Name: Chris Hawkings.
Title: Senior surveyor.
Route to job: I graduated from Reading University in 1970. My first job was with the Phoenix Assurance Group in Pall Mall, London, which later beca ...
Name: Chris Hawkings.
Title: Senior surveyor.
Route to job: I graduated from Reading University in 1970. My first job was with the Phoenix Assurance Group in Pall Mall, London, which later became part of Sun Alliance. After three years at Phoenix learning the basics of fire, theft, motor and household insurance, I moved to Slater Walker Insurance in Shepherd's Bush.
I then moved to a small Hounslow-based insurance broker, GL Cognet & Co, which specialised in marine and transit insurance. As a director of this company I dealt with non-marine business.
In 1980 I moved from London to Wells in Somerset where I joined Ecclesiastical Insurance as the district supervisor and surveyor looking after the churches in the dioceses of Bath and Wells and Salisbury.
I obtained my ACII in 1973 and FCII in 1993. I became a member of the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health in 1997.
Current job: I now work in the chief surveyor's department of Ecclesiastical Insurance Group in Gloucester, where I am responsible for health and safety advice and other guidance to our customers. I also undertake surveys of some of our major risks. I have written a series of guidance notes for churches, care homes, schools and industrial and commercial clients covering fire, security and health and safety issues. I regularly visit English and Welsh cathedrals to give risk management advice.
Typical day: There is really no such thing as a typical day, which is why I find the job so enjoyable. One day I can be in the office answering queries on such things as the hazards of sheep droppings in churchyards or fundraisers abseiling down church towers, and the next I can be climbing through the roof space of a cathedral or talking to a group of brokers on how they can give health and safety advice to clients.
Biggest challenge: One of the biggest challenges in the role is advising on sums insured for some of the most important buildings in the country, such as St Paul's Cathedral. It is a great responsibility knowing that in the event of a disaster the successful restoration of a national monument is down to my knowledge and professionalism.
Risk management issue with most impact: There is still a huge amount of ignorance among the public about their obligations under health and safety legislation. The need for our clients to have health and safety policies and to undertake risk assessments not only under The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations but also under the Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations takes up a large amount of time.
Largest issue going forward: The implementation of The Care Standards Act [2000] and the imposition of the national minimum standards in care homes and boarding schools by the National Care Standards Commission will have a major impact on many of our insureds.
Greatest achievement so far: The development of a health and safety package for our church customers that includes a draft health and safety policy, a legal advice line and an inclusive engineering inspection service.
Advice to someone wanting to do the job: A good head for heights when walking around cathedral roofs, an interest in architecture and old buildings and a desire to help people to keep themselves safe.
