IOSH was recently involved in setting up a round-table debate with a number of the UK’s key health and safety influencers and policy-makers to discuss future challenges, sensible versus populist agendas, training and education, and the effects of the recession.
Chief executive, Rob Strange OBE, and policy and technical director, Richard Jones, represented IOSH at the lively Total Politics Round Table event, which was chaired by Iain Dale, and included MPs Theresa May, Michael Clapham and Norman Lamb, along with HSE chair Judith Hackitt and representatives from the CBI, Institute of Directors, Federation of Small Businesses, Unite, and the Local Authorities Coordinators of Regulatory Services (LACORS).
Richard explained that IOSH was focusing on four key areas: getting better health through better work, creating a risk intelligent society, the risks facing small businesses, and the need for good advice. He also added that there is a need for a better support system to help people remain in or return to work, and for embedding sensible health and safety in the education and training system.
Attendees spoke of their own experiences, with Michael Clapham MP pointing out how he often heard from former miners and engineers in his constituency who had suffered injuries and illnesses at work. Norman Lamb MP emphasised the need to focus on preventing ill health and Theresa May MP spoke of the need for more flexible working practices to help people returning to work.
Media portrayal of health and safety and possible origins of ‘health and safety gone mad’ stories were discussed, covering fear of litigation and lack of access to good advice, with support for the IOSH concept of a ‘risk intelligent’ society. Leadership was also raised and the need for directors to have explicit legal duties for health and safety issues in the workplace.
Rob Strange said: “The round table was an excellent opportunity for IOSH to share its views and hear from other key stakeholders about health and safety. It was good that everyone around the table recognised the value of health and safety, even though there were some differences of opinion about the best approach.
“It was particularly pleasing to hear senior representatives from other bodies and politicians praise the work IOSH is doing to tackle the negative image the profession has in some media. We have to keep on pushing forward, however, to show that health and safety professionals are not the killjoys the media present us as. It will require a prolonged effort, but we will get there.”
