Out of the Office and Onto the Tools: Lessons From Running Water
This morning I ran water for my fourth bathroom in the last few weeks 💧
On paper, this shouldn’t be a big deal. I can handle a class of 70 toddlers or sit in a boardroom talking health and safety without breaking a sweat. But if I’m being honest, that first bathroom last week had me seriously stressed. I don’t enjoy not getting something right the first time, and plumbing pushes me different then anything else I do - using a different part of my brain and knowledge base than I’m used to. I can do it — I just tend to doubt myself when it comes to plumbing.
Fast forward to today, and the difference was huge. I had the job done in half the time, felt confident, and knew exactly how to run it — even with a slight variation thrown in thanks to a window 😅. No stress. No second guessing. Just getting it done.
Moments like this really highlight why I have so much respect for the trades I work with every day. If I had to do this kind of work full-time, I’d honestly be a nervous wreck (stacks are 🫣). Yet the teams I work alongside make it look effortless. That level of skill only comes from experience, repetition, and deep understanding of the craft.
Why This Makes Me Better at Health and Safety
Getting back on the tools alongside my health and safety role has made me a better practitioner — full stop.
When you’re physically doing the work, you see risks differently. You understand why tasks are sequenced the way they are, why certain shortcuts are tempting, and where fatigue, awkward positions, tight spaces, and time pressure really come into play. It’s no longer theory or paperwork — it’s lived experience.
Being hands-on helps me have more genuine conversations with teams. I’m not just quoting policies or procedures; I understand the practical realities behind them (and I understand the time pressure, the pull of a short cut etc).That means safer, more realistic controls, better planning, and expectations that actually make sense on site.
It also builds trust. When people know you understand what the work actually involves, health and safety stops feeling like something that’s being done to them and starts feeling like something you’re working on with them.
Respect for the Details
It’s often the small details in a build that you don’t see or think about — until you’re the one doing them. Those tight tees, awkward runs, and unexpected variations all add up. Being hands-on builds real respect for everything happening around me and for the teams who do this work day in, day out.
And the bright side? I didn’t need to cut out any screw ups this morning 😄 Those tight tees are getting easier every time. Celebrate the small wins.
My Takeaway from today
Getting hands-on, even occasionally, gives you a perspective you can’t get from a desk or a meeting. It builds respect for the skills of others, helps you understand why things are done a certain way, and improves your ability to design realistic, practical, and safe processes.
Stepping out of your comfort zone isn’t just personal growth — it’s professional growth. When you understand the work, you can lead, advise, and support others more effectively. And sometimes, it’s the small victories — like running a bathroom in half the time — that remind you that trust, practice, and confidence go a long way.