Published: 17 Feb 2023
We all know how important Health and Safety is, particularly with some of the risks associated with the surveying profession. It is not a ‘nice to have’, it is the law. More importantly it is vital that it is fundamental to everything you do. However, have you ever considered how important your attitude is, to the engagement of the wider team? As a business leader or Health and Safety professional, it is imperative that your approach conveys the right message to your team.
Staggering health and safety stats
The statistics around workplace accidents on construction sites are terrifying. According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), there were 39 fatal injuries to workers in the UK in 2020/21. In addition, 61,000 people sustained a non-fatal injury over a three-year period between 2018/19-2020/21. However, what is possibly worse, is that many of these accidents could have been avoided. While training and experience are important, having the right culture in place is potentially even more essential. Even if your surveyor is only working on site for a short time, they need to be assured that reporting hazards or unsafe working practices will be acknowledged favourably. The whole approach to Health and Safety – from the top, down – should be a positive one, not an attitude that positions it as an inconvenience.
Promoting a positive safety culture
TSA has a strong ethos for raising standards within the surveying profession and promoting the importance of Health and Safety. Its annual Health, Safety and Wellbeing Day takes place next month (15 March). The key focus of the Health and Safety seminar, in the morning, is all about promoting a positive safety culture.
This free to attend, members-only event is aimed at survey company directors, managers, supervisors and others in a Health and Safety management role. Martin Mulholland from MD Safety Management will be running the morning seminar. As well as covering off legislation and HSE updates, he will be focusing on the importance of attitudes, beliefs and habits and how behaviours impact Health and Safety. He will also be looking at the level of influence leadership teams have in this. In recent years, there has been a marked shift in people’s approach, which is a positive start, but there is always more to do. This session next month is a great opportunity to refocus on what is important. To find out more about TSA’s Health, Safety and Wellbeing Day, along with the other networking events it holds throughout the year, visit www.tsa-uk.org.uk/events
