IOSH Safety for Executives and Directors Case Study

Directors lacked clarity on their personal responsibilities under health and safety legislation, often assuming responsibility fell solely to the health and safety team. There were inconsistent accident reporting practices across the organisation, with staff unsure where and how to report incidents.

The transition from paper-based to digital systems (Eco Online) had not been fully understood or adopted by all personnel, and there was a limited understanding of the importance of documenting minor incidents that could develop into more serious injuries and accidents.

Ultimately, there was no formal safety committee structure within SOCOTEC Building Control which would help drive continuous improvement.

Project Description and Background

SOCOTEC has delivered its Institution of Occupational Health and Safety (IOSH) Safety for Executive Directors (IOSH SED) training courses for 20 years, as part of the need for enhanced health and safety competence at senior management level.

SOCOTEC Building Control Directors, Tracy Robinson and Adam Radmall completed the course in June and December 2025, respectively.

The one-day interactive classroom-based course covered director-level health and safety responsibilities, risk management, management systems, audits, accident investigation, safety culture and legal compliance. The training was delivered in small groups, in order to to maximise engagement and included participants from both internal SOCOTEC teams and external organisations.

It was decided that the structure of the course would include interactive delivery with case studies and group discussions held to increase participation, as well as the presentation of practical scenarios relevant to the construction and related industries. Individual action pledges would be developed to be implemented across the business, as well as a wider focus on accountability and legal responsibilities for participants.

Solution

The IOSH SED training delivered immediate practical insights and prompted several corrective actions for SOCOTEC Building Control upon completion of the course.

Shortly after the training, there was an incident at a domestic site, whereby the regional manager correctly documented the incident in the accident book. Although initially appearing minor, the individual's leg subsequently swelled, requiring hospital attendance, making the subsequent documentation trail essential.

Tracy, one of the course’s participants, experienced a slip on black ice while out on a work visit. Prior to the training, she admitted this likely would have gone unreported. However, she recognised the importance of logging the incident on Eco Online, despite the injury appearing minor at the time.

Both Adam and Tracy developed action pledges following the training, which have been implement across SOCOTEC Building Control:

As a result, directors gained a clearer understanding of their personal legal liabilities. There was a recognition that health and safety is everyone's responsibility, not just the designated team, too, and the importance of recording all incidents regardless of apparent severity, as consequences may develop later.

Conclusion

The IOSH SED course exceeded initial expectations, with an engaging and practically valuable training experience delivered. The small group format facilitated meaningful discussion and knowledge sharing between SOCOTEC personnel and participants from other firms.

It left a legacy of improved director-level understanding of legal obligations, as well as a culture of improved incident reporting and awareness. The development of structured safety governance through the proposed safety committee and identification of training gaps requiring organisation-wide attention has left all course participants in a far safer environment.

At SOCOTEC Building Control specifically, the team is working to implement the pledged actions, including rolling out targeted accident reporting guidance and establishing formal safety committee structures – assisting in our ongoing improved safety culture objective.

The course has proven particularly valuable for the construction sector, where health and safety risks are elevated, demonstrating that engaging, well-delivered training can drive genuine change at a senior leadership level.