Competent advice

[Ali]

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 can send you his CV, he’s OK and has plenty of experience, but he’s not full time. We get an annual safety audit and he’s on the phone.

 

[mike os]

Other wa

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

They could be looking at the £1800 a year for a relatively straightforward contract? Depends on how much time they are required to put in

 

[Ali]

In my opinion there is almost a full time job there for someone just to keep on top of H&S, which I’m expected to do but just can’t keep up with. I’m hoping we can have a conversation that will lead to things improving.

 

[Parm]

I can send you his CV, he’s OK and has plenty of experience, but he’s not full time. We get an annual safety audit and he’s on the phone.

It’s for your organisation to determine his competency, you don’t realy want me involved

 

[8ob]

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.

Tick box rams bulked up with enough copy and paste blurb to make a site foreman's eyes glaze over, ten seconds later its launched into a filing cabinet,job done

Bob

 

[Ali]

It’s for your employers organisation to determine his competency, you don’t realy want me involved

Just quickly fixed that, phew. They just don’t appreciate the need for it and see an opportunity to save money.

 

[Ali]

Tick box rams bulked up with enough copy and paste blurb to make a site foreman's eyes glaze over, ten seconds later its launched into a filing cabinet,job done

Bob

And because that is quite possible on 90% of jobs, they think that’s what’s needed.

 

[mike os]

I was hoping we were past the cut z d paste merchant days ...

 

[Parm]

I was hoping we were past the cut z d paste merchant days ...

They are alive and well

im currently looking at 8 of them. Some serious health conditions have resulted from thier incompetent advice

 

[Ali]

I was hoping we were past the cut z d paste merchant days ...

I think it’s all done with automated tick boxes now?

 

[8ob]

I was hoping we were past the cut z d paste merchant days ...

We use an online Rams system/package that is overseen as they are written, anything wrong/incorrect is questioned by a consultant, its about 2k a year and worth every penny.

Bob

 

[addjunkie]

We use an online Rams system/package that is overseen as they are written, anything wrong/incorrect is questioned by a consultant, its about 2k a year and worth every penny.

Bob

You will never get quality with RA done remotley. For quality it needs to be done by a team actually looking over-the job, who actually understand how to identify what a hazard actually is. The software is just a tool to help

 

[8ob]

You will never get quality with RA done remotley. For quality it needs to be done by a team actually looking over-the job, who actually understand how to identify what a hazard actually is. The software is just a tool to help

Ours are site specific, my manager will have visited site prior to raising the rams. Our lads also carry sheets to do real time if there is a variation.

Bob

 

[winchman]

What level of NEBOSH?

I dont feel it would matter the Cert level is still way above anything else as far as I am aware, you need a good combination of the real world job experience and a NEBOSH level of understanding of the law etc

 

[winchman]

HSE: Cambridge firm and consultant fined over chemical exposure

A Cambridge instrument company and a health and safety consultant were fined for risking the health of employees from hazardous chemicals.

www.hse.gov.uk

Consultant fined for providing ‘incompetent’ health and safety advice - SHP - Health and Safety News, Legislation, PPE, CPD and Resources

A self-employed independent health and safety consultant has been fined £1,400 for breach of legislation for giving advice to clients, despite not being properly qualified.

www.shponline.co.uk

Safety Advisor fined by HSE for poor occupational health advice - Outsource Safety Ltd

Safety Advisor fined by HSE for poor occupational health advice

www.outsource-safety.co.uk

Need I go on?
You need to check the quals are real and applicable for example whilst I can hold my own in the industry I work in if I worked in a Nuclear plant I wouldn't be much use, its all about understanding and experience and big dolop of understanding UK law and knowing where to look for info

 

[Agrismith]

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.

I kind of meant from a reverse perspective that although sssts wouldn't be expected to implement anything, it would be expected that h and s would supervise.
When I did my courses there where loads of random jobs doing them just as they where a minimum to hold a senior position.

 

[Kayos]

I kind of meant from a reverse perspective that although sssts wouldn't be expected to implement anything, it would be expected that h and s would supervise.
When I did my courses there where loads of random jobs doing them just as they where a minimum to hold a senior position.

When I did my SMSTS a load of council lads were on it, couldn't have been less interested and started the week off being quite disruptive

Luckily one other person was doing it because they wanted it, not because they were told to do it, we helped each other and both got a very high mark

Anyone thats done it, or is doing it, you have to request your mark or they just tell you if its a pass or fail

 

[Ali]

Well, I said no, and directed the manager to a CITB H&S awareness for directors course. Doubt this will be taken up but will see what happens.

 

[mike os]

Well, I said no, and directed the manager to a CITB H&S awareness for directors course. Doubt this will be taken up but will see what happens.

Ultimately it is not your responsibility, it’s the md and other directors… all you can do is advise ( keep records and your head below the parapet)

 

[addjunkie]

Ultimately it is not your responsibility, it’s the md and other directors… all you can do is advise ( keep records and your head below the parapet)

This is good advice.

The bit above that concerns me from the prosecutions is quoted by our own @Parm

“How consultants achieve competence is up to them. However, they will have to be able to satisfy employers that they have a sufficient level of competence for the job in hand.

Trouble is they only get caught out when its too late! There are quite clearly described competency standards for most things. But Ive always found HSE a little vague, and some of the so called professionals Ive happened across in my career have been sadly lacking.

We used to call one Safety man from the office the decorator as all he did was hang paper on walls.