Competent advice

[Ali]

Besides experience, what qualifications would you expect someone to have to look after a company’s H&S, without an external advisor?

Said company supplies machinery and does occasional work on construction sites.

NEBOSH National Diploma?

 

[mtt.tr]

This is a big question.

@Parm
@Kayos

 

[Kayos]

Nebosh is good, im studying my construction cert, due to some issues last year its taken a tad longer than expected

 

[EM1L4]

Besides experience, what qualifications would you expect someone to have to look after a company’s H&S, without an external advisor?

Said company supplies machinery and does occasional work on construction sites.

NEBOSH National Diploma?

Can’t answer your question but the NEBOSH certificate (lower than diploma) is far from plain sailing, it’s a two week intensive course with a case study and multiple written exams. personally i’d be happy with someone who has it + experience for a small/mid company.

 

[mike os]

I would say nebosh or equivalent and several years experience these days

 

[Ali]

i’d be happy with someone who has it + experience for a small/mid company.

What I’m getting at I suppose, is what would a court be happy with?

 

[Agrismith]

If they are going anywhere near construction an sssts or smsts would be very useful.

 

[Pete.]

If they are going anywhere near construction an sssts or smsts would be very useful.

SSSTS personnel don't implement H&S, they only supervise within their scope of experience and follow procedures already in place. SMSTS might implement but they wouldn't be expected to make policy.

I would expect either IOSH or NEBOSH level qualifications for overseeing/implementing company-wide H&S policy but I am not sure what level would be considered minimum.

 

[LiftedDisco]

Is there a specific reason why you feel this should be / needs to be an internal role?

In my previous role, I’d argued for a comprehensive internal remit with NEBOSH Diploma and going for ISO 14005 accreditation but we needed buy-in from both senior management and the site crews.

I’ve now changed roles and we have a very effective out-sourced solution that is a reasonable ongoing cost with the ability to flex their input for specific projects which sounds like it might work for you.

 

[Ross365]

If the timescale would permit it, maybe find someone on the existing staff who really knows the business, and put them through a NEBOSH course. That can be a very effective approach. Additionally, depending on the size of the company, the Safety Manager's job may not warrant a full-time employee, and so the person may be able to "wear two hats"?

 

[Ali]

SSSTS personnel don't implement H&S, they only supervise within their scope of experience and follow procedures already in place. SMSTS might implement but they wouldn't be expected to make policy.

I would expect either IOSH or NEBOSH level qualifications for overseeing/implementing company-wide H&S policy but I am not sure what level would be considered minimum.

What level of NEBOSH?

Is there a specific reason why you feel this should be / needs to be an internal role?

In my previous role, I’d argued for a comprehensive internal remit with NEBOSH Diploma and going for ISO 14005 accreditation but we needed buy-in from both senior management and the site crews.

I’ve now changed roles and we have a very effective out-sourced solution that is a reasonable ongoing cost with the ability to flex their input for specific projects which sounds like it might work for you.

Basically a new manager has said they would like to cancel the contract of an external advisor I brought in at £150 a month (could have found cheaper, but I didn’t rate them) as they don’t believe it’s necessary. New manager said they will gain any neccessary qualifications to do this internally. If new manager ever sets foot on a construction site I will eat my hard hat.

If the timescale would permit it, maybe find someone on the existing staff who really knows the business, and put them through a NEBOSH course. That can be a very effective approach. Additionally, depending on the size of the company, the Safety Manager's job may not warrant a full-time employee, and so the person may be able to "wear two hats"?

I’ve considered this myself, and the director approves but I already wear too many hats and would be expected to keep wearing them. I honestly prefer some of the other hats, but if they gave me the time I’d do it. Have SMSTS and a few others myself.

 

[winchman]

Can’t answer your question but the NEBOSH certificate (lower than diploma) is far from plain sailing, it’s a two week intensive course with a case study and multiple written exams. personally i’d be happy with someone who has it + experience for a small/mid company.

In my experience of 30 odd years in engineering and 25 as a safety rep
NEBOSH is excellent but I dont feel the two week course is worth a carrot, it teaches you how to pass the exam with very little underpinning knowledge
I did mine 1 day a week over 4 months my boss at the time did the two weeks, he nearly had a breakdown and forgot 90% of it.
Now I believe a few so called experts / consultants have been brought to task by the HSE so take care?
I would say Experience in a similar role counts for a lot as does a NEBOSH Cert at a good grade

 

[Parm]

It’s not about the size of an organisation, it’s about understanding what hazards are involved with what you do and what the risk is of realising that hazard. Then you should equip yourself to become competent by gaining, education, training and experience. Academic qualifications are only one part of the equation

 

[mike os]

£150 a month? I'd want more than that a week to take on a safety role in addition to my current salary...

 

[Ali]

£150 a month? I'd want more than that a week to take on a safety role in addition to my current salary...

We only see him a few times a year so I see their point, but without ‘competent’ advice to call upon when needed (not Google) I think they’d be infinitely worse off.

 

[EM1L4]

In my experience of 30 odd years in engineering and 25 as a safety rep
NEBOSH is excellent but I dont feel the two week course is worth a carrot, it teaches you how to pass the exam with very little underpinning knowledge
I did mine 1 day a week over 4 months my boss at the time did the two weeks, he nearly had a breakdown and forgot 90% of it.
Now I believe a few so called experts / consultants have been brought to task by the HSE so take care?
I would say Experience in a similar role counts for a lot as does a NEBOSH Cert at a good grade

Fair enough, I might have a slightly skewed memory as I’d had a good few years of doing the job and understanding the risks with training on safety legislation before the actual course. The pass rate was low and I recall the instructor saying 60% fail rate as it’s so much to take in and understand enough to do the written questions. As Parm said, it’s not just about quals but if you actually understand how the theory works in practice and the risks of the work you are doing..

 

[Parm]

What level of NEBOSH?



Basically a new manager has said they would like to cancel the contract of an external advisor I brought in at £150 a month (could have found cheaper, but I didn’t rate them) as they don’t believe it’s necessary. New manager said they will gain any neccessary qualifications to do this internally. If new manager ever sets foot on a construction site I will eat my hard hat.



I’ve considered this myself, and the director approves but I already wear too many hats and would be expected to keep wearing them. I honestly prefer some of the other hats, but if they gave me the time I’d do it. Have SMSTS and a few others myself.

If you are getting “competent” advice for £150 a month I would immediately ask to see evidence of what qualification he holds then what experience he has of your industry

You may be surprised at what you get back

 

[mike os]

The key is they are there and are able to advise and implement...no doubt ensuring your policies and procedures are up to date, for less than £1 an hour...and no grief?

 

[8ob]

If you are getting “competent” advice for £150 a month I would immediately ask to see evidence of what qualification he holds then what experience he has of your industry

You may be surprised at what you get back

I would be more concerned the MD wants to cheap out and dump the responsibility on an employee just to save the said £150 PM. Run Forest run

Bob

 

[addjunkie]

If you are getting “competent” advice for £150 a month I would immediately ask to see evidence of what qualification he holds then what experience he has of your industry

You may be surprised at what you get back

I agree. Plenty consultants about, but not all add value or truly know their stuff. At 150 a month your probably hiring a copy and paste merchant.