Ben Thomas, Health Safety and Environmental Champion at Yamazaki Mazak UK Ltd tells us how he got into health and safety and what it really means to be a Health and Safety Champion.
At my previous company while I was the Machine Shop Supervisor we had a new Health & Safety Manager join the company. During his first week he visited every department to introduce himself and familiarise himself with the varied processes. When he visited the machine shop he liked the systems I had in place for helping us to manage safety. I think he also liked the fact that I had an opinion on how safety within the business could and should be improved. A few weeks later he asked me to join him as his Health and Safety Coordinator.
It’s a great job title, isn’t it? Basically my role is that of the HSE Manager. I am employed to guide management and supervisory staff on all health and safety matters. I am responsible for setting out the road map for the business to follow to achieve an excellent standard of safety performance.
The interaction with people from all areas of the business and different departments. I enjoy getting out on the shop floor and, through managing safety properly, making people’s working days simpler, easier and safer. No day is the same and there are always different challenges. Recently we have been making lots of little improvements such as upgrading new portable fork lift trucks and have had comments such as: “You guys are really looking after us”. I know it’s only a small quote but it gives you the feeling that sometimes all the hassle and confrontation that the job does sometimes bring, is worth the effort.
Education. People still see safety as a bolt on. Something we have to do. They do not realise that if we manage safety properly we can provide greater efficiencies and business value as well as keeping people safe and healthy.
At my current company it is time. We are so busy that sometimes if allowed, people will prioritise production over safety. Money is not an issue. The company have enough faith in me to make the correct call that money is being spent wisely and that I have the ability to manage cost vs risk.
Again it is speaking to people at their level and not trying to blind them with lots of different technical terms. It is also very important to try and help and encourage people to take ownership of their own safety and that of their colleagues. Also displaying a proactive attitude to people’s safety concerns, no matter how small or how irrelevant I may think they are, is essential. I always make the point of responding quickly to requests.
CPD is essential. The world of safety innovation never stands still and you are always learning. My old Safety Manager always told me: “You will never stop learning in this game” and he is right.
Left school at 17.
1998 – Worked for a small engineering firm where he started his apprenticeship.
2001 – Joined Doncasters Precision Castings as a Machining Operative
2011 – Became HSE Co-ordinator at Doncasters Precision Castings
2014 – Joined Yamazaki Mazak UK Ltd as Health Safety and Environmental Champion
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