Why Rentokil
Health and Safety Expert
Alain Grimaldi is the resident Health, Safety and Environment expert at Rentokil. He is postgraduated in biology and biochemistry and he has over 16 years experience with the organisation in a variety of key roles, having started out as a Field Biologist. He leads an Health & Safety Management System based on OHSAS 18001 specifications. As an active member of the French official Pest Control Association, he is closely involved in the revision of the safe good practices in in Pest Control. He chairs the Health & Safety and Working Conditions (CHSCT) of Rentokil.
- Keeping health and safety in the forefront of our employees' minds must be difficult as they are rarely in one place long enough to communicate directly with them?
- What was your first job in Rentokil and what has kept you interested for so long?
- What is the most enjoyable part of your job?
- Where did you start first, in pest control or in health and safety?
- …and the biggest challenge?
- How has the mounting level of legislation affected your job? Does it make it easier or harder?
- The Environment is becoming ever more important in our industry. How do you think it is coping?
Keeping health and safety in the forefront of our employees' minds must be difficult as they are rarely in one place long enough to communicate directly with them?
We have specific courses devoted to health, safety and environmental protection, as well as well-established induction, initial and refresher training programmes, specialist courses, training meetings and contact briefings. We have implemented strong procedures including constant assessment of risks and inspection on the field. This high proportion of health, safety and environmental education engenders what some would call a 'safety culture'. We require all of our staff to comply with our customers' safety, hygiene and environmental protection measures and this further helps to reinforce the 'safety message' across industry and commerce generally.
What was your first job in Rentokil and what has kept you interested for so long?
My first job in Rentokil was as a Field Biologist. I was based in the area of Paris and covered the whole North of France. What has kept me interested? Pest control, safety and environmental issues are fascinating subjects in themselves. They are also very topical subjects. Besides, I have been fortunate to have worked with many excellent people in our own company, I have met many customers with their own special interests and concerns and experienced a wide range of different industrial, commercial, agricultural and cultural businesses.
What is the most enjoyable part of your job?
My answer to question 2 above, really says it all.
Where did you start first, in pest control or in health and safety?
Initially, I started in pest control, although before this, I worked in a bio-chemical and food research laboratory, which clearly required the researchers to follow the correct procedures and work safely and so I have always had some interest in safety matters.
…and the biggest challenge?
The biggest challenge is to balance the requirements of our customers, the concerns of our own staff , the demands of legislation, enforcing authorities and accreditation organisations, together with the proper moral concerns into a cost-effective health, safety and environmental service which affords the optimum benefit for everyone who uses, takes part in, or is influenced by our company's activities.
How has the mounting level of legislation affected your job? Does it make it easier or harder?
Clearly the quantity of legislation is constantly increasing and keeping informed of the last regulations takes a greater proportion of time. But our customers themselves are concerned by the mounting level of legislation and our compliance with the law, especially regarding health, safety and environmental matters does not stifles initiative, but promote business productivity and profitability. The objective is to combine health, safety and environmental elements into an effective overall programme of risk management, which is supported and readily understood, by all of our staff and required by our clients.
The Environment is becoming ever more important in our industry. How do you think it is coping?
In terms of reducing the losses from the damage, human food contamination and spread of diseases caused by pests, the pest control industry has actually been making a contribution to environmental protection in the widest sense, for many years. The challenges for the future are to develop more "ecological", effective and efficacious methods and products, which do not in themselves consume irreplaceable materials and energy costs and which can be recycled and reused with minimal waste, while encouraging members of staff to make their own individual contributions.
