Operational and Strategic Safety Reviews
Offers you unrivalled insight on how you can improve your management of safety.
No director or senior manager wants to contemplate the consequences of being involved in a serious safety incident. Most managers would like to think that they have done enough to prevent such incidents from occurring. Sadly, the evidence suggests this is not the case.
Hastam's investigation of major safety incidents reveals that the sites involved typically had safety management systems, had followed HSE guidance and used recognised audit protocols but these were insufficient to protect them or avoid prosecution. In fact they were used selectively in the cases against them. Such incidents demonstrate the challenge in dealing with the complexities of both the legislation and the factors that can result in failure. A corrosive aspect is that prosecutions often rely on evidence distorted by the wisdom of hindsight. Incidents that seem not realistically credible beforehand appear to be glaringly obvious in the aftermath*.
Hastam directors, including Professor Richard Booth and Dr Tony Boyle, and our team of consultants have an unrivalled level of expertise in helping companies in their pursuit of safety excellence. Having worked as expert witnesses, for both the 'prosecution' (Port Talbot and Shell, and the families of the deceased in Potters Bar), and the defence, Hastam is in an exceptional position to:
- discuss the key lessons from the investigation of such cases, with explicit references subject only to the constraints of confidentiality;
- provide reviews and practical advice to senior staff that might significantly reduce the risk of a serious incident, noting the lessons above;
- assist organisations to put in place those systems and take those actions that facilitate the presentation of a strong defence case, or mitigation, if things do go wrong.
We have an intimate knowledge of the HSE; how their inspectors were trained and their regulatory strategies. We also understand specialist areas such as COMAH in both its operational and legal contexts, for example how it is used in constructing the prosecution's case. We possess expertise in critical reviews of documentation and procedures.
Above all, we have identified and collated the data on the system and human factors that contributed to failures. Many of these contributing factors were, in our view, not explicitly covered by current safety management systems, risk assessments or audits. Some of these issues also appear outside the scope of factors considered by senior managers and safety management teams.
Whilst we cannot provide a cast iron guarantee regarding failure, we can assist you to reduce the odds and mitigate the consequences. A starting point might be for Professor Booth or Dr Boyle to carry out a health and safety review on your site using their expert knowledge and insights. The review will be independent, systematic, pragmatic and robust and the resulting report will provide you with detailed findings and practical recommendations. This is an investment that could save you millions, protect your business reputation and keep you out of the courtroom.
The Hastam team can improve your ability to avoid accidents and strengthen your defences to prevent major safety incidents.
To find out more about how we can assist you by undertaking a strategic or operational review please call us today on 0844 561 0434 or fill in our contact form and we will arrange to visit you and explain how we can help you make a real difference.
