Managers’ briefing pack 5: One team, one vision
Aim: We are actively engaged with our contractors on health and safety
Total time for this session:
c. 18 minutes
What you need for the session:
-
Copy of the health and safety DVD ‘zero accidents, zero harm, zero compromise’
A projector/means of effectively showing module five to your team
Speakers (where possible), if not then increase your volume on your computer so everyone can hear
the film
Ask your team to bring their three zeros booklets with them. If you need additional copies please
email: [email protected]
Paper/flipchart and pens
Print the five steps to managing contractors cards from the health and safety portal pages
Show film (3 minutes 16 seconds)
Show module five of ‘zero accidents, zero harm, zero compromise’ DVD: One team, one vision
Team discussion
As team managers please lead the discussion around the following:
Who are our contractors? (3 minutes)
Discuss: When we talk about our contractors who do you think we mean?
Lead: Once the team have discussed this then use the below to help you:
-
Work carried out by our contractors is very wide ranging
Contractors include those who work on large scale construction projects through to those who drive
tankers on our premises
They cover those who clean our premises and offices through to those who service our equipment
Some contractor jobs last for weeks or months while others are permanently working for us
It is our vision to achieve zero accidents and zero harm to our staff, contractors and everyone
affected by our work through a zero compromise approach
We must remember to take notice of the health and safety practices of our contractors as well as
direct Thames Water employees
Don’t walk on by (3 minutes)
Discuss: What would prevent you from intervening when you witness poor health and safety of someone
working for Thames Water or one of our contractors? How can we break down these barriers so that you
wouldn’t walk on by in future?
Witnessing great health and safety activity (2 minutes)
Discuss: What would you do if you saw a great example of someone/a team working in a safe and healthy
way?
Lead: To support this discussion please mention the following at the end of the team discussion if they’ve
not already been raised.
-
Tell those working well that you’re impressed (re-enforce positive behaviour)
Nominate them for either the Employee Recognition Awards (excellence in health and safety
behaviour category); or
Nominate them for the Excellence in Health and Safety Awards
Group exercise: scenarios (6 minutes)
Discuss: Consider whether your team is involved with working with contractors (remember this includes any
external parties brought in to work with us or for us, as well as those working on our operational and capital
projects).
If they are, then take the five steps cards that you have printed. Use these as a prompt for discussion
around the five steps to managing contractors. Discuss the steps most appropriate to the activities your
team carry out. Ask everyone what each of the steps they are involved in means to them and what they do
to manage each step effectively.
Discuss as a group to ensure understanding of how to engage with and manage contractors to keep
everyone safe and healthy.
Lead: If, from the discussion, it emerges that your team are not familiar with the five steps but they do
manage contractors then take an action to discuss section 7 of the manual with them over the next month.
If your team does not work with contractors then skip this exercise.
Closing the session (1 minute)
Lead: Encourage everyone to consider how they can help deliver the ‘We are actively engaged with our
contractors on health and safety’. Ask them to make notes in their three zeros booklet before the next team
meeting.