Encouraging employees to take health and safety seriously

The Health and Safety Executive has confirmed an investigation is under way after a video appeared on Twitter showing a man climbing out of a manhole on a busy street in Coleford, Gloucestershire. What makes the video so shocking is that the manhole has not been fenced off in any way to alert drivers that work is underway.

Not sure who this is or what they were doing, but I’m sure @H_S_E would like a word…@GlosCC @GlosRoadPol @FoDDC @GlosRoads @ForestPolice pic.twitter.com/uLOG3FVYmh

— Alastair McCulloch (@TheForestDeliCo) 10 March 2017

Captured by a local resident on their dashcam, a man wearing a hi-vis jacket emerges from the hole in the road, watched at a distance by his colleague. There are no signs to warn of workers in the road, and the manhole is unmarked, presenting a danger to the man and to motorists who may drive into the hole.

Not taking their own safety seriously

A closer examination of the video reveals that the men do indeed have cones with them – but they are being used to surround their van, parked on the other side of the road. Almost as if protecting their parking space is more important than their personal safety.

This lack of care could have easily resulted in serious injury or death had a less observant driver rounded the corner as the man emerged from the road.

Knock-on effects for the employer

Although the worker is most at risk from their own stupidity, the HSE also apportions some blame to their employer. After incidents like these, inspectors will want to know why a worker would assume it is acceptable to ignore common-sense safety rules.

Looking beyond the actual video footage, these men’s’ employer will also be investigated to see whether there is a company-wide culture of neglect for health and safety. They will also want to reassure themselves that the workers were properly trained in site management before being sent out to work on Britain’s roads.

Avoiding similar problems

Other employers looking to avoid similar incidents need to do several things:

1. Ensure staff are trained in basic site management and ensure they are fully equipped to protect themselves. In this instance, training on safe working in the road, coupled with safety barriers and warning signs would have helped to dramatically reduce the risk presented to workers and drivers.

2. Ensure records are kept of all training, providing proof in the event of an HSE inspection that all reasonable steps have been taken to protect workers.

3. Emphasise the employee’s personal responsibility for maintaining safe working practices on site, and implementing a disciplinary procedure that underlines this. You should be prepared to enforce these procedures – including sacking employees – as part of your commitment to company safety.

Employers cannot always protect employees who are determined to break the safety guidelines put in place to protect them – but they can put in safeguards to protect the business in these situations. To learn more about what your business can do, and how you can better protect your workers, please get in touch

About David Cant

A chartered (fellow) safety and risk management practitioner with 20+ years of experience. David provides a healthy dose of how-to articles, advice and guidance to make compliance easier for construction professionals, Architects and the built environment. Get social with David on Twitter and Linkedin.