Explain_How_to_Engage_Different_Individuals_and_Groups_in_the_Health_and_Safety_Process

Besides the legal requirements of; Health and Safety (Consultation with Employees) Regulations 1996 and the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007 (CDM2007) along with the ACOP paragraph 241-255 Which both make it very clear that consultation with the workforce on safety matters is mandatory, To engage the workforce this must be a two-way thing ‘top-down’ AND ‘bottom up’ communication between management and workers and workers and management. Just informing workers about your health and safety rules is not getting full engagement. In our industry no two projects are the same we have to take into account different nationalities, religious backgrounds etc all these things come into play, to this end a different approach might be needed to fully involve all concerned. The two main methods of achieving this are Informal and Formal. Starting with informal; This can be achieved through site walkthroughs by the senior management team who involve the workers as they go around of any issues as they arise and openly discuss these issues, which in turn shows management commitment, if the issues cannot be resolved there and then feedback should be given to the workforce when the issues have been dealt with effectively. Impromptu safety meetings on site are good to show management commitment and engage the workforce, and the good old pat on the back for a job well done safely goes a long way with a lot of people. Formal approach; In Formal approach we use tools such as site inductions, risk assessment involvement, tool box meetings where the workers are encouraged to ask questions and give pre job safety moments. Participation in the daily JSA, and one of the main methods of worker engagement in the oil and gas industry is the use of STOP CARDS (see attached) this is where everyone is empowered to “stop the job” if they feel there is a risk to safety. Also highlight to management any safety issues that need attention, it is a no blame culture that is used and all personnel are encouraged to write them, both positive and negative cards. Awards are given monthly for the best cards. Good poster campaigns in all languages are another way to involve the workforce, they must be regular replacement of these so as to avoid the “wallpaper syndrome” happening where people see them but it does not register. One other thing that has not been mentioned so far is training, by giving our workforce the correct training in safety this has the effect of engaging them in the safety process