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Ireland

Our strategy

IOSH is a chartered institution empowered to grant the status of Chartered Safety and Health Practitioner to its qualifying members.

IOSH is the leading organisation in Europe for health and safety practitioners of all grades. In Ireland, IOSH is respected nationally as the professional body for occupational safety and health professionals.

“2010 was a year in which 48 people lost their life at work in Ireland, with over half of these tragedies occurring in the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Sector. Unfortunately, this is not out of line with previous years as many people have lost their lives in this Sector in the past and 2011 has seen a continuation of these startling numbers.

One of the key achievements of the past year for IOSH Ireland is the formation and establishment of the Rural Industries Section, along with our formal nomination and approval to become members of the Farm Safety Partnership Advisory Committee. It is my belief that we are in a much stronger position to play a greater role in tackling these startling statistics and to help bring about a sustained reduction in accidents and ill health in this Sector.

Another industrial sector that has experienced many fatalities and serious injuries, as well as health issues, is the construction industry. Although output and employment in this sector have reduced greatly recently, work must continue to improve the safety culture and further improve the fatality rate. The good work of the past 10 years cannot stop and the standards achieved cannot be allowed to slip. I am very pleased with the fact that during the past year, IOSH have formally become members of the Construction Advisory Committee and the Construction Safety Partnership.

I believe that it is participation in national bodies such as these that allows the Branch to contribute meaningfully and competently to changes in culture and practices in industry. Once again, an IOSH nominee is a member of the Health and Safety Authority (HSA), South East Regional Advisory Committee (SERAC) and Southern Regional Advisory Committee (SRAC) and I am confident that we can seek and secure nominations to the other Regional Advisory Committees in due course.

The executive committee of IOSH Ireland are keen to further develop our relationships with other professional bodies, both in Ireland and abroad in the year ahead and to further strengthen our role in Europe through our continued involvement in ENSHPO.

IOSH Ireland has an exciting and challenging year ahead. 2012 marks the 30th anniversary of the formation of the Branch and we are already looking at suitable ways of celebrating this milestone.
We must also manage the transition in our budgeting and financial arrangements and move to a budget based financial management model over the coming 9 months. For all chairs, treasurers and committee members of sections and districts, this is a real challenge that we must diligently manage. Now is the time to address this new process and it must be top of the agenda for the year ahead.

We have also been given the opportunity to consider changing the very structures of our Branch. Our five district structure is being reviewed by an executive sub-committee and we may emerge with a multi branch structure in Ireland. This consideration, along with other possible fundamental changes will be considered and proposed to all members for input – I encourage all members to take the time to contribute to the future shape and look of IOSH Ireland throughout the coming year.”