Mock Trial Helps Construction Team Master Health and Safety Challenges‏

MORE THAN 50 people took part in a staged mock trial in the Chambers of County Hall in West Bridgford, Nottingham, to help a construction team master health and safety challenges.

The training course was carried out in partnership with Via, safety management consultants, AW Safety, construction company, Tomlinsons and legal service specialists, rRadar.‏ Attendees acted as ‘the jury’, which was played out by a cast of eight made up of employees from AW Safety, Tomlinson and rRadar.

Mock Trial‏

‏The mock trial aimed to raise awareness of the importance of following best practice and legal requirements. ‏Participants in the course came predominantly from Woodhead’s supply chain, health and safety reps from other businesses and the insurance sector.

‏Kerri Grocock, H&S Manager at Woodhead Group, said, “This event has been a year in the planning, it involved a huge amount of preparation, and I’m so pleased it went well. ‏

‏“I attended a mock trial ten years ago and thought it was something we would benefit from. Our actors were kitted out in traditional legal dress, with wigs and gowns, and the whole event resembled a condensed, but real trial.

“It’s a fantastic way to show how an accident or health and safety breach can impact on a company, and how this would play out in court.”

‏The trial scenario involved a digger hitting a high voltage‏ cable‏, causing someone nearby serious burns. Nobody‏ ‏ died‏ ‏ in the scenario, but the future of the fictional building company, which already had‏ ‏ a poor ‏ ‏health and safety record – as well as the company director himself – was in question. The digger‏ ‏ driver, banksman, ‏ ‏Health and Safety Executive, company director and site manager ‏ ‏were all questioned and forced to defend themselves at trial.‏

‏The event also included guest speaker, Jason Anker MBE, who spoke about the effects on the injured person, family, friends and colleagues following an accident.

‏Woodhead Group plans to hold similar mock trials in the future, in partnership with rRadar, AW Safety and the Council, as well as the Working Well Together Group, which is supported by the HSE.

>> Read more about health and safety in the news‏