Communication: is one of four key elements in developing a positive health and safety culture. You will need to be aware of the overall health and safety culturt in order to determine who needs to be informed - the next step.

Communication: staff need to know who to tell if they find a problem, or ask if they are not sure. Communication must work up, down and across your business. Consider: do you communicate your commitment to health and safety by leading by example?

People working at level 3 – autonomous workers able to move round at work, are the key to convey information both up and down the farm business.

The other elements are:

Co-operation: health and safety will flourish in a climate of co-operation, where people work together, help each other out and actively try to safeguard each other’s health and safety. Consider: do you consult and involve your staff and safety representatives (if any) effectively?

Competence: if staff are to work safely they need to be able to do the job properly, and be trained and briefed about all parts of their work - in particular the health and safety requirements. Consider: do your staff have enough information about the risks they may face and the preventive measures? Are they properly trained? Do you need specialist advice from outside and have you made arrangements to obtain it? This is one of the main aims of this qualification – to develop your competence and capacity.

Control: Responsibilities should be clearly allocated so that people know what they are responsible - and accountable - for. Consider: have you allocated responsibilities for health and safety to specific people? (See U1 LO4)

Have a look at the diagram of a workplace and the various roles to ensure good health and safety culture in it. Can you see how communication plays a key role and how it relates with all the relevant roles?