Hello and welcome to
Connect
Hello and welcome to the last issue of Connect for 2009.
As we approach the festive season, there seems to be little let
up in the type of tabloid ‘elf ‘n’ safety stories that are best
found in Christmas crackers.
Take retired Lloyds underwriter Anthony Avery for example, who
says that his life has been ‘ruined’ following a fall at his
exclusive golf club in East Sussex. Mr Avery is suing the Rye Golf
Club after claiming that the club was negligent and breached its
duty of care following his fall on a shower floor which, according
to him, was ‘too slippery’.
Now, I’m not trying to make light of Mr Avery’s accident, but he
didn’t report the accident until two weeks after it occurred, and
didn’t seek immediate medical treatment.
Mr Avery is now suing the club for between £15,000 and £50,000
in damages for personal injury and losses.
This, in some ways, all-too-familiar story best highlights the
‘where there’s blame, there’s a claim’ culture which is at the
heart of so many of these stories. What a shame that society these
days doesn’t seem able to recognise that we all need to accept some
personal responsibility when it comes to keeping safe in our daily
lives.
According to statistics, bodily injury claims inflation is
increasing faster than the Retail Price Index. In this issue of
Connect, we look at how insurers can take a proactive role in
improving risk management, and how best practice in health and
safety management has an impact on insurance premiums.
Also in this issue, we look at how sound quality and acoustics
can have a real impact on teaching and learning standards. Connect
explains how health and safety professionals can help to improve
things.
For our On the record feature, Connect talks to music legend and
railway buff Pete Waterman about his passion for the rail industry
and the need to preserve skills.
We also feature IOSH president John Holden who asks what you can
do to change the negative reputation of health and safety in
2010.
Wishing you a very merry Christmas and a safe New Year!
Shaun Gibbons
e-Editor, IOSH