Importance of having the right people

Safety and risk study sessions are usually held by third party consultants. And one of the main reasons to that is the independence from the project, and hence an assumed integrity in the work done.

Its just ridiculous when the third party does not do it well, because he got too carried away trying to keep the team focused with his "war stories" and easy-going personality.

Personally I object. I really do. I might only be a scribe, but I've scribed for many many studies and a few different facilitators. I have to say, I have lots of respect for some facilitators and almost none for some. It really angers me to see what people do to play down the risk.

Its human lives we're talking about here. And to a lower extent, human health. Just because its a multi billion dollar project it doesnt mean you can afford to kill someone once every 5 years or damage 10 person's health in the same duration of time. And I thought its a company policy to make a risk as low as reasonable practicable. That's where the whole ALARP thing comes from. But yet..

Its only been twice since I scribed for this facilitator. And before the 2 events, I've always believed in that strong safety sense in him. He's always talking about people first, people first. I've never seen a construction risk assessment with 0 high risk items, less than 5 medium risk items, and an abundance of low risk items.

And the worst thing is how I have to voice my disagreement during one of the study with him. Telling him I dont agree its a low risk because.. Fortunately he agreed with what I said and presented the change during the study, highlighting the issue to everyone else. I might have embarrassed him as a facilitator and senior safety and risk engineer, but I had to do it. I am more angered with the client who insists everything is low risk. It really amazes me how an idiot like him can be a senior. But worst of all, its sad to see how one of these studies are practically thrown down the drain despite the cost allocated to it, just because you do not have the "right people" in the room. And in the room are a number of senior safety people.. I cannot understand why nobody said a thing.

And the funniest bit?? How a few of them would agree with you AFTER you pointed out the "mistake". Its like HELLO???!! We've been going on for 2.5 hrs and nobody said a thing, until I said something to the facilitator quietly.. then you guys start saying "yea, I think so too.." *faints*

Anyway, enough work rants. I've already told my manager I want to do less of these studies and she's been really accommodating. I dont want to be part of a dispute when something goes wrong in the future and they start questioning the outcome of the study *yaiks*