As with all parts of your
organisational practice, managing Health & Safety involves a
process of planning, delivery, checking quality and taking stock to
see what can be improved.
Kevin Connor, Health & Safety
Consultant at Mentor, says most businesses he visits for the first
time tend to be very good at what they do and that’s how they stay
in business.
He says: “As far as Health &
Safety issues are concerned, the main problems they face are
proving they’re working safely, which involves having the necessary
paperwork, identifying problems they might have and knowing where
to start addressing issues.
“Much of what we see initially can be
anecdotal and informal. We go into a business and take a snapshot
of how they’re performing in the management of Health & Safety.
We then produce a confidential audit report with an action plan to
prioritise risks. After that, we work with the client to resolve
the issues we have identified and improve the company’s management
systems.”
That’s exactly what happened in the
case of Stòras Uibhist, a community-owned company set up to
undertake Scotland’s largest ever community land purchase. In 2006
the residents of the islands of Benbecula, Eriskay and South
Uist became the owners of 93,000 acres of land.
Office holders in the newly formed
company immediately realised that they needed advice on Health
& Safety requirements, among other matters. The diverse
business that was included in their purchase incorporated
commercial interests, 1,000 crofts, sea-trout, brown trout and
salmon fishing rights, extensive sporting rights and a hunting
lodge.
The community had extensive plans to
regenerate and diversify the local economy and reverse generations
of population decline. These plans included a new port of entry, a
windfarm and the restoration of a golf course that was first laid
out by legendary player and designer Old Tom Morris in 1891.
To get community ownership off to the
best start, a full business review was undertaken and Mentor was
brought in to provide expert support on Health & Safety
management. As Huw Francis, the Chief Executive of Stòras Uibhist,
explains: “Initially, Mentor undertook a Health & Safety audit
and supplied us with the necessary documentation we required.
“A programme of mentoring and
training, supervised by Mentor, was implemented as the company
grew. This provided guidance and support in preparing risk
assessments, safety training and Health & Safety management
across a wide range of operational and development
departments.”
The location of Stòras Uibhist makes
managing Health & Safety a challenge, especially at one of its
ventures, Askernish Golf Club. There are rolling sand dunes, the
North Atlantic is a few yards from the tees and livestock graze on
the course during the winter.
Kevin is currently working with the
Club to ensure that, while the course is being upgraded to
championship quality under the guidance of leading American course
architect, Tom Doak and Martin Ebert, one of the UK’s top links
architects, top-quality Health & Safety management is to the
fore.
Huw Francis adds: “Mentor will work
with us to ensure that visitors and employees can enjoy the course
safely.”
It has been four years since Huw first
approached Mentor for advice on Health & Safety and he is
delighted with the outcome so far. He says: “The core business is
performing well, the number of visiting anglers enjoying the
machair lochs and wild hill fishing is growing, and the golf course
is restored to its full splendour.”
If you would like further
information, and already subscribe to
RBS
Mentor, please call
the Advice
Service. If you would like more information on
how Mentor could help your business in situations like this and
many others, contact
us today for information.