EVERY JOB THAT MUST BE DONE
Association for Project Safety
Shaping and sharing good practice in design, construction health & safety risk management
I was up, bright and early, today to ‘chum’ – as they’d say in my neck of the woods – my friend, neighbour and fellow countrywoman to the health centre to have her annual check-up. In something reminiscent of Tony Hancock’s famous, ‘Blood Donor’ sketch, she’d a list as long as an armful to have checked out - and absolutely no symptoms or indications of anything to worry about at all. It is simply the case of a ‘stitch in time’ – if any handiwork were to be needed at all. But my friend is a sensible woman – as well as an accomplished knitter - so is well aware that a little care now offsets a whole load of potential hassle later.
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In stark contrast I was listening this week to reports that, while one in eight men are likely to get prostate cancer, far fewer than could be cured - or would have the chance of living good long lives with the condition - are coming forward for any sort of testing at all. The same can be said for cervical smear tests where embarrassment holds many women back. In both cases, any treatment will be more invasive than an early examination. And, without a shadow of doubt, too many are leaving it too late.
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So, it is about time the Association for Project Safety started talking about health. And it is why our Spring ’22 CPD sessions are taking a look at general health issues. You can book your session now at: www.aps.org.uk/events .
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It’s always much easier to talk about accidents. Accidents are interesting. Accidents make – regrettably – great copy. Accidents are – shamefully - much more macho. Even when so any of the things that go wrong are, arguably, much more likely to be our own fault.
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Accidents could frequently have been prevented. The circumstances are much more in our control and failures result from – more often they we might like to admit – systemic problems in planning and care. They are not always just the kind of momentary lapse to which we are all prone and that, while tragic, are much more understandable. We all need to be on our guard. And stick to the rules.
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But health? You’d think we got ill on purpose. Once you get past the pandemic, which has dominated so much for so long, we seem to come over all tongue-tied. Talking about everyday health is just much more challenging. I remember chatting to our good friend Kate Walker, from the Diabetes Safety Organisation, and she made me laugh: she does the rounds trying to raise awareness about the condition and found men [in particular] often sidled up to her stand at conferences and exhibitions. They would listen and feign no more than casual interest – or, in some cases, outright horror – when she mentioned impotence as a side effect. But it was, she said, surprising just how many of them then tried to read her information leaflets upside down - or just took one away, ’for a friend’ or ‘out of curiosity’.
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Dare I say it? We could do with growing some balls. We’re not children and we need to grow up a bit. This is real life and we ought to be, as professional people, well past playground sniggering to cover our modesty.
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No one likes to be prodded about by the medical profession. When I had my last mammogram I made a bit of a tit of myself because I couldn’t work out what I was meant to be doing with my boobs or where they were meant to be going – ‘twas ever thus! But, I got there in the end – and I was glad I went for the test. And happier still all was well.
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Our workforce is aging. Construction is not immune for the aches and pains of getting on a bit. And, as employers and safety experts, you are likely to see increasing risks due to poor health. These have to be managed for the good of the businesses you serve and for the people in our care. It’s time we brought health out from behind the screens and examined what we can all do to help ourselves and those around us.
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Resources
If – as they say on the telly - you have been affected by any of these issues, here’s a list of places to start if you are looking for help:
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Senior Communications Professional
3 年Ha! You are so right. Blokes in particular are awful about health issues. Just get over any embarrassment and talk to the doc if you have a problem or a worry. A stitch I time literally does save nine. Or nine stainless steel staples that surgeons mostly use these days instead of stitches. Great article Lesley! ????