Obstacles or Hindrances

1. Obstaclesor Hindrances

2. Obstacles or Hindrances • Dictionary definition of obstacle: • A situation, an event, etc that makes it difficult for you to do or achieve something • Dictionary definition of hindrance: • A person or thing that makes it more difficult for somebody to do something or for something to happen.

3. The Health and Safety Practitioner • The Health and Safety Practitioner is faced by many obstacles and hindrances. • The practitioner’ success depends on how well these are overcome. • This is true of all working environments. • This is no less so then in the contractors world.

4. The contractors world • In this world the contractor transforms environments from one condition to another. • There are many obstacles and hindrances present in this process. • We as Health and Safety Practitioners are party to this world.

5. Obstacles and hindrances faced by the contractor • Supervision. • Labour. • The terrain. • Construction equipment and plant. • Weather conditions. • The products. • Unknowns.

6. Which Obstacles & hindrances are the most problematic • Studies have shown that incidents have certain common root factors. • These are human and non human factors. • The non human ones are among others: plant; equipment; terrain; weather; products etc. • The human ones are among others: labour; plant operators; supervision etc.

7. Which obstacles or hindrances are the most problematic? • The non human factors are more readily managed than the human factor. • It is far easier to ensure that the plant is sound than to influence the operator! • To influence the human factor is far more difficult and costly. • Yet more problems arise from humans than non human factors.

8. What is the significance of this reality? • If you want to succeed as a Health and Safety Practitioner then you must. • Ensure that the non human factors like the conditions of the plant; the knowledge of the product; the provision of measures like PPE are in place and sound! • However this is not enough! • Why?

9. The Human Factor • Non human factors’ contribute to around 10% of the problems/incidents. • These non human factor do not have a will of their own! • Therefore are obstacles and hindrances that can be over come easier! • However the human factor’ contribute around 90% of the problems/incidents! • The human do have a will of their own! • Therefore are obstacles and hindrances that require great effort to over come.

10. Success • You as the Health and Safety Practitioner must manage this human factors to achieve success! • You must aim most of your effort towards this end. • You have to achieve mind shift changes of the human factor!

11. What forms of effort? • Identification of requirements. • Employment practice. • Screening. • Training. • Promotions. • Acknowledgement. • Monitoring. • Discipline.

12. Conclusion • You as the Health and Safety Practitioner play a vital role in the success of the business you work for! • Do not lose hope! • Continues your endeavours! • With great application and pain comes success over those obstacles and hindrances you face!