Choosing A Competent Safety Consultant
The sad news is, many safety folks are simply required to react after the fact investigations and reports
. The explosion in health & safety regulations and liability issues, along with changes and updates in software, equipment, and technology have made it impossible for one person to keep it all straight.Enter the subcontractor the safety consultant, a freelance worker with highly specific skills who can focus on one issue full time for a pre-determined period with outstanding results. The consultants purpose is helping an employer identify specific needs and a plan of action to meet them within the realm of the companys goals, policies, and budget restraints. There are broad-spectrum safety consultants and one-topic consultants in highly targeted specialist areas. Some consultants act as brokers or gatekeepers for other consultants, or team leaders for huge projects and those with unusually high liability. Many like the writer have pro-active programs like the 5 Star Health & Safety Management System.
Key Considerations
As in all business decisions, do your homework. Some guidelines include:
Identify what you want up front. Be as specific as possible. More than one company has been battered by giving a
consultant free rein and an open checkbook. Obtain an assessment of your program if you have doubts about what you need. Then, proceed to specific items as needed.
Prepare a written description of the work. This ensures all bids will be on the same items(s), avoiding comparing apples with oranges. It also helps keep hidden charges from popping up later.
Establish a chain of command. This avoids confusion and wasted time. The consultant knows whom to report to and from whom to get information and feedback. Too often, a project mushrooms if more than one manager is given authority for the consultants time.
Create a budget and update it regularly. This prevents unnecessary overruns. Know the cost breakdown at the start and who pays for each item, test, or any additional help. Beware of broad, meaningless terms that leave the company opens to additional charges. Is research time included? How about subcontractors? Materials? Report preparation?
Set evaluation methods. Whether it is feedback from training, a written report, a specific number of test results, or
the projects completion, have a method of maintaining quality and a checks-and- balances system throughout.
Have a written contract. This keeps everyone on task. It is simply good business and of equal value to your company and the consultant. Watch for blanket scapegoat clauses, such as employer to pay for any incidentals incurred. one case, this included boat dock fees for a consultants personal sailboat.
Establish a timetable for completion and penalties for overruns. Allow some leeway, but have a final tally method. Few companies can allow never-ending projects.
Provide a yardstick for tracking the projects success. How will you know if the consultant hassucceeded? A written
report? Training evaluations or employee feedback? Lower costs or injury levels. Be realistic.
Take bids. Be sure to compare them before making a final decision.
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