Safety Awareness Training Programme

S2 began developing safety management systems in the UK for this large global client in 1997. They were then the major innovator in the mobile telecoms industry. Our involvement developed to include their growing infrastructure business in the Middle East & Africa (MEA). Initially we made great strides forward, but due to the company’s need for cost cutting, progress stalled, threatening the viability of this project. Our ability to innovate rescued the contract.

Some project highlights:

• Innovative client was receptive to trying new approaches

• Successful International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) certification resulted

• Large cost savings and logistical benefits

MEA is a big region for the client, with about 56 operating countries spread over a wide area. Within MEA there is a diversity of cultures, as well as political and security challenges, making it very difficult to use one uniform approach. We relied heavily upon our interpersonal skills by meeting local teams, analysing the situation in each specific country and developing locally tailored systems - this ensured our success. However, making periodic country visits was suddenly removed due to client cost cutting so, never to be defeated, S2 had to come up with a more creative approach.

S2 developed a Field H&S Training Programme using online communication. The development costs were minimal and the technology was readily available, the trainer and trainees had laptops and the company already had infrastructure in place. This meant S2 staff had to get up at 3am to deliver sessions to the furthest corners of the MEA region, but it ensured success. Field engineers were eager for this kind of training and demand grew. ‘No shows’ were common in face-to-face sessions, but with this approach, an online trainer could coach 250 people at once, all from their own desks or out in the field, sitting under a big antenna. All of this helped us to get this company through ISO certification the following year. This experience benefitted us during the pandemic period. We were able to help clients by carrying out almost any H&S activity remotely using local security personnel.