The higher you climb the safer it needs to be
When I left school, I enlisted in the army as a vehicle mechanic, being fortunate enough to visit numerous far-flung destinations around the world, and as a young man this was an exciting experience. I then re-entered civilian life and I started working on building sites as a scaffold labourer, but in 2003, a close work colleague of mine was fatally injured in a fall from height incident. This naturally had a great effect on me and the rest of our small team, and it made me look closer at Health and Safety.
After a period of reflection, I continued working and progressing within the industry and self-funded myself through a NEBOSH Construction course. In late 2013 I was fortunate enough to secure the role of Health and Safety Manager for a local company and a little over four years ago, I decided to start my own Health and Safety consultancy company.
Work was slow to begin with, which was difficult with my young family, but eventually I managed to secure more clients and finally hung up the tools for good. I started studying for my NVQ5 during this time, and then the NVQ6. The NVQ6 was signed off in October 2020 and I applied for, and received, Graduate IOSH status.
A Master’s degree was the natural progression
The MSc in Safety, Health and Environment at the University of Greenwich felt like natural progression after completing an NVQ6. Due to running my own business and needing to generate income, I chose a distance learning programme over a taught course, thus enabling me to commit to my studies and still being able to cater to the needs of my clients.
I enjoyed studying again and looked into how to further my career and how to also put myself in line with my peers within health and safety. I considered various options and decided that a Master's degree was the path to take.
Completing a Master’s degree will also be a great personal achievement after leaving school with acceptable GCSEs, shunning A levels to become a soldier, and then starting from the bottom again as a site labourer. Another reason I want to do this is that I lost my dad to Covid pneumonia three days before Christmas 2020, so in some way I'd like to think I can still make him proud. But most of all, and however selfish it sounds, I'm doing it for me.
Helping people think about health and safety
My family are supportive and encouraging - I have been studying in some form over the last four years, so it is normal for me to have my 'head in a book', so to speak. I'm looking forward to the modules, especially Environment Impact and Management, as it is something that piques my interest.
Greenwich is a respected establishment and the staff and teams have been most welcoming.
Upon successful completion I intend to commence the IOSH IPD process to Chartered Membership, and then complete the NVQ7.
We all have the right to go to work and come home safely. I've experienced too many friends getting injured whilst working in construction – more than during my time in the army. If I can make people think more about their own safety and that of others, then maybe we are all on a journey together.
