Claire Ferdinando
My day job is Office and Health & Safety Manager for Swift Building Contractors Limited. We have projects of various sizes; everything from new builds, commercial works to bespoke garden cabins. Before working for Swift I ran my own training business for eight years, prior to that I was a Training Manager for a decade. I have been a full time foster carer since 2017. I’m also on the Committee of a construction training group called Skills4Site and have been since 2011.
What is a typical day’s work for you? I run Swift’s office on a daily basis including accounting duties, their human resources function along with H&S responsibilities including conducting site visits.
I became a member of the London Safety Group committee through a friend who already attended meetings. From 2016 I went along to several meetings near Cannon Street station where I formed friendships within the group. They were asking for volunteers in 2018, so I offered to help.
The Group is great for learning new skills and for keeping my CPD updated. I also have made friendships whilst being a part of the group, which is great for my mental health.
What do you find the most interesting part of your role within the Group? I’ve been on the committee for several years now and I love meeting new people and learning from them.
What presents the most challenges? Getting into London sometimes! I live 50 miles outside London and don’t have to come into town for my daily role, so have to rely on the trains which is sometimes a challenge.
What’s your health and safety ‘soap-box’ subject? Health and safety practitioners that ‘over engineer’ the solution, it should be a common sense, cost effective approach.
My one piece of advice for a practising safety professional is to join the London Health and Safety Group, learn new skills and meet new people!
Finally something personal about you not related at all to h&s or your day job e.g.. Played Rugby for England / Dated Jude Law before he became famous. No porkeys please and if you have a photo all the better!
I auditioned for the first series of The Voice round the corner from Africa House where are meetings are. I’m always up for a challenge, so I learnt to ski when I was 45 years old, plus I’ve taught myself to speak Spanish and practice every day