After many years of job losses and stagnation, it is great to see that so many businesses are now recruiting again. When new recruits arrive on site they are given the usual inductions that are required to appease the SHWWA and the organisation’s HR policies. But is that enough?
The safety culture that exists in workplaces is exactly that, “a culture”. It exists because it is the accepted norm in that workplace. The employer and the employees equally respect the health and safety of everyone in the facility. Can we expect new recruits to understand and adhere to that culture based on a simple induction talk? probably not!
This week we had the pleasure of working with a client who place the safety of everyone in their facility as a priority. The site risk assessment has fire as an ever present threat. Their SOPs are designed to mitigate against that risk but they also understand that the human factor is a critical element in ensuring that the SOPs are followed. The site has an excellent fire prevention system, emergency evacuation plan and fire fighting capabilities.
The first batch of the new recruits were given fire fighting training this week by Cuttle Consulting. The course, which was delivered by a very experienced and qualified fire professional, included the theory of fire ignition, fire spread and fire extinguishing. They then spent most of the day engaged in practical use of the fire fighting equipment available on the site. At the end of the course each new recruit knows how to use the fire fighting equipment at the facility but equally they now know when not to use the equipment and to put lives before property and to evacuate to safety.
We wish the recruits a safe and fruitful career with our clients.