What do you do for your day job?
I’m currently UK Health & Safety Manager for JTI UK. We have around 500 employees in the UK working across a Head Office in Putney, a Distribution Centre in Crewe and a large Sales team across the UK. Prior to JTI I worked in the Maritime Industry for 10 years.
What is a typical day’s work for you?
There is no such thing! I’ve spent the last 30+ years never having two days alike and it’s something I love about working in Safety.
How did you become a member of the London Safety Group Committee?
I saw a post on LinkedIn from the group, looked up the website and then decided to attend. At the first meeting I attended I was made to feel so welcome, the speaker was extremely engaging and interesting (Izzy Augustin), and I was hooked. I achieved my IOSH Chartered Status last October and was looking for a new challenge, so I volunteered to join the Committee in December 2023.
What benefits do you feel that the Group bring for you?
The meetings always have fabulous speakers and information, always relevant and thought provoking – and helps with CPD. I also love the friendliness and ability to network.
What do you find the most interesting part of your role within the Group?
Having just joined the committee, I’m still finding my feet – but so far I’m enjoying the interaction with other Members, getting to grips with the website technology, and learning about just what it takes to keep such a fabulous group running.
What presents the most challenges?
Time .. there is just never enough of it.
What’s your health and safety ‘soap-box’ subject?
Please stop with the Health & Safety Police! Safety is all about people and keeping them safe by engaging with them and supporting them. And Health & Safety Policies and Procedures that are full of long winded words and phrases and run to many pages long – no one will read these, let along follow them – keep them concise and meaningful.
What is your one piece of advice for a practising Safety Professional?
Be curious and ask lots of questions – understanding why people behave a certain way will help you understand what you can do to support them and make positive changes. And read everything in relation to Safety you can get your hands on.Â
One piece of advice for someone thinking of becoming a Health and Safety professional?
Get some experience before you start studying. You need the real life scenarios when you’re studying to support you – and for those areas you’re not working in, there’ll be someone at the London Health & Safety Group who can help. Never be afraid to push yourself out of your comfort zone, it’s the only way to learn and grow – and if you don’t know the answer, be honest and then find out.
Finally something personal about you not related at all to H&S or your day job …
When I was at Infant school I was asked a question on ITV about the Dinner Lady who won Dinner Lady of the Year at Bisley First School. And when I was at Junior School I appeared on Songs of Praise on BBC as part of a choir dressed in Welsh National Dress at Oystermouth Castle in Swansea.
