Olympics Q&A

7 August 2012

IOSH member Tim Briggs, who is a health and safety advisor at the Olympics, talks about his health and safety role during the Games...

What role are you playing during the Olympics?

My role with the Olympics started two years ago, helping to locate and source competent safety practitioners to help during and after the Games.

I’m part of a two man team looking after several venues - the aquatics venue covering swimming, diving and water polo. I also cover support areas such as logistics, fire safety, Olympic Broadcasting Services, catering, cleaning and waste disposal.

So far, what are the most interesting challenges you have faced?

The interaction between the many different nationalities and cultures has been interesting – it’s convinced me even more that IOSH has exactly the right vision of putting people at the heart of health and safety.

The most interesting area visited for me has been the subterranean filming points for the Olympic broadcast teams. This enables them to film the swimmers and athletes below the water line. From the filming points you actually get to see how athletes propel their bodies through the water and the effort they expend in the turn at the end of a lap is phenomenal.

What’s the most positive experience you’ve had so far as a volunteer?

On a personal level I’m putting into practice what I teach my students, my knowledge and  personal skills are bringing about positive change. It’s great to change people’s opinions surrounding health and safety. Getting people to think positively about applying practical common sense health and safety has been very rewarding.

Where has the event excelled itself, particularly where looking after volunteers is concerned?

People are meeting others of different cultures, nationalities and approaches and talking, consulting and agreeing on how to run a safe and healthy Games. The volunteer workforce is learning different skills they can use elsewhere in their lives, which is one of the unseen successes from this event that will benefit UK plc.

To date, what have been the main health and safety issues you’ve met with?

Usually, it’s involved people doing something they should not be doing, or not doing something they should. It’s been issues like slips, trips and falls, lone working, confined spaces, working at height, waste management and waste disposal. Identifying and maintaining traffic segregation routes, transporting equipment, food hygiene protection and weather protection have also cropped up.

How is health and safety management for Olympic events different from industrial safety management?

It’s no different. Good leadership is just as vital, as is involvement of the workforce and co-operation and communication between different languages and cultures. It’s about taking into account the wide spread of ages, abilities, cultures, approaches and numbers involved.

What’s the mood been like for workers on-site?

There is a huge sense of camaraderie, with volunteers going out of their way to ensure everyone has a successful Games. Visitors to the Olympic Park are appreciative of everyone’s efforts.

Is health and safety more stringent for the Olympics? Should this be the case?

No – risk is a part of all sports and all risks cannot be removed. Safety preparation for the Games both before and during has taken account of general and specific risk.

Do you think the Olympic Games have paved the way for better health and safety at sporting events?

The event is so large that a lot of good practice has been identified and consolidated, refined and further developed. This can be shared through the various professional safety networks to ensure the world can learn and benefit from the legacy of the London Olympic Games.

To what extent has your normal risk assessment been adjusted to fit in with the needs of the Olympics?

The dynamic risk assessment has been a larger part of my methodology for dealing with risk. The Games has proven that using generic and specific, formal and informal, supplemented by dynamic risk processes is always an integral part of safety management.

Crowd safety is a big part in any match day health and safety plan. Have Olympic crowds needed to be dealt with any differently to other sporting events?

I think the main difference is that tribalism has been very friendly and encouraging - most people have come to marvel at the spectacle this Games is offering. So many people have come because they want to share in and enjoy the atmosphere, as well as cheer on their sporting heroes. National pride is very evident, but so is tolerance of others’ support for others’ nations.