1. Stop Work Procedure
The answer to a number of issues which arose during the safety committee should have resulted in operatives stopping work due to imminent danger. Indeed most employers make it clear to operatives that if they are put at risk they should not continue. However, it was clear that a lack of understanding of what is required and a willingness to work through problems instead of stopping to think, and sometimes pressure from above was putting operatives at risk. It was therefore agreed that a procedure was required which would satisfy the regulations and provide guidance as to how incidents of unacceptable risk should be dealt with.

2. Sign up for Safety & Respect for People
Also at the safety committee issues arose concerning operatives not complying with the site rules and instances of abusive behaviour. It was decided that something should be done to tackle this situation. A presentation was designed not only to highlight unacceptable behaviour but also to inform operatives about what they could do if they disagreed with an instruction or were abused themselves. A card was issued to operatives to provide information about these procedures which became part of the induction process.
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3. Bovis Media City
Towards the end of the project at Manchester Royal Infirmary a new project began at Media City in Salford which is now the home of the BBC in the North West. Much of the work instigated at the MRI was continued on this project. Here we see a Bovis safety manager giving a briefing to the site safety representatives.

4. A number of other Initiatives were implemented at the site such as involving operatives in the selection of safety glasses when they became mandatory throughout the company. Representatives were provided with about fifteen pairs of glasses between them. They were then asked to try them out personally for the next month and to ask their colleagues for their views as well. The initiative worked very well and the representatives took this task seriously reporting back honestly and with conviction. The outcome of this initiative is that six pairs of glasses were recommended and made available to all operatives at the site.

5. A number of other Initiatives were implemented at the site such as involving operatives in the selection of safety glasses when they became mandatory throughout the company. Representatives were provided with about fifteen pairs of glasses between them. They were then asked to try them out personally for the next month and to ask their colleagues for their views as well. The initiative worked very well and the representatives took this task seriously reporting back honestly and with conviction. The outcome of this initiative is that six pairs of glasses were recommended and made available to all operatives at the site.

6. ENGAGEMENT ENCOURAGES PARTICIPATION
The kind of worker engagement that I have described so far has the effect of encouraging operatives to participate in health and safety whereas a failure to engage properly can result in disengagement by the workforce. Essentially they will fail to play.

7. Competence Triangle COMPETENT KNOWLEDGE TRAINING EXPERIENCE
In order to be competent we must have knowledge, training and experience. We use this type of terminology all the time but what does it actually mean and how does it relate to individual operatives. My interpretation as to how this relates to safety representatives is that Knowledge is the ability to access and understand technical information from various sources. Training provides the practical skills such as those required to engage in meetings and undertake inspections. Experience should instil problem solving abilities through practical activities and engagement with others. A representative is competent when they can effectively scrutinise their employers overall health and safety provision and effect change through mutual co-operation with their employer.
EXPERIENCE

8. Essential Training Representatives & Managers Representatives TUC
Training for safety representatives is essential. They need an ability to access information, understand regulations and apply them to their particular circumstances. The TUC Education Service are known for providing the best training available to equip union representatives for their role. There was an initiative by the HSE to offer subsidised training in non-unionised companies available for potential safety representatives and managers. This was the Safe and Sound at Work Do your bit campaign. This resulted in approximately 2500 operatives being put through a two day course which provided them with an introduction to regulation but more importantly equipped them with the soft skills required to effectively deal with people. The cuts are likely to have a detrimental effect on any future training initiatives of this kind.
Representatives
TUC
Training