How apprentices can develop a safety mindset from day one

Colin Buckle, project manager: As an employer, line manager, and supervising civil engineer, I start talking to my apprentices about safety from day one.

I want them to understand how safety is involved in everything they do.

Elijah Twiss, fourth-year apprentice: Apprentices have the benefit of integrating a mind for health and safety (H&S) from the get-go.

Due to the way that theory is often taught, I think sometimes health and safety (H&S) is simplified. It’s talked about in quantitative terms, like a factor of safety.

In the real world, it can’t just be defined by a number. It’s inclusive of frameworks, like the principles of prevention, that require real engineering judgement.

With a combination of theoretical knowledge and hands-on experience, apprentices get the bigger picture on how all the different elements of H&S come together.

Safety in design vs onsite

Design

CB: As the apprentices progress into producing their own designs, they become more aware of the specific risks that are introduced.

They are required to reduce and mitigate them wherever possible as part of the hazard elimination process.

ET: I’ve had the opportunity to be involved in construction onsite and designing in an office.

From my own experience it’s clear to see how a functional design won’t only provide a level of health and safety for the user but also for the construction team (during construction and maintenance).

A good design will consider health at all stages of a project’s lifecycle.

When I sit down to design something for a scheme, I consider how each element will fit together and the safety consequences of each design decision.

Construction

CB: When apprentices gain site experience it brings a completely different set of experiences around safety.

For apprentices that started as designers and moved on to site, it can open their eyes to what a theoretical hazard/risk looks like in real life.

They can also touch and feel the difference onsite, including the impacts of weather and the experience of working in and around live plant.

ET: I know how hard it is sometimes to achieve a design onsite so bringing that knowledge of construction into my design role is really important to me.

I think that my experience of site has really benefitted my knowledge of constructability and perception of safety.

My advice to other apprentices is to get site experience if it’s offered to you.

You will learn so much about health and safety and how that can filter into the design stage of a project.

Experiencing different environments

CB: If an apprentice has the opportunity to work in various environments, it can really add to their experience.

But it will also bring significantly different safety challenges which they’ll need to follow the appropriate procedures.

For instance, night works are completely different to day works, and rail possessions could involve a variety of rail-specific safety measures.

Asking questions

ET: As an apprentice, you’re working closely with other engineers that can enrich your perspective of different aspects of safety and how its integrated into design and construction.

So ask questions! There is no such thing as a stupid question. The engineers around you have plenty of knowledge and will be glad to share it.

CB: We encourage apprentices to ask questions about the wider projects they’re working on, and not just about the piece of work they’re doing.

That makes them inquisitive and helps them to start to build up the strength and knowledge to challenge what’s being done.

This is supported by formal training on construction design and management (CDM) regulations, safety legislation and writing risks assessments.

Speaking up about safety

CB: From the first day of an apprenticeship through to the very end, I encourage my apprentices to raise safety observations, regardless of whether they’re in the office or onsite.

I also make sure they know to raise positive points and highlight the good work people do to keep each other safe.

ET: Safety moments form a large part of the construction safety culture that apprentices are exposed to.

Presentations that have stood out most to me have been ones that are given by people who have personal experience with the topic they’re raising.

They feel passionate about the information they’re sharing because at the end of the day everyone deserves to go home safe.

Health in body and mind

CB: With apprentices, and everyone in our teams, safety needs to include health and wellbeing in body and mind.

It’s ok to talk about how we’re feeling if we’re struggling, and to ask for help.

Part of an apprenticeship is building trust with your apprentices so that they feel comfortable sharing that with you.

It was an area I had to develop as a line manager, but it’s so important. There’s so much more going on within an apprentice’s mind than perhaps might be obvious.

As well as the day job and university, they’re still developing as a person and we’re there to support them on that journey.

How apprenticeships enable successful careers

ET: I don’t think I would’ve had the opportunity to experience the depth of what I’ve accomplished so far in my career without my apprenticeship.

I’ve learned that safety is all about the bigger picture, the consideration of all the different elements of a project coming together.

CB: For me, safety really does start on day one of an apprenticeship.

It’s down to all of us to support apprentices to gain all the knowledge and experiences they need as a baseline to build a successful career from.