Consultants - Expectations and Delivery

Overview

Many businesses rely on safety consultants to advise them on legal compliance and best practice. During visits to businesses HSE Inspectors find numerous examples of good practice amongst consultants but are also finding increasing evidence of poor service.

A seminar was held on 24 November 2010 at Duxford, which was attended by approximately 120 people.

Introduction

The meeting was opened by Simon Longbottom, Head of Field Operations.

The driver for the day was that Consultants play a key role in safety. However, they need to recognise their limitations and the event would also talk about accreditation.

Consultants - Expectations and Delivery

Eddie Scoggins, HM Principal Inspector, Chelmsford delivered the HSE presentation on expectations and delivery. Click here for a pdf copy of his presentation (240kB).

Next followed a presentation by Nigel Davy, from a Consultant's viewpoint. Click here for a pdf copy of his presentation.

Stephen King from Kent described how the local IOSH Branch has facilitated the formation of a Consultants' forum in their area. The venture is open to all and it has proved most beneficial. His presentation (which could not be displayed at the meeting due to technical problems) is here (18kB).

There followed a lively discussion and question and answer session. The HSE are keen to see people join the new voluntary Consultants' register. We were assured that, while the initial entry is for Chartered members who are generalists, the register will be rolled out to other categories later.

There was a great deal of support for setting up something similar for East Anglia. The first point of contact for this is Janet Price.