Safe Work Australia has contributed to an incident in which and forward-facing video recorder. they got to hospital. found that the overall injury rate for shift a New Jersey Transit Corporation While investigators continue to look Local police said hundreds of gas workers is significantly higher than that commuter train crashed into the into the incident, safety experts have cylinders were also found in the factory for non-shift workers. Hoboken terminal during rush hour on been questioning why the train did courtyard, violating safety requirements. The study, based on a nationally 29 September. The train was not fitted not have a second engineer or positive representative survey in 2013–14, shows with an automatic train protection train control (PTC), a system that KAZAKHSTAN that the rate for shift workers (49.9 injured system. automatically slows down trains when workers per million hours worked) was The crash killed a 34-year-old they exceed the speed limit. more than twice as high as the rate for woman on the platform and left 108 A federal mandate required PTC Robot protects workers non-shift workers (23.2). Though shift injured. It also knocked down support installation by 2015 on all the nation’s in hazardous oil fields workers accounted for only 16% of hours columns in the station building, which main railways but this was extended

worked, they accounted for 30% of is a major transit point for New York by three years because companies said Oil giant Shell has announced it is © Action Press/REX/Shutterstock injured workers. commuters. they could not finish the work by the sending out a semi-autonomous rover The Better Work programme is designed to improve working conditions in developing countries Not all groups of shift workers had In a statement on 1 October, the deadline. Railway operators also had the vehicle to a remote island in the significantly higher injury rates: machinery National Transportation Safety Board option to request a further extension of Kashagan development in the Caspian Conditions have improved in garment There has also been significant operators and drivers working shifts (NTSB) said officials had interviewed the up to two years to complete testing and Sea, an oil field known for high levels of factories in developing countries that progress in tackling coercive labour showed a lower injury rate than their non- engineer, who was injured in the crash, installation. poisonous hydrogen sulfide. have received support from the UN- practices and limiting harassment and shift worker counterparts. Compared with but it would not immediately release New Jersey Transit’s most recent PTC The vehicle – developed by Shell backed Better Work programme. verbal abuse. In Jordan, reports of sexual non-shift workers, a significantly higher anything further. The NTSB also noted progress report shows that none of its and known as Sensabot – has sensors, More than 1,300 factories harassment fell by 18% in BW factories percentage of shift workers experience that it had inspected the tracks and 440 trains on the New Jersey Transit rail cameras and wireless communications employing 1.6 million workers are and the incidence of workers feeling burn injuries. found nothing that would have affected line have PTC. that allow operators to control it from a involved in the Better Work (BW) fearful also declined. safe place. “Sensabot enables colleagues programme – a partnership between The programme has helped NEW ZEALAND JAPAN to do their jobs at a safe distance, while the International Labour Organization improve occupational safety and in that it failed to ensure the safety of also lowering the costs of day-to-day and the International Finance health, although this remains an area Samantha Kudeweh. operations,” said Alisa Choong, executive Corporation. of major noncompliance. Examples of Tiger killed city A WorkSafe investigation discovered the Third fatality at ITO VP responsible for digital technologies at An assessment of the programme improvement included case studies from zookeeper zoo had insufficient mechanical and safety Shell. by Tufts University, which looked at Haiti that showed BW factories using LED features to prevent two gates between the recycling plants The robot can work in remote or factories in Cambodia, Indonesia, lighting to lower energy consumption and Hamilton City Council has been fined cat chute and the main enclosure being open unmanned oil and gas facilities and will Vietnam, Lesotho, Jordan, Nicaragua workplace temperature, investing in new NZ$38,250 after a mother-of-two was at the same time, did not have a two keeper A worker has died after becoming caught run for six months without maintenance. and Haiti, found that the support had machines and combating air pollution and killed by a tiger while working at Hamilton system, and had not provided warning signs in a waste grinding machine at a plant Operators can use it to carry out safety helped factories move away from noise exposure. In Nicaragua, workers in Zoo in September 2015. to indicate a tiger was not secured. operated by recycling firm ITO. and equipment checks and respond to practices such as long working hours, BW factories are less likely to be injured The council, which owns and operates As well as the fine, the council must pay The 45-year-old was one of four alerts. Shell described the robot as “an low pay, dismissal threats, and abuse at work and worker concerns with excess the zoo, pleaded guilty to one charge under reparations of $5,180 to each of Kudeweh’s workers putting construction waste extension of the human worker”, rather of probationary contracts. overtime have declined. the Health and Safety in Employment Act children. into the machinery at the plant in Nara. than a substitute.

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Incidents more than halved, dropping from 51 to 21, and we reduced our insurance premium by just over £100,000 (a 40% fall) so there Fleet are clear benefits.” manoeuvres

Vehicle technology, safety bonuses and improved then there are the schools, supermarkets and smaller building or residential sites, worker engagement have all helped Mobile Mini which though less intrinsically hazardous drive down accidents and in turn, insurance bring their own challenges because of the presence of children and other members of premiums. We find out more. the public,” Watcham explains. “It requires a lot of thought and that’s where the technology also comes in. We have cameras fitted all around the vehicles, which helps the driver during manoeuvring, and we’ve educing vehicle incidents by 90% insurers) more than halved, dropping got pedestrian warnings so if someone does over six years is something most to 21. “This year so far, we’ve only had come close to the vehicle, there’s an audible Rhealth and safety managers would four incidents,” says Watcham, “which is warning inside and outside the cab.” be proud of. But when this is allied to remarkable considering the 50 HGVs and 39 significant cost savings from greater fuel service vans we have on the road around the Tech specs efficiency and lower insurance premiums, country.” Mobile Mini started its programme by as well as improved worker satisfaction, analysing the types of incidents drivers engagement and training, the wider Nuclear to residential were involved in. These were mainly benefits of investing in health and safety Mobile Mini operates a national network reversing accidents; they didn’t involve become clear. of 16 sites, providing more than 36,000 injuries but vehicles were hitting other At Mobile Mini UK, which provides portable accommodation and storage units parked vehicles or property. After portable site storage solutions and to about 11,300 customers, which range identifying reversing as a priority, the accommodation units, these results from nuclear and construction sites to company looked at both driver training were achieved by focusing on improving shopping centres, hospitals and schools, as and vehicle technologies. “We brought in safety within its 50-strong fleet of HGV well as individual households. Each of these the Road Haulage Association (RHA) and loader cranes (Hiabs). “We started the brings its own unique set of logistical and trained the guys specifically on reversing improvement process around five years safety challenges. and manoeuvring,” says Watcham. ago,” explains Chris Watcham MIIRSM, “We have the really highly regulated sites Alongside this, camera technology was Mobile Mini’s Health and Safety Director. such as nuclear power stations where their fitted to the Hiabs. At first these were “The volume of accidents per year at that checks are in-depth, and they set their own reversing cameras on the back of the time was quite significant, at 51 in both 2010 rigorous safety requirements that we must vehicles and trailers, which provided an in- and 2011. Though there were no injuries adhere to,” explains Watcham. At these cab visual to help drivers when reversing. and the vast majority of incidents were not sites, for example, there may be security The success of the reversing cameras major, the sheer volume was unacceptable checks on individual drivers and vehicle encouraged the company to go further. and our insurance liability was increasing.” cameras might need to be disengaged. Then The next step was to fit forward facing Taking a three-pronged approach that there are construction sites, including those dashboard cameras, which provide an combined bespoke professional training, in busy central London, where the HGVs are accurate picture of any accidents that occur, investment in on-vehicle cameras and coming close to members of public, other so help with internal investigations and other technologies, and a robust driver vehicles and construction workers, as well as help insurers in defending accidents that are bonus scheme, Mobile Mini has brought having to manoeuvre under pressure in tight, not Mobile Mini drivers’ fault. “We initially these incidents under control. The results crowded spaces. looked at it in London,” says Watcham. “And were immediate and the improvement has “So at one point, we could be servicing it was the drivers in London that were asking continued. In 2012, the number of incidents a petrochemical or nuclear site, then at the for them because they were more exposed; (those requiring investigation and informing next point at Marble Arch in London, and some had been in collisions where they

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swore they were not at fault but insurers had alarms that are audible externally and inside Mobile Mini also asked drivers for “After we’d initially driven down the no proof, so had agreed 50:50 payments.” the cab, automatic lane departure warning suggestions on the specification of new volume of accidents, we realised the Vehicle technology was starting to pick systems, and telematics to help influence vehicles. These ranged from additional specific drivers’ reward was causing some up in the UK at the time and a member driver behaviours. safety features to changes in the design friction with other parts of the workforce of the firm’s safety team went to a Fleet The next step in terms of technology is of storage areas and new cab features to because they didn’t get the same Operator Recognition Scheme (FORS) – an automatic emergency braking system make life on the road more comfortable. opportunity if they worked safely,” says an accreditation scheme developed by that prevents collisions in front. These “We asked the drivers to tell us about Watcham. The solution was to maintain Transport for London (TfL) – meeting where can be supplied in new vehicles, but are existing problems and how they worked the overall aim of making sure good safety a company did a presentation on a system it prohibitively expensive to retro-fit in the around these,” explains Watcham. Some of was something that was rewarded but at was selling as a driver protection system (to existing fleet. “We recently met with camera the suggestions were impossible because the same time keeping it consistent across protect drivers’ licences). “We went back to providers and there is now a wide-angled of the design of the axles or because they the workforce. If drivers have an accident our drivers and they were more than happy camera you can fit, which is also a sensor,” would have made vehicles illegal. “But that could have been prevented, they can with the idea,” explains Watcham, “so we says Watcham. “So for those vehicles that where we could make an improvement, now lose part of their overall bonus. put them into London first and then rolled have not got the automatic emergency we did,” he says. “They might seem like it out.” system, what we can do is put in another small things but they were important to Golden hat-trick Not long after the first dash cameras kind of detection/warning system.” As the driver’s wellbeing and safety.” One FORS first came to Mobile Mini’s attention were fitted there was a collision in London in drivers travel down a road, the camera on suggestion was for an in-cab heater/air in 2012 when customers increasingly which a TfL bus crashed into one of Mobile the dash picks up hazards, such pedestrians conditioning unit that did not run off the started to make it a contractual Mini’s HGVs. This was a potentially costly or cyclists, and the warning systems tells engine. “They didn’t want to leave the condition. “To carry out work on the incident, but the cameras proved the Hiab the driver if they are too close by going from engine running because they’d been on Crossrail project, for example, we had to driver hadn’t even moved; he was waiting green to amber to red. This technology is the safe and efficient fuel course; it was a be FORS- accredited,” notes Watcham. to turn right and the bus crashed into him. likely to cost about £500 per vehicle, which great idea, so we did it.” “So we got the bronze accreditation for Watcham believes this incident helped to amounts to around £25,000 for the fleet. Drivers also asked for ladder racks to commercial reasons, but we soon realised cement the cameras’ value. Whenever there “We have had some low speed incidents be placed in different locations for easier there were benefits to going through are useful learning points from incidents, historically – where a vehicle rolls forward were greater. But we used what access and an extra storage bin. Most of to the gold standard. It was good for the company now sends footage company- in traffic, for example,” says Watcham. “So I we had learnt and applied that the changes improved working conditions business, improved safety and showed wide so that it can be shown at driver safety think this will be our next focus.” to the service vehicles too.” and welfare but there was an element of our clients that we take these issues meetings. “That has really embedded what As well as the Hiab fleet, Mobile Mini safety too. In the past, drivers sometimes seriously.” the cameras are all about,” he says. “If we’re operates a fleet of white transit vans as Keep it professional had to get on the bed of the vehicle to Mobile Mini replicated the FORS at fault it tells us too, and we need to know service vehicles, which go out to sites if To complement the get ladders off. “Now, by redesigning the standard across UK, so that every vehicle that so we can improve things further.” there is a problem with anything in the technology investment, spec – where we put the ladders, chains is fitted out to the same standard. The Mobile Mini has continued to invest in units, such as a door not opening correctly Watcham’s team also looked and accessories – we’ve moved away from firm, which was the first mobile container vehicle technologies, so alongside the front or a broken light. “They’re on the road all at “the people part of the drivers having to climb on the vehicle. A lot supplier to achieve the gold accreditation, dash and reversing cameras, most vehicles day every day,” says Watcham. “So we got process” by engaging the HGV of what we do can now be done from the has now held the award for the past three now have two further cameras on the sides, telematics fitted to those as well, and the drivers and providing them ground, eliminating work at height risks.” years. “It’s a huge commitment,” Watcham which record any impacts in those areas and newer vehicles have sensors. Our focus with bespoke professional acknowledges, “but our big construction provide the driver with even better vision. was on the HGVs initially because that was training. “We tied this into Attention grabber clients and other large companies want to Vehicles also have reversing and left turning where the potential risks and consequences drivers’ ongoing legal requirements for the to them and addresses the risks they face The third prong of the strategy was to see it; it gives us an edge in the industry.” Certificate of Professional Competence,” out on site and on the road.” reward safe drivers. “We had a discussion More widely, the whole fleet safety he explains. The RHA designed a bespoke As well as the bespoke training, at board level,” explains Watcham. “We programme has been a significant course that met Mini Mobile’s specific each driver receives specific accredited looked at the volume of accidents and investment. “It’s a serious message Promote from within requirements. “What we didn’t want,” training to safely operate the crane and what those cost us as a business, and that we want to send out,” emphasises The national shortage of qualified HGV Watcham. So far, three employees have he stresses, “was an off-the-shelf course its associated lifting equipment. This is we decided that to modify behaviour Watcham. “Internally, we discuss all drivers is a challenge for firms across a gone through the programme; two are where our guys went to watch a DVD provided by the Association of Lorry Loader any bonus had to be big enough to mean the facts and figures at board level, so range of sectors. To address this, Mobile already on the road and the third is about with drivers from a variety of sectors and Importers and Manufacturers, and all something to a driver. So we decided on a senior management can see where we’ve Mini has set up a driver development to start. then signed a sheet to say they had done drivers must meet the standard. £500 bonus for each quarter successfully invested and how it has benefited us.” One programme that allows employees The recruits came from the workshop so.” Instead, the company asked the RHA completed with no at-fault accidents. of the most tangible results in monetary working in other areas within the or yard, with no experience of working trainers to come on site, explained the Ask the driver This got drivers’ attention.” terms has been a reduction in insurance company to be trained as HGV drivers with cranes or HGVs. “We had to get the challenges and highlighted where drivers Driver engagement and participation has He acknowledges that safety bonuses costs. “We reduced our insurance premium and crane operators. “This helps the training and mentoring right,” emphasises were having problems. The result was been at the core of all the improvements. can have unintended consequences, by just over £100,000 (a 40% fall) at the company two-fold,” says Chris Watcham Watcham, “so candidates go through mainly one-to-one training out on the “We’re always listening to the drivers particularly in that they risk driving last renewal. So there are clear benefits MIIRSM, Mobile Mini’s Health and Safety a training programme to get the HGV road. “There was some classroom content and involving them in the decisions,” reporting underground. This didn’t there,” he adds. Director. “We get an employee we know licence for the vehicle and trailer, then too but the theoretical side was minimal,” emphasises Watcham. For example, the happen at Mobile Mini. The cameras and To help maintain the momentum, and we fill a critical position; it also do training on the crane and work at says Watcham. company sent out feedback forms asking telematics alone would have shown up the company recently appointed a shows employees that we want to invest height.” The training has been so successful drivers to suggest areas for further training any incidents that weren’t reported and dedicated national transport manager, in their future.” The mentoring period involves an that the company has continued it even that they felt would be most useful. One there were no cases where the firm had to with 25 years’ experience. “As in the The initiative was driven by the HR experienced driver going out on the now the number of incidents has fallen. popular suggestion was for training on follow up anything on camera that drivers past, the focus will be on what we can team, which was struggling to recruit road with the trainees to build their Watcham admits that at £700–£800 per vulnerable road users – pedestrians and had failed to report. do with the vehicles and with the drivers drivers of the right calibre. “If you’ve confidence, allow them to ask questions driver, this represents a significant business cyclists in built up areas. “So we did that The safety aspect is now tied into to continuously improve safety and got a vehicle idle, the daily costs can on the job, and to evaluate their cost. But he believes it has played a key role last year,” says Watcham, “and before that the wider company bonus scheme that efficiency,” stresses Watcham. “We want add up in terms of lost revenue,” notes performance in real situations. in improving the safety record. “I think the we’d done safe loading and unloading, and covers all aspects of performance, not just to maintain what we’ve achieved and to guys prefer it this way; it’s directly relevant safe and fuel efficient driving.” whether drivers have an accident or not. push on further.”

12 11/2016 | www.iirsm.org www.iirsm.org | 11/2016 13 Members’ Pages Members’ Pages

If you are looking for advice, call ●● Encourage participation. Make the the health and safety information session lively by engaging participants helpline with your questions on in the learning process. In fact, try to Join the conversation +44 (0)1296 678 465 or email spend close to 80% of training time The opinion corner is designed to gauge exactly what our members are Q&As [email protected] on group participation. Encourage thinking on current issues in the industry. If you have a question you would like for information on any health and everyone in the training session to us to ask members, please email: [email protected] safety related topic. Here are just a speak freely and candidly, because PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT We are not aware of any requirement for few of your recent queries. learning occurs most readily when This month we’re asking: fire alarms to be present in each dwelling feelings are involved. Should workers wear hard hats when – a fire alarm should be installed at each operating mobile elevated work level of the premises, though having said be unavoidable. However, parking areas Building your training around these Does your organisation platforms (MEWPs)? that your fire risk assessment may identify can often be arranged in drive-through points will help to create a training have a reputational risk further requirements due to the size of the patterns. programme that will hopefully make it as strategy in place? The HSE’s publication, ‘The selection, building. We have, however, found the level If you can’t have drive-through parking, engaging as possible. management and use of mobile elevating of detection system that can be used for arrangements should encourage reverse work platforms’, offers various methods your property: Grade D LD2 an automatic parking that: FIRE SAFETY IN CARE HOMES Have your say: visit www.linkedin. of good practice when using MEWPs, fire detection system (designed for ●● reduces the number of vehicles com and search Groups for IIRSM and and outlines the personal protective dwellings) based on interconnected mains reversing out into a flow of traffic I’ve been asked to create a table top request to join. equipment (PPE) that operatives should powered smoke alarms (with battery back- ●● improves visibility for departing exercise for a fire safety policy in a wear, where appropriate, following a up) with detectors sited in escape routes vehicles. care home, which houses 65 residents suitable and sufficient risk assessment: (including rooms that open on to escape over three floors. I will firstly look at mock fire drills in hospitals. It suggests APPOINTING A PRINCIPAL DESIGNER ●● a hard hat (with or without a chin routes) and in rooms or areas that present a Arranging parking bays at an angle business continuity in the event of fire. that the table top exercise is carried out strap) high fire risk to occupants. Grade D LD3 an backwards to the flow of traffic is a good I would also like to carry out a walk as a group brainstorming session based A number of contractors have been ●● suitable high visibility clothing automatic fire detection system (designed way of encouraging reverse parking. through fire evacuation exercise, as around different scenarios and problem asked to tender for Principle Designer ●● suitable cold/wet weather clothing for dwellings) based on interconnected Further information on parking and many of the residents have disabilities statements. under CDM 2015 for a site to contain ●● a full body harness with a restraint mains powered smoke alarms (with battery vehicle handling is available at www. which makes it difficult to do full a depot/workshops/domestic waste lanyard or a fall arrest lanyard suitably back-up) with detectors sited in escape hse.gov.uk/workplacetransport/parking. evacuation. Can you provide any COMPETENCE OF DEFIBRILLATOR TRAINERS recycling centre and waste transfer adjusted to prevent a fall, from the routes (including rooms that open on to htm#enforce and www.hse.gov.uk/ information that will help? station. All of them have declined to platform. escape routes). workplacetransport/vehiclehandling. To what standards would a trainer take on this role. Page 123 of the government’s document htm#reverse There is a document available called have to be qualified to deliver One option we are considering is The document is available at www.hse. ‘Fire safety risk assessment (sleeping ‘Health and safety in care homes’ automated external defibrillator for the property services function gov.uk/pubns/geis6.pdf accommodation)’ covers non-combustible COMMUNICATING SAFE WAYS OF WORKING (HSG220) which offers some specific (AED) training? Do you know if there to take on this role, with the help materials and internal partitions made guidance with regards to fire safety. are any plans to revise the First Aid of another agency. As I understand FIRE SAFETY AND SLEEPING ACCOMMODATION from fire-resisting materials. It gives We are currently looking at the way we As part of your manual handling risk Regulations to include the training and the regulations, the default position basic information on how fire-resisting communicate risk assessments and safe assessment, moving and handling in requirements for AED use? falls to the client in the event of not My client is currently using the ground construction can provide up to 30 minutes’ systems of work to our employees. While the event of emergencies such as fire appointing a Principle Designer. I floor of his house as an office, while the protection to escape routes. This is the we carry these out and widely consult evacuations, for example residents According to Resuscitation Council would appreciate any comments or first floor is used as accommodation and standard recommended for most situations. with our employees prior to publishing, falling, would need to be considered. UK, there are no statutory legal advice you may have. sleeps four people. I have advised him If you are still unsure of the level of fire we know that they are not in the most It may be necessary to restrict access provisions in the UK relating to training to replace the existing standard doors resistance which is necessary after reading user friendly format to enable optimal to some stairs during a fire drill where of AEDs and practicing resuscitation. While a number of contractors may to each bedroom with fire doors, as well the information, you should consult a fire communication and training. Can you residents are at risk of falls. See ‘Fire Risk However, it is recommended by the have been asked to tender for the as fitting fire doors to the offices on safety expert. suggest a tried and tested means of doing Assessment Residential Care Premises’ at Resuscitation Council that people position, only one contractor can the ground floor. I have also suggested More information is also available at this? www.communities.gov.uk/publications/ who train others in the use of AEDs be become the ‘Principal Designer’. This is that smoke detectors should be placed www.firesafe.org.uk/houses-in-multiple- fire/firesafetyrisk5. appropriately qualified. This can include: the contractor appointed (in writing) by in each bedroom as well as emergency occupation There is no set way of teaching risk This documents references a number doctors, nurses, resuscitation officers, the client. This would mean that as the lighting. The walls are traditional brick assessments and safe systems of work as of topics which should be carried out community defibrillation officers, client, they could appoint any one of the and one set of stairs is wooden. Should REVERSE PARKING POLICIES people tend to learn in various different when training staff in fire safety. This paramedics, statutory ambulance contractors on site, or hire an external they be adapted to be fire resistant? ways. The key would be to identify what the includes fire drills with and without service trainers, voluntary aid society company to do this role (though this will We are implementing a parking policy needs of the individuals would be and help residents’ involvement, which should and voluntary rescue organisation usually be more costly). All upper floors in sleeping premises where we request all vehicles to park them to engage with any session you give. familiarise residents with procedures and trainers, and other individuals such as As you have mentioned, if no Principal should provide 30 minutes’ fire resistance ‘nose out’. Is there a regulation for this or There are four main ways you can try test the arrangements which are in place accredited first aid trainers. However Designer has been appointed, the duties and all corridors serving sleeping areas is it just good practice? to approach the training to make it as for disabled people. This document also this list is not exhaustive (see www. would then fall to the client. This is should be protected routes with 30 interactive as possible these include: advises who should and shouldn’t take resus.org.uk/faqs/faqs-training-in-cpr- something that would be up to you minutes’ fire resistance. Therefore fire Though there is no legislative enforcement ●● Visual (spatial): using pictures, images, part in the fire drill, for example residents and-aeds) as the client. If your company has the resistant doors should be fitted to comply on reverse parking, there is advice from the and spatial understanding. who cannot be moved or are required The person giving the training needs competence and resources to perform with current legislation. HSE which provides information on best ●● Aural (auditory-musical): using sound to remain with particular equipment or to be competent in the use of AEDs as this task then that is indeed a viable The requirement of emergency practice. Wherever possible, parking areas and music. processes which cannot be shut down. well as teaching. More details about option. However, if this is something lighting would be covered by your risk should be designed so that only simple ●● Verbal (linguistic): using words, both in This document is also quite detailed in the competent people and the legal status that is not held by the company then assessment through which you should be manoeuvres are needed for vehicles to speech and writing. best approach to carry out the drill and of those attempting CPR can be found at appointing a Principal Designer (be it one able to identify escape routes that are not park and leave. Always try to avoid the ●● Physical (kinesthetic): using body, hands will hopefully provide you with adequate www.resus.org.uk/cpr/legal-status-of- of the onsite contractors, or an external permanently illuminated by normal lighting, need for reversing, and also think about and sense of touch. information. those-attempting-cpr company) would be the best option. such as external stairs, then a switch clearly how other large vehicles will be able to ●● Use humour: trainers can make a point While there doesn’t appear to be any With regards to a revisions of the Visit www.hse.gov.uk/construction/ marked ‘Escape lighting’, or some other use the space safely. If a driver needs more effectively by using humour than information on table top exercises specific First Aid Regulations, there has been no cdm/2015/principal-designers.htm means of switching on the lighting should to move the load area of their vehicle by drowning trainees in statistics or to care homes, see fire.telangana.gov. indication that these will be changing in for more information on Principal be provided at the entry to that area/stairs. close to a structure, reversing will often theories. in/files/drills/Hospitals.pdf for help on the near future. Designers.

14 11/2016 | www.iirsm.org www.iirsm.org | 11/2016 15 Interview

Azeez Ola-Ojetola FIIRSM

Chief executive officer and managing of someone or something being saved director of Canadian safety consultancy from disaster and being operated safely HAMFAZ, Azeez first became interested as a result of your efforts is extremely in health and safety while he was serving rewarding. as a firefighter. Here he tells us why he chose to move into the profession and What’s the most memorable how his career has progressed. experience you’ve had in your career? How did your career start? When I delivered a presentation at the I was a firefighter in Nigeria for a few international conference of the American years when I decided to join the Shell Society of Safety Engineer in Bahrain in Petroleum Development Company of 2008, it felt like I was standing in front of Nigeria as a fire officer. I was offered the world. In 2011 I delivered a paper and tremendous opportunities to grow and also served as chair of the technical panel develop my career. When I passed my at the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Graduateship Diploma examination with Exhibition and Conference (ADIPEC). the UK’s Institute of Fire Engineers, Shell These were definitely highs of my career. moved me into the main health and safety department where I was given several What issues can you see and using the same yardstick to measure challenging responsibilities which expanded their performance. Managers were held my knowledge, developed my technical coming up in your sector? to account for the safety of whomever safety competence and lead to future More than 90% of my career has been worked for them; be it a staff or contractor. leadership roles. I undertook training at in the oil and gas industry with the Though it was tough, we eventually got home and abroad which unearthed my remaining in engineering, procurement and there. hidden potential. construction sectors. I have come to the realisation that the oil and gas industry is What’s the best piece of advice How did you become involved at the forefront of embedding safety values into businesses. you’ve ever been given? in health and safety? Don’t accept half measures if you want I realised that the field of health and safety What’s the most challenging to be a successful professional. If you can was ever involving, expansive, challenging think it, you can get it. and interesting. The health and safety problem you’ve had to overcome? profession is dynamic – it is an area that Why did you join IIRSM? makes you think beyond the surface to In 2010 I took the position of a senior achieve your ultimate goal of keeping corporate incident/accident analyst at For the continuous professional people and premises safe. Qatar Petroleum. I decided my immediate development, international exposure and priority would be to change the recognition. What do you get out of organisation’s safety culture with respect to dichotomy between staff and contractors’ Where do you see yourself in your job? safety performance management. With The fact that my contribution leads to the support of both my line manager five years’ time? the safety of workers and facilities gives and director, I succeeded in putting both A change leader of international repute in me immense satisfaction. The thought staff and contractors in the same shoes all aspects of safety and risk management.

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