IOSH gets its message across…
BBC Newsnight
IOSH President John Holden appeared on Newsnight in
response to David Cameron’s speech at the Policy Exchange where he
promised that a Conservative government would put an end to “the
over the top health and safety culture”. He was joined by Professor
Frank Furedi from the University of Kent, and Newsnight host Jeremy
Paxman. John said:
“We welcome the fact that Mr Cameron has
opened the debate on health and safety and we don’t disagree that
there’s quite a lot of bureaucracy and red tape out there. We need
a more sensible approach to managing risk. I would advise common
sense advice to overcome some of the ludicrous decisions.”
BBC Radio 5 Live Drive
John also spoke to BBC Radio 5 Live Drive show about
David Cameron’s speech and said:
“There are so many of these stories, and
really so many of them are nonsense and what they actually do is
deflect away from the real and serious health and safety
issues.”
The Times
IOSH’s Communication Director Ruth Doyle spoke to The
Times about the widespread misunderstanding that leads to some
of the crazy health and safety myths, which were reported in David
Cameron’s speech. She said:
“David Cameron is retelling some of the myths
in order to highlight the issue. The politicians should query them
if we are to tackle the issue.”
LBC Radio
Ruth also spoke to LBC Radio arguing the need for a
“society that is better educated about risk and becomes risk
intelligent.” Ruth pointed out that we all share a responsibility
for changing the way society views risk, saying:
“The thing I think we all need to do, and
this is politicians, the media, the general public, is the next
time somebody says to you “Oh you can’t, its health and safety”,
challenge them and say why not? What health and safety? Because the
law isn’t stopping you from doing these things, its people’s
understanding and application of it that’s the problem. And we
should all be challenging those stories.”
BBC Radio Leicester and BBC News 24
Chief Executive Rob Strange spoke to BBC Radio
Leicester and appeared on BBC News 24, welcoming the
debate that Mr Cameron’s speech had started. He said:
“He’s certainly right in saying that the
legislation for health and safety is part of a noble tradition.
He’s also right in saying that compensation culture and fear of
litigation has been responsible for hijacking the more serious
agenda of occupational safety and health.”
Safetymoves.com
IOSH has elected six new vice presidents to work alongside and
deputise for the existing presidential team. IOSH President John
Holden said that the vice presidents are an important step for
IOSH. He said:
“Appointing these six vice presidents will
help IOSH spread its message further and allow us to take advantage
of more opportunities than we’ve probably been able to. We’ve
elected six very capable, passionate and articulate people who will
all play key roles in driving IOSH on towards achieving its
strategic goals.
“The growing profile of IOSH and our
increasingly global outlook mean that we need a wider team of
people to call on to help the presidential team carry out their
duties and to tell people about the good work that health and
safety professionals do. Each of the vice presidents bring with
them a wealth of experience and a fresh outlook on how we can
continue to drive the profession and IOSH on into the future. I’m
looking forward to working with each of them, and I wish them
well.”
Hull Daily Mail
Tim Briggs, course leader of BSc honours degree in safety,
health and environment management at Leeds Metropolitan University,
spoke to the Hull Daily Mail about becoming one of the six
new IOSH vice presidents. He said:
“Health and safety is a growing profession,
and it’s something that’s essential to a well-run profitable
business.
“Health and safety professionals help to
prevent accidents and to tackle ill-health caused by workplace
activities.
“Sadly, about 200 people die each year in
workplace accidents and thousands more die from ill-health related
to their employment or former jobs.”
Goole-Howden Courier
Tim also spoke to the Goole-Howden Courier about his
role as IOSH vice president. He said:
“My aim is to help people understand the real
reasons we have, and need, health and safety in our society.
“It’s not here to ban kids from playing
conkers, to fence off rivers, or to require goalposts to be taken
down in case night-time ramblers walk into them.
“Health and safety is about sensible balance,
not bureaucratic nonsense, and I’m looking forward to defending the
profession’s reputation against some of these ridiculous
accusations.
“I’m also looking forward to working with
government, both nationally and internationally, to try and further
political understanding of the importance of health and safety –
politicians need to understand health and safety to be able to make
decisions on it.”
The Courier – Dundee
Dr Karen McDonnell, Head of the Royal Society for the Prevention
of Accidents in Scotland, has also been chosen as an IOSH vice
president. She told The Courier – Dundee:
“Being elected as vice president is a massive
thing for me, and I’m looking forward to promoting IOSH’s aims and
values nationally and internationally, and to representing a body
that I am proud to be a member of.”
Workplace Law Network
Nine out of ten health and safety professionals would recommend
a career in health and safety to others, according to a survey
published by Safety and Health Practitioner (SHP) magazine. IOSH
President elect Steve Granger told Workplace Law
Network:
“Despite the daily ridicule from sections of
the media, our profession remains steadfastly committed to its
cause. We know that what we do is good not only for our employers,
but for society as a whole. That’s why we’re so determined not to
let the critics win and to go proving the value of health and
safety.”