What To Look For In A Safety Consultant

Here's a suggested list of questions to ask anybody you are thinking of employing as a consultant.

Before you ask why I'm doing this when I want your business; simple we can give you the answers you need and competition is healthy; especially when I win!

• Qualifications and professional membership;

Any consultant should be able to offer as a minimum either MIOSH or possibly MIIRSM (full membership of the main professional bodies). Ideally you want someone with RSP after their name (qualified; experienced and competent). It means Registered Safety Practitioner by the way.

Guess who can offer membership of both institutes and has RSP status. There's an Honours degree in there somewhere as well.

• Insurance

Every safety consultant should be able to offer you proof of the professional insurance; at least £100000 of cover is essential.

We have £250,000 of cover. But we never get things wrong anyway.

• Will they solve your problem?

Explain your problem and listen to the answers. Do the answers match your needs; you may not like everything you're told; but does the answer match your needs? Are there various options put forward to allow you to select the most suitable option.

We will usually suggest various routes to solve any issue; we always reflect our clients aims; aspirations and local culture. We will offer advice that makes sense legally; financially and is constant with your company culture.

• Experience

Check out their background; look for success and maybe some familiarity with your problems (think problem not business type; anyone capable can jump between industries)

In my case you get some management history; a bit of accountancy; a bit of engineering then a career of success within safety. Health and Safety Advisor with the BBC for nearly 5 years followed by two years as Health and Safety Manager with Daewoo Cars.

• References

Can they give you glowing references.

Try ours; both my past employers have signed up for consultancy services.

• Clients?

Who are their clients? Anyone you recognise?

Well we've got the BBC, ITN and Daewoo Cars on our books.

• Do they speak in English or Jargon?

If you can't understand what they're saying the chances are they can't either; anyone can parrot legal requirements; the skill is understanding them and translating them for your clients.

We talk in English at all times; we work on the basis that the law is obviously important but if you work towards a culture of quality and common sense solutions the legal solutions flow automatically. Scaring people into compliance isn't a solution its an easy route that requires no talent and doesn't change anything; we'll convince people its important and a benefit to the business by open discussion.

• Do They Speak to you or AT you?

Do they discuss your particular problem or are they more interested in patronising you and selling you a solution off the shelf?

We do offer ready made solutions but we always adapt them to your needs and culture. We listen and then we solve; every problem has a number of solutions.

• Do You Like Them?

Not the first question to answer but it makes a big difference if you have to choose between similar options. Make sure you feel comfortable with the people concerned; trust their advice and can actually work with them. It works far better then.

Me; well ......