What's your job title?

Re: What's your job title?

My reply addresses the question but also relates to the response from the response from Eddie

I take issue with "...I manage all Health and Safety.........." No you don't nor should you.

A common mistake this profession makes is to treat health and safety as a separate element of our business, and then create ambiguous roles such as HS Supervisors/Superintendents/Managers which infers they manage health and safety. I understand the desire to elevate their position within industry and commerce but it is this mistake which is a threat to their credibility. The fundamental fact is that the responsibility (and accountability) for the safe execution of activities lies with line management, from the very top through to the first line supervisor, the health and safety function is a "support" to the management organisation providing such things as advice, reviews and compliance assurance.

To achieve the efficient (and safe) execution of a task requires at least i) competent resources, ii) appropriate plant and equipment, iii) the right materials at the right time, iv) a plan, v) clearly defined processes/procedures, the absence and/or shortfall of any of these increases the likelihood of unsafe conditions. Who is responsible for the provision of these five elements, certainly not the health and safety function. However, they should provide support/advice.

Therefore a job title is very important and the use of manager/supervisor and that of the old fashioned "officer" should be dispensed with altogether within health and safety. If you are responsible for health and safety strategy then by all means titles such as Director are appropriate but I suggest the majority of health and safety personnel are (or should be) advisors.

Derek Moorfield, Petrofac Group.

Anonymous | 10:50 08.08.2008| Report this answer as unsuitable

Re: What's your job title?

I do agree with the first answer in that I think job titles are important but they can also be miss leading. My title is Health & Safety OFFICER, yet I MANAGE all Health & Safety within the company and report to the directors,giving them ADVISE.I am also CONSULTED by our other sites on Health & Safety issues. On a recent visit, our local EHO introduced himself to me and on hearing my job title asked if we had a Health & Safety manager....

eddie.brooker@hoohing.com | 17:42 04.07.2008| Report this answer as unsuitable

Re: What's your job title?

Two trains of thought. 1. Does it matter what they call themselves as long as they carry out their H&S responsibilities both seriously and effectively. 2. If they did have a specific title, as agreed by industry, would they be more likely to do the job properly as they may feel more in tune and that they may be watched more closely. Having a title sometimes helps to put a label on things as other persons will then know exactly what this person does and what they are responsible for. I do believe though that to give someone a title without the know-how and experience of carrying out that responsibility could give the position a lack of credibility and give the industry a bad name. We have enough authorities doing that for us already. I quite like titles but lets make them sensible instead of making titles for titles sake. Many SME's call in outside help mainly to have a competent person and to point them in the right direction, which I fully endorse, and to have a specific contact within the organisation is extremely helpful to me as a H&S Consultant. Perhaps the title H&S Co-ordinator fits the bill unless you are qualified higher to take the title a stage further. I could write a thesis on this subject but I know I must keep it short so I look forward in hearing other contributors comments.

pdgoddard | 23:40 01.07.2008| Report this answer as unsuitable