Safety Performance Indicators (SPI’s) and Safety leadership in
Warehousing
February 2011 – Douglas Leech, Chemical
Business Association
Douglas began by explaining the
need for SPI’s which were highlighted as causes in the major
incidents at Buncefield and Texas City, and the UK COMAH competent
authority has began to request that major hazard sites adopt a
system of “leading indicators” to improve safety within their
operations.
Identifying indicators involves
looking at steps in the risk control systems which must be carried
out and these critical elements are then monitored and reported as
per other performance data to senior management. It is the
variation in performance that gives the trigger for action and by
having senior managers involved you have the Safety leadership from
the ‘top down’ which is vital to preventing accidents. Douglas used
his experience in warehousing to explain the approach to SPI’s and
the document which has been written for Warehousing activities
although the practices used can be applied to all industries.
A handout of the slides accompanied the presentation and those
present went away with another tool in their safety professional
armoury. Copies of which are available to members via the
past meeting library.
District business
A free ticket to IOSH 2011 was raffled and won by a attending
IOSH member, who will give the District feedback from IOSH 11 at
our next meeting.
The next meeting is on the subject of Competent Person Certificate CPC for drivers
on11th April and we look forward to seeing you all
again.
Philip Gallimore Media Officer