What we did

Starting from the premise that the primary role of senior leaders in this regard is to help prevent serious accidents, we developed a unique format based on leaders attending a series of four 90-minute on-line discussions in groups of 5-8 to look at their role, the purpose behind safety visits and conversations, the skills of the conversations themselves and, finally how to deal with human factors.

The format of each module is highly discursive and interactive, with delegates being encouraged to share their own ideas, insights and examples.  Using a combination of leading-edge theory, practical techniques and case studies from other rail construction environments such as Crossrail, Thameslink and Heathrow Express, each module explores how leaders can make more effective use of their visits to site as well as building their skills in engaging both staff and contractors in the wider agenda of reducing risk.  These seminars have been hugely successful and we have now been asked by HS2 to run them not just for HS2 managers but also for the senior staff in the JV consortia who carry out the construction work on HS2’s behalf.