What’s your job title and how long have you been at Loughborough?

I’m the Director of Health, Safety and Wellbeing and have worked at Loughborough for a little over 10 years.

Tell us what a typical day in your job looks like?

I know that everybody says this, but no two days are ever the same. One of the reasons that I have the best job in the world is that I am involved in such a diverse range of things. In health and safety terms, a good day is when nothing happens – and then nothing continues to happen, by which I mean everything going as planned and no incidents. 

A typical day can include working with colleagues in the Chaplaincy to look at halal food provision or prayer room availability, and then working with Occupational Health colleagues looking at our wellbeing strategy, or discussing guarding and interlock standards for laser installations, or plotting and managing cricket ball trajectories. If there were an award for the most diverse role, I think I’d definitely be in with a good shout.

What’s your favourite project you’ve worked on?

This may sound strange, but it was how we worked during Covid. The way the team responded was just superb. We were absolutely at the top of our game, working efficiently, dividing the work between us, everyone was clear on the part they needed to play and how the parts fitted together. The University Leadership team, Professional Services and Academic colleagues acting as one. The Catering and Domestic Services team and the Estates and Facilities Management team worked magic. The Health and Safety team was the benchmark for the sector and was respected and listened to by the Government. The Covid years were probably the hardest of my professional career, but we knew absolutely that we were making a positive difference every day.

What is your proudest moment at Loughborough?

I was fortunate to be awarded the University Medal for the work I did during Covid. Receiving the medal was a very special moment, not just because it said a lot about how the University appreciated the work that my team and I did during Covid, but because you could really feel how grateful the students were for what we did to give them the best experience we could through a difficult time. It was incredibly humbling.

I am also proud that a big part of my role, and my mission in life, is to make sure that Loughborough University is a safe place. A safe place doesn’t just mean a physically safe environment; it also means a psychologically safe environment. 

If someone feels threatened or harassed, physically or sexually, then the workplace is not safe for them. Preventing the occurrence of and protecting people against sexual harassment and violence is a part of what we do. I think recognising this has allowed us to be proactive, and the introduction of the new mandatory ‘Defining Sexual Harassment and Consent (E6)’ training for staff is a good example.

Whether that is designing facilities and working arrangements with lone workers, and in particular lone women in mind, implementing systems to allow rapid reporting, designing interventions on stress and mental wellbeing, agreeing travel arrangements and precautions, or just ensuring that the threat of harassment and violence is considered in risk assessment, it is all part of my role. 

Fundamentally, the power imbalance that exists when harassment occurs is also central to causing mental harm.

Beyond risk assessment and planning, the Occupational Health team support those who have suffered harassment or violence, wherever it occurred, as does the Chaplaincy team.

Which University value do you most resonate with and why?

Authentic. I think you can only do my job well if you care and have an honest desire to help people stay safe and well. Health, safety and wellbeing is underpinned by honesty, trust and respect.

Tell us something you do outside of work that we might not know about?

To be fair, anyone speaking to me for more than three nano seconds will know this. I play in two bands locally, a pub band called Heart of Oak playing songs from the 60s to the 00s, and a shanty band called ShantyFolk playing, surprisingly, shanties (think Fisherman’s Friends)! I’m a firm believer that balance is important in life. Playing music, especially with others, means you have to be in the moment, and that helps you to put things into perspective.

What is your favourite quote?

My favourite quote is: “Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.” from the film ‘The Princess Bride’, but that’s probably not very relevant in a work context. 

Part of the reason this is a favourite quote is that while I was at university, an opportunity came up to be an extra in a film. I grabbed that opportunity and so can honestly say that I’ve been in a Hollywood blockbuster featuring one of the most famous quotes in Hollywood.

More relevant, I like the quote often attributed to Henry Ford: “Whether you believe you can or you can’t, you’re right.” I like the emphasis on the power of attitude and belief, and try to bring that approach into my day-to-day life.

If you would like to feature in ‘Five Minutes With’, or you work with someone who you think would be great to include, please email Martha Causier at m.causier@lboro.ac.uk.