A Trade Unionist View of Risk Assessment

Transcription

1 A Trade Unionist View of Risk Assessment Tim Briggs MA CFIOSH University and Colleges Union Safety Representative Chair Leeds Beckett University H&S Committee

2 My personal belief It is people that makes things unsafe It is people that makes things safe

3 Perceptions of Hazards In relation to hazards adults are considered responsible for their actions Are they always trustworthy or sufficiently well informed? After all it is only Common Sense! 3

4 Changing Attitudes Work as imagined Work as it really is 4

5 Assumptions If we assume Assumption will make an Ass U Me 5

6 Naive Views are easily manipulated Where weak opinion exists people are at mercy of how information is presented Influence of the popular press Are journalists able to distinguish all manner of characteristics making the risk? 6

7 Learning The Lessons From The Past Silvertown Buncefield Great Fire of London Grenfell Tower Herald of Free Enterprise Costa Concordia Texas City Gulf of Mexico (Macondo Oil Rig)

8 The Response To Risk Propensitity to take risks REWARDS Balancing Behaviour Percieved Danger Accidents 8

9 Degrees of danger Sensible Risk Assessment Why were conkers subject to ridicule? 9

10 Consequences of Risk - Factors Perceptions When was road traffic at its most dangerous 1937 or 2017 Despite the huge increase of road traffic the risk of an accident has decreased by a factor of four Will this argument alter the response of a mother whose child has been killed in a road accident? Societal will accept 10 deaths from 10 accidents will not accept 10 deaths from one accident Different groups will have different perceptions of hazards 10

11 How big a part does culture play? The Health & Safety Mantra s Health and Safety is part of the day job Health and Safety is not a bolt on extra Health and Safety is just plain common sense Managers manage Managing safety is just good management No blame culture Zero accidents Employees are our most important asset Etc, etc, etc Mantra An expression or idea that is repeated, often without thinking about it, and closely associated with something Reality? 11

12 Safety Culture and Management Human beings are so innovative are they not? 12

13 Risk Assessment Contributes to Good Workplaces Why do we need good work and workplaces? is therapeutic; helps to promote recovery and rehabilitation; leads to better health outcomes; minimises the harmful physical, mental and social effects of longterm sickness absence; reduces the risk of long-term incapacity; promotes full participation in society, independence and human rights; reduces poverty; improves quality of life and well-being. Improves self esteem worth and value Source Woodall and Burton 2006 See notes view 13

14 Advantages Becoming legally compliant Know what is to be managed Reduces cost of illness absence Increases learning in the organisation Can aid better communication Can hep to develop trust Improve productivity Prevention of waste Reduce damage to equipment or goods Improves quality issues Can help increase trust Contributes to continuous improvement Protects corporate reputation Can be prevention by being proactive A process all areas of business can use

15 What seems to be the norm? No employee involvement Experts telling us what to do Impractical controls implemented No systematic examination Over estimating Underestimating risk Out of date information used Risk Assessments used to justify decisions already taken Does not encompass different levels of knowledge Failing to review risk assessment Failing to protect people not included in workforce Does not take account of cognitive effects RA being reactive RA process being tick box approach Not considering technology advancements Creates division

16 Learning Lessons & Unseen Benefits Someone Upstairs Cares Syndrome Management Involvement Improved Communication Improved Trust & Respect The Improved Hawthorne Teamworking studies of the 1920s Elton Mayo Western Electric Hawthorne Works in Cicero, Illinois Gap filling (CI) Employee & Organisational learning Reduction of costs and efforts Improves productivity - profitability - lessens waste Protects Corporate and individual reputation Least of all legal compliance 16