Introducing… Lucy Hill
In the first of our Meet The Team feature, we’re introducing you to our Safety, Health, Environment & Quality (SHEQ) Co-ordinator, Lucy Hill. Find out about her role here at Thermal Fluid Solutions, the importance of Health and Safety in fluid systems and read her top tips for safety management.
Name: Lucy Hill
Number of years at Thermal Fluid Solutions: Two
Role at TFS: SHEQ (Safety, Health, Environment & Quality) Co-ordinator
Joining the TFS Team
I joined Thermal Fluid Solutions as an administrator in July 2016. A couple of months in, our Managing Director, Richard Franklin, asked if I was interested in taking an IOSH Managing Safely qualification to develop my knowledge of safety in the workplace. It was the start of my interest in Occupational Health & Safety and it was how I began the development of my current role.
Developing Health and Safety at TFS
TFS are committed to the ongoing development of their health and safety procedures, so following on from my IOSH Managing Safely accreditation, I was offered the opportunity to take a NEBOSH Occupational Health and Safety certification. This was a distance learning course which I carried out alongside my day to day role, which I passed earlier this year.
Having the opportunity to grow is one of my favourite parts of working at TFS. I came to the company in 2016 with little knowledge of health and safety or quality management. Now I am responsible for maintaining the TFS Quality Management System (QMS) as well as maintaining our Health & Safety accreditations and day-to-day Health & Safety requirements within the business.
Health and Safety in the Workplace
At TFS we pride ourselves on being leaders in thermal fluid safety. We focus on the safety of our customers, setting expectations and leading by example in both health and safety and quality management.
As part of my SHEQ Co-ordinator role, I work to maintain the company’s quality standards according to our ISO9001 Quality Management accreditation. This involves carrying out internal audits of our processes and procedures, maintaining our Quality Management System and conducting regular Management Review meetings to evaluate the suitability of the QMS.
Day to Day Health and Safety Requirements at TFS
My day to day tasks at Thermal Fluid Solutions are varied, and include such things as the production of RAMS (Risk and Method Statements) for forthcoming jobs; ensuring that all technicians have the correct PPE (Personal Protective Equipment); completing Contractors Questionnaires sent in by our customers; maintaining all Health and Safety accreditations that TFS holds (currently SafeContractor, Avetta and SMAS); coordinating on-site management audits of technicians and collate data to present at management meetings; the co-ordination and provision of Health and Safety training for all TFS staff; maintaining a MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) database for all hazardous substances that TFS staff encounter; and creating and maintaining COSHH assessments for all hazardous chemical stored in our laboratory.
Top Tips for Health, Safety and Quality Management
1. Create a positive safety culture – It’s a legal requirement to consult with your staff on H&S issues – but it shouldn’t just be a box ticking exercise. Active engagement of staff at all levels helps to build a fully rounded view of all the H&S aspects of the business. Open communication at all levels is the best way to build a positive safety culture in my opinion.
2. Use your common sense – Many Health & Safety issues can appear daunting, but a lot of it is common sense. Health & Safety legislation is there to benefit and protect all of us, so we have to find realistic ways to make it work and tailor it to meet the specific requirements of the business.
3. Be organised – I have a lot of things to keep track of on a day-to-day basis, with regards to both Health & Safety and Quality Management. I keep schedules for everything, and it helps stop me from missing anything important.
Away From Thermal Fluid Solutions
When I am not in the office, my partner and I love to get out into the countryside hill walking. Last year, we walked the three ‘big’ peaks of Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon – the highest mountains in Scotland, England and Wales. I also enjoy spending time with my horse, Indiana, who I purchased last month – I’ve had horses on and off for the past nine years so it’s great to start riding again. When I have time in between walking and riding, I like to unwind with landscape painting. I have an academic background in Fine Art so it’s great to be able to pick up the paintbrushes again and relax.