ISS Facility Services UK HSEQ Manager, Joel Crompton has been named as the winner of the SHP Award for Trailblazer in COVID-19 Response Award.
New for 2020, SHP Trailblazer Awards celebrate those who are going above and beyond to make a positive difference, the real pioneers of health and safety.
Joel Crompton, UK HSEQ Manager at ISS Facility Services, was selected as the winner of SHP’s Trailblazer in COVID-19 Response Award from a list of seven finalists, by the SHP Awards judging panel.
Trailblazer in COVID-19 Response recognises individuals who have responded to COVID-19 in the most effective or inspiring way. This could be on the frontline, in the community or in the workplace.
SHP Trailblazer Awards is brought to you as part of the wider SHP Awards, in collaboration with the HSE and IATP.
Joel works as HSEQ Manager for ISS Facility Services – Key Account 2 comprising a large and diverse business within the Healthcare, Education, Government Services and Business & Industry sectors. Joel’s nomination described him as instrumental in delivering health and safety practices during first and subsequent waves, with ever-changing HSE guidance published to keep the front-line workforce safe.
What stood out for the judges, was him being a driving force in setting up the NHS Nightingale Hospital London — a 4,000-bed field hospital in London’s ExCeL, for which ISS mobilsed facilities management services in just nine days. Joel was chosen as the Health and Safety lead for his expertise, personal skills and a positive can-do attitude. And in this short time, Joel developed comprehensive Safe Systems of Work for office staff, ward hostesses, porters and clinical/non-clinical cleaners.
Judges also saw “pride and recognition” from his nomination and highlighted his “huge workload”, praising him for going above and beyond his day job. Joel’s work rate and ethic during the pandemic has ensured that thousands of individuals have had the most up-to-date information to implement proportionate controls in the most time efficient manner. Not only has his information helped his business, but he was key to additional companies opening their doors in support NHS Nightingale London, including local hotels to house NHS staff.
With much of ISS’ workforce occupied on their usual healthcare duties, agency staff were employed to the Nightingale Hospital and many had never previously worked within healthcare. Joel was present at induction training sessions to answer any questions the operatives had and to put their considerable concerns to rest. His calm, open and honest demeanour, together with his professionalism and knowledge, was a reassuring voice when reinforcing the considerable controls in place that kept all staff safe and able to take care of the country’s most critically ill patients.
Joel was also responsible for ensuring all Risk Assessments, Method Statements and COSHH Assessments were written, approved, delivered, and signed by all 600 facilities employees within the nine-day mobilisation period. Additionally, all equipment – from scrubber dryers and road sweepers to trollies and beds – was serviced, inspected and all users made aware of the safety implications.
Once the hospital was open and operational, Joel implemented a regime of inspections and proactive training, setting up a network of Safety Champions to ensure that on every shift and within every job role there was someone championing safety and acting as a focal point for any concerns raised.
And while implementing this as a constant onsite presence at the Nightingale Hospital London, Joel also continued to deliver in his usual duties, overseeing a team of three HSEQ Business Partners and looking after over 500 schools, 100 restaurants in the Hospitality sector and 50 hospitals at a time when safety knowledge was in high demand. ISS is one of the largest Facilities Management providers to the NHS, with over 11,000 trained and dedicated healthcare staff operating in over 45 Trusts around the UK.
Judges highlighted how Joel spent each day balancing the Nightingale with ensuring each of his other clients’ premises were made COVID-secure, with staff across the business fully informed of the daily Government updates and passing on the knowledge and expertise that the facilities industry has become renowned for during this pandemic.
The panel also picked up on the work Joel did to benefit the local community. Easing the burden on the NHS was one of the key driving forces when establishing NHS Nightingale London. Within the first few days of the project a major concern was where the employees of the Nightingale were going to be housed as the local hotels were apprehensive about opening. Joel met with local hoteliers and explained both the controls implemented at the ISS operated Sunborn Yacht and safety controls within the Nightingale Hospital. These meetings were the catalyst to additional hotels opened in support of the Hospital.
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What an outstanding man, who truly deserved to win!
Hats off to Joel Crompton 👏