10 QUESTIONS
10 QUESTIONS WITH… SAFECONTRACTOR
Each month, we ask a health and safety professional our 10 Questions. This month, we chatted to Dale Jones, Technical Manager, Alcumus SafeContractor. Q1 Q2
WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST JOB?
My first job was working as a Fitness Instructor in a health club. The role required me to be a jack of all trades. One day I'd be covering the gym, another acting as a life guard and a number of other tasks including cleaning the sauna and steam room areas.
HOW DID YOU GET INTO THE HEALTH AND SAFETY
INDUSTRY?
The health club role first exposed me to working in a pool plant room where I was responsible for measuring chemical levels in the pool water. I had to undertake a pool plant operator course because I was handling dosing chemicals such as chlorine, bromine and alkaline powders.
This course introduced me to the term ‘risk assessment’ and from there I went on to complete the CIEH risk assessment course as the role developed into helping with the health club’s standard operating procedures.
Q3
IF YOU COULD HAVE ANY SUPERPOWER FOR A DAY,
WHAT WOULD IT BE AND WHY?
The ability to read minds! If you know how individuals tick, it would enable a person to tailor the communication to the individual, thus ensuring that messaging is understood without confusion.
Q4
HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND
SAFETY INDUSTRY?
By teaching health and safety in schools. Young people are very inquisitive and prepared to challenge conformity. It would be a positive step to arm them with the basic knowledge to challenge bad practice, rather than simply assume bad practice is the norm once they are released to the working environment.
50 Q5 Q6 Q7
WHAT’S THE BEST ADVICE YOU COULD GIVE TO
SOMEONE NEW COMING INTO THE PROFESSION?
Be prepared to listen and adapt to the information being given to you by your colleagues. Text books and qualifications can only provide so much information.
WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO COMBAT NEGATIVE
ATTITUDES TO HEALTHY AND SAFETY?
Involve the workforce in health and safety initiatives so that they can take ownership of safety issues and have an input.
IF YOU COULD HAVE A DINNER PARTY WITH ANY
THREE PEOPLE, DEAD OR ALIVE, WHO WOULD THEY BE AND WHY?
The Emperor Vespasian - he was a great military leader who rose to the top from relatively humble beginnings. Boris Johnson – just to see whether it is just all an act. Jeremy Clarkson – the guy is bound to take an opposing stance to anything others would have to say on any given topic.
Q8
WHAT DO YOU THINK THE FUTURE HOLDS FOR THE
HEALTH AND SAFETY INDUSTRY?
We are going to see the health in health and safety take a more prominent role. A lot of businesses currently focus solely on reducing accidents and incidents, as these tend to be the big headline news.
The annual figures on deaths and incidences of ill health each year attributable to the working environment is staggering and something has to be done. We all need to work together to relay the message and educate the masses.
Q9
WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE IN A FUTURE ISSUE OF
TOMORROW’S HEALTH & SAFETY?
Nearly all of businesses in the UK are classed as SME’s. A business can start up and trade without understanding the basic principles of health and safety. I’d like to see an article highlighting the importance of larger businesses sharing best practice and influencing safety decisions made by the smaller suppliers within their supply chain.
Q10
STUART JUKES, MANAGING DIRECTOR
OF PULSAR, ASKED:
IN ONE LINE, HOW WOULD YOU INSPIRE THE YOUNG OF TODAY TO BEGIN A CAREER IN HEALTH AND SAFETY?
Don’t think of safety as a role, think of it as an impact.
Or the long answer: Don’t think of safety as a designated role such as a safety advisor, look for a role where you BELIEVE that you can make a positive impact on safety, whether that be a company director, architect, engineer, police officer or lollipop lady.
www.tomorrowshs.com
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