HEALTH & SAFETY
MAY | SECTOR FOCUS
The sector has ‘gone mad’, according to some, while others feel it is
not doing enough. Access gauges the H&S climate in 2018
RISKY BUSINESS
Health & Safety consultant
James Carr gives his Top 5 Tips:
1. Use reputable contractors
with a good safety record and
strict controls
2. Obtain copies of the
contractors public &
employers liability insurance
certificates
3. Obtain risk assessments and
method statements (RAMS)
for work being undertaken
4. Request evidence of
qualifications to ensure
subcontractors have
the correct training and
accreditations for the work
which is being undertaken (i.e.
Gas Safe registered, NICEIC
certified etc.).
5. Where high risk work is being
undertaken (e.g. working at
height, hot works etc.) it’s
advised that a permit to work
system is implemented to
control and mitigate the risk.
VIEW FROM THE GROUND
Live Trackway, a division
of A-Plant, has adapted its
business model to account for
H&S demands. Dale Robinson,
MD of Live says: “From our
market intelligence, timescales
are shorter, H&S is tighter
and flexibility is the key to
customer satisfaction. In
response to reducing timescales,
contractors have to look into
time and motion studies and
their operations, and innovate
their flooring products to
enable them to be installed and
recovered more rapidly, without
compromising on safety.”
A VENUE’S TAKE
Steve Jones, operations director
at Wyboston Lakes Resort, says:
“Now in to the third year of
working with Leisuresafe we
have benefited from the various
checks and balances along
with daily, weekly and monthly
routines that their approach
instils. We have always taken
our responsibilities in this area
very seriously and by combining
our existing skill and knowledge
with their systematic approach,
unannounced audits of
our venues and ongoing
consultancy
Our primary
objective was
to raise the
standards
through the
whole team,
not to just a
few, making this
cultural and we
have most definitely
achieved this. We are focused
now in the coming years on keep
moving forwards at a similar
rate.’
REDEFINING THE LANGUAGE
Andrew Grove, president,
National Outdoor Events
Association says: “All too often
we hear horror stories of events
that take on a ‘it couldn’t happen
to me’ attitude - incidentally
the subject of our convention
in November this year - and
then find themselves in horrible
difficulty. Much of this is
down to the negative
language
associated
with
the subject and we’re working
with ACT National, a Futures
Sponsor of NOEA, on proactive
steps to change this language
from one that says ‘no’, to one
that looks for ways to say ‘yes’.
This is really important in both
engaging event organisers, but
also creating the right platforms
that let their creativity run wild
and empower great events to do
what they want - safely.”
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