Rock Asphalte's John Walsh: 60 Seconds on safety

How long have you been involved with the health and safety side of the business?

As Rock Asphalt's managing director, ever since I joined the company I have always taken ultimate responsibility for the safety of our staff and operatives at all levels of the company.

What's the most difficult aspect of your job?

Ensuring the absolute priority we put on safety is always at the forefront of our minds - particularly for site personnel, regardless of the demands of the client, prevailing site conditions and programme constraints. Staff safety always comes first.

What's the most dangerous thing you have seen someone do?

I had the misfortune of witnessing a scaffold collapse caused by careless operatives, who gained access before checking all work had been completed. It was a dangerous mistake that could have been easily avoided.

What's the most frequently broken health and safety rule?

I find myself continually concerned about staff working at great heights without clipping on with proper restraints, as they are putting themselves at great personal risk.

How do you tackle that?

We want to create a workplace culture where clipping on harnesses at construction sites is as natural as fastening a car seatbelt. This is achieved through a continuous, rolling training programme to reinforce such a vital message.

What do you do with frequent offenders?

We follow a strict three-stage process for health and safety training. Operatives who ignore the rules will receive a warning, followed by dismissal if they persist with dangerous behaviour.

What's your top tip for getting better buy-in for health and safety?

Total commitment to safety from the top down, and regular dialogue on safety from the bottom up - it's the only way to communicate a strong, clear message across the organisation.