Management H&S Champions worth their weight in gold

The importance of Management Health & Safety Champions

Last month’s blog explained the powerful effect of a Business Plan, overseen by Directors and Trustees on putting the organisation’s H&S Policy into practice – and not just leaving it on the shelf to fester unknown and unread. I have never experienced difficulty in selling the concept of H&S planning to Directors and Trustees, who are normally well-versed in business planning – but then again, it’s not they who have to carry out the subsequent legwork.

However, Selling the Plan to the next tier of management is a much tougher proposition.

I well remember the looks of alarm and dismay on Senior Managers’ faces on breaking the news that the Directors and Trustees had mandated every department to manage its own H&S implementation plan, subject to board (and where available, health & safety committee) scrutiny. After the said Senior Manager has picked themselves up off the floor, I take pains to explain that the H&S plan might not be as onerous as they fear – provided they delegate the day-to-day legwork to a reliable lieutenant. You may be pleasantly surprised to see how often a departmental head is able to find suitable resource – a trusted Manager, recent graduate trainee, even a time-served Administrator who knows their way around the organisation, its systems and people.

• No previous experience is needed to become a good H&S Champion – just persistence and an eye for detail.
• No special training is required either, as the Health & Safety Advisor will meet regularly on a one-to-one basis to review progress and give guidance on what else is required.
• In theory, there’s nothing to stop the Management H&S Champion being the same person as the employee safety representative, especially in departments where headcount is small.
• Bear in mind though that the safety rep – who may be union-appointed – is there to support worker interests, whereas the Management H&S Champion is an extension of the leadership team.

Role of the Management H&S Champion

• The role of the Management H&S Champion is to chase progress and chivvy departmental members into implementing what is written into the H&S Plan.
• They should act as a focal point, receiving reports of hazards, problems, defects, etc and liaise with external departments as necessary e.g. HR, H&S, Facilities, etc.
• They may need to issue reminders for people to attend training courses, perform inspections, and help induct new starters.
• The Management H&S Champion should keep the Head of Department informed of progress, and especially if there is any impedance that could cause the H&S plan to fall behind. They are the H&S eyes and ears of the department – in effect its H&S officer.

Worth their weight in gold – don’t underestimate their contribution to keeping the H&S Plan on track!

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Arinite clients appreciate we provide practical, no-nonsense advice about what you need to do to establish and maintain a safe and healthy working environment. Our team of health and safety consultants take pride in keeping health and safety simple. If you need to call upon our expert assistance, or just for an informal chat, please call our office 0207 947 9581, or contact us online.