Tony Boyle’s Mentoring Page
Tony is the lead mentor in the following areas:
He is also available for a wide range of our consultancy services.
1. Auditing (ISO 19011)
All systems, including Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems (OH&SMSs), deteriorate over time but, because this deterioration is usually slow, the people in the system do not detect it. Internal audit, because it is done by people outside the system being audited, has a better chance of detecting deterioration, which is why it is such an important tool. Key skills in this area are as follows.
Devising appropriate internal audit procedures and programmes;
selecting appropriate audit techniques eg the techniques described in ISO 19011;
drawing up suitable work documents including checklists and interview schedules;
interview technique.
2. Implementing Occupational Health and Safety management systems
OH&S performance can only be maintained and improved if there is an effective OH&S management system (OH&SMS). Implementing an OH&SMS requires the following stages.
Selecting an OH&SMS suitable for your organisation. This requires a knowledge of the available OH&SMSs and their strengths and weaknesses.
Identifying the documentation required for the chosen system. Different OH&SMSs require a different range of documentation eg a documented description of the OH&SMS is required for OHSAS 18001 but not for HSG65.
Writing an OH&S policy statement. OH&SMs impose requirements on the content of the OH&S policy statement and practitioners should be able to draft policy statements which meet these requirements.
Setting suitable OH&S objectives. Objectives should be set such that, if they are achieved, there will be improvement in OH&S performance and improvements in the OH&SMS
Writing an OH&S manual. While any format could be used for an OH&S manual, preparing one which meets the requirements of ISO 10013 will ensure that the OH&S manual is in the same format as manuals for other management systems.
Writing OH&S procedures and work instructions to meet the requirements of ISO 10013.
Preparing and delivering training in the new OH&SMS.
3. Measuring and evaluation of Occupational Health and Safety performance and compliance
Measuring OH&S performance and evaluating compliance with legislation are both required in an effective OH&S management system. Key skills in these areas are as follows. Identifying what should be measured and evaluated; devising methods for obtaining quantitative data; statistical techniques for drawing sound conclusions from quantitative data; and using computer software to help with measuring and evaluation.
4. Monitoring
The effective maintenance of risk control measures and other aspects of the OH&SMS depend on the organisation’s personnel monitoring all relevant controls and aspects. The skills required by the OH&S professional in this area include the following. Identifying key topics for monitoring; devising methods of monitoring which can be used by busy managers; developing monitoring tools such as checklists; and devising and delivering training in monitoring techniques.
5. Risk assessment and risk control
There are many different definitions of risk and OH&S practitioners need to base their organisation’s risk assessment procedure on a sound theoretical basis. Preparing an effective risk assessment procedure requires the following skills. Accurately specifying what is meant by risk; devising appropriate scales for use in risk assessment; devising methods for accounting for foreseeable weaknesses in risk control measures; and measuring reliance on risk control measures. OH&S professionals should also try to improve the selection of these control measures. The skills required include the following. Tackling absolute risk rather than residual risk; creative thinking techniques to improve the selection process; evaluating risk control measures prior to implementation; and specifying monitoring requirements as part of the selection process.
e-mail: