15d • General discussion
The Hidden Struggle of Many WSH Coordinators
Many companies appoint a Workplace Safety & Health Coordinator (WSHC) to meet project requirements.
But here's a question worth asking:
If your WSHC spends most of the day doing general site work, who is looking after safety?
This is a challenge that many in the construction industry have witnessed.
A WSHC may start the day intending to:
- Conduct site inspections
- Monitor high-risk work activities
- Update risk assessments and safety records
- Investigate hazards and near misses
- Conduct toolbox briefings
- Follow up on corrective actions
Instead, they end up getting tasked to:
- Supervising production activities
- Carrying out administrative tasks unrelated to safety
- Assisting with site operations
- Chasing materials and logistics
- Filling manpower gaps
By the end of the day, the safety responsibilities they were appointed to perform have been pushed aside.
The result?
⚠️ Hazards go unnoticed.
⚠️ Unsafe behaviours become accepted.
⚠️ Inspections are rushed or missed.
⚠️ Documentation falls behind.
⚠️ Small issues grow into major incidents.
In many cases, they're doing everything they can with the time they're given.
The real issue is whether organisations are allowing safety professionals to fulfil the role they were appointed to perform.
A WSH Coordinator should be empowered to:
✔️ Be present where risks are highest.
✔️ Coach and engage workers.
✔️ Monitor compliance continuously.
✔️ Identify hazards before they become incidents.
✔️ Support supervisors in building a stronger safety culture.
When safety becomes a part-time responsibility, risks don't become part-time.
They continue to exist.
At ROUT, we've seen that organisations achieve better safety outcomes when WSH professionals are given the time, authority, and support to focus on what they were engaged to do—protect people and strengthen workplace safety.
Safety is not just another task on a to-do list. It is a responsibility that deserves dedicated attention.
💬 What's your perspective? Have you seen safety personnel being pulled into non-safety duties? How can organisations strike the right balance between operational demands and effective safety management?
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The Hidden Struggle of Many WSH Coordinators
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