10 QUESTIONS


10 QUESTIONS WITH… RICHARD ASSENHEIM


Each month, we ask a health and safety professional 10 Questions. This month, we chatted to Richard Assenheim, Training Director at Ensafe Consultants.


for their organisation and not just a figurehead for a policy or procedure. They should become responsible for implementation of the system. If the employees saw that a senior executive implemented health and safety audits, risk evaluations, and even delivered some of the training, I think this would enhance the employee buy in.


Q5 Q1


WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST JOB? My first job was road


surveying on a sub contract in Hertfordshire from 1986 to 1987. It was an 18-month contract for a Liverpool-based company and when that contract ended I chose not to move but to look for something else.


Q2


HOW DID YOU GET INTO THE HEALTH AND SAFETY


INDUSTRY? When I was made redundant from a digital cartographer job in early 1989, I drove around Job Centres in my local area and of the many advertised jobs, one stood out – Environmental Consultant. I went for the interview and it was for a building materials testing company who had recently started a hazardous building material and health and safety division.


Q3


IF YOU COULD HAVE ANY SUPERPOWER FOR A DAY,


WHAT WOULD IT BE AND WHY? It would be Super Influential Man! I would like to be able to make people stop thinking about themselves and think about the impact they have on other people.


Q4 50


HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND


SAFETY INDUSTRY? I personally think all senior directors should become the H&S Manager


WHAT’S THE BEST ADVICE YOU COULD GIVE TO


SOMEONE NEW COMING INTO THE PROFESSION? Depending on which organisation they work for – grow a thick skin and stick to your principals. Don’t yield from your principals. What you know is right and you stick to it, don’t ever compromise what is the right thing to do because of a corporate mentality.


Q6


WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO COMBAT NEGATIVE


ATTITUDES TO HEALTH AND SAFETY? Education. It’s important to make people understand that H&S policies and procedures are not just a bolt on document there to slow down or interfere with what they do, it is there so we can all go home at the end of day.


Q7


IF YOU COULD HAVE A DINNER PARTY WITH ANY


THREE PEOPLE, DEAD OR ALIVE, WHO WOULD THEY BE AND WHY? The ground breaking pilots Amy Johnson and Amelia Earhart because if you want to beat negative attitudes and achieve something, they stand out to me. I would also like to get inside the mind of Ghandi, to find out his inner thoughts on channelling the negativity away and focussing on his inner strength.


Q8 Q9


WHAT DO YOU THINK THE FUTURE HOLDS FOR THE


HEALTH AND SAFETY INDUSTRY? I hope that with introduction of new standards, incorporation ideals with employees and employers will be the future.


WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU WON THE LOTTERY?


I would make sure that my family are cared for and invest sensibly so there is a little pot to keep them going and I know they won’t struggle. I would make sure my sisters were OK and I would buy a small aeroplane for myself.


Q10


BANYARD SOLUTIONS’ SIMON OLLIFF ASKED:


WHY DO YOU THINK HEALTH STATISTICS ARE GETTING WORSE OVER TIME? I don't necessarily agree that they are getting worse, I think certain statistics are plateauing because we’ve either reached a point where there is not a lot more we can do to avoid incidents happening or we are moving back towards an overregulated industry and too much red tape. Time will tell whether we give responsibility back to individuals and by giving responsibility back to individuals for their own welfare and wellbeing and that of other people, then maybe those statistics will get better.


www.ensafe.co.uk www.tomorrowshs.com


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