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IOSH gets its message across…

BBC Radio Shropshire and BBC Radio Sheffield

IOSH Communications Director Ruth Doyle spoke to BBC Radio Shropshire and BBC Radio Sheffield about a story published in some national newspapers which claim that IOSH had advised people not to clear snow and ice off paths or driveways because of the risk of being sued. Ruth said:

“It’s a very small ‘theoretical risk’, and I stress ‘theoretical’, that if you clear paths outside your property and do it really badly, maliciously or carelessly, then there’s a theoretical risk that someone could sue you. However, somebody would have to prove that you did it with malicious intent. But we’ve done some research and we haven’t been able to identity a single case where anyone has been sued after clearing snow and ice away from their footpath in front of their home or their business.

“There’s a little bit of media mis-building going on here and obviously crazy health and safety stories sell newspapers. I recognise that health and safety has a bit of a poor reputation at the moment, but our advice to businesses and homeowners is that if you’re able to clear the paths outside your property then go ahead. We put out a statement to newspapers to explain this and it’s on our website.

“This is the coldest spell we’ve had for 30 years and we all need to be good neighbours. There are lots of things we can do – we can grit our paths and driveways around our properties. If you’re a business, think about your staff and whether they really need to travel to work, could they work from home, or work flexible or reduced hours. If you’ve got people working outdoors make sure they have warm clothing, take regular breaks, drink hot drinks, and that they are visible. A total of 27 people are said to have died in the last few weeks during this cold snap, so we should be focusing on the real risks, not the theoretical risks that someone might sue us if we get it wrong.”

BBC Radio 5 Live

IOSH Policy and Technical Director Richard Jones spoke to BBC Radio 5 Live about clearing snow outside your home or workplace. He said:

“Our view is that it’s sensible to consider the risks. We should all be trying to help; if this means gritting outside the boundaries of your workplace or homes, then it’s better to do that then have people slipping over or have cars involved in accidents.

“With risks you have to consider every situation on its merits, but we would rather people try to help, than not.”

BBC Radio Cornwall

Ray Hurst, former IOSH President, spoke to BBC Radio Cornwall about school closures due to the recent bad weather. He said:

“It’s a matter of judgement for individual head teachers and governors whether they can get pupils into the school and away from the school. It has to be a local decision and when you’ve got the local police force saying ‘Don’t travel, unless it’s absolutely essential’, you can understand why schools do make the decision to close.

“The demographics have changed over the years and people tend to live further away from the school. Staff travel further and rely on public transport to get to school. If you’ve 800 students turning up and only three staff, then we have a problem with management.

“Safety has to be part of the critical decision-making process. In the school, they have to make sure they have the resources available to keep walkways and gangways clear, so everyone can move around safely.

“A total of 27 people have died in this country as a result of this cold snap and they need to take this into account.”

Leicester Mercury

A statement from IOSH warning workers to be prepared for poor weather conditions was published in the Leicester Mercury. IOSH said:

“Driving in severe winter conditions or commuting to work will involve increased risk.

“Decide first of all if your journey is really necessary. If you’re going to drive in poor winter conditions, make sure the vehicle is well maintained.”

The Guardian

An IOSH spokesperson commented on David Cameron’s speech which attacked Labour’s “over-the-top” approach to health and safety. The spokesperson said:

“We get such unfair treatment, particularly from the more reactionary press. Hysterical media reporting has helped to create a culture of blame and compensation.

“You get insurance companies putting up premiums and people either not wanting, or not being able, to run events properly – so blaming health and safety becomes an excuse.”

Facilities Management UK

IOSH President John Holden spoke to Facilities Management UK about David Cameron’s speech in which he stated that British society is fast losing its ability to take sensible risks. John said:

“Our attitude to risk has got stuck in an uneasy contradiction. On the one hand we won’t tolerate risks or mistakes but neither do we want to be controlled or nannied.

“In an increasingly individualistic society, we now seem able to hold two completely divergent views at the same time – ‘I want to take the risks I want to take, but I don’t want to be exposed to any risks that are not of my making and I want those who are involved in accidents to be held accountable, whatever the circumstances.

“Without a doubt, it would do all of us a power of good to get some sensible risk management back in the equation, to come to terms with the fact we’ll never exist in a risk-free world and get on with our lives in enterprising, creative, innovative and successful ways.”

The Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph, Hartlepool Mail, Hull Daily Mail, Burton Daily Mail, ContractorsCompare.com

John also urged businesses to make a New Year’s resolution to keep their staff healthy and safe in 2010 and to play their part in reducing deaths, injuries and ill health in the workplace. He said:

“The workplace is a great place to encourage people to live safe and healthy lives.

“Work is good for your health – provided you’re not under excessive pressure or in a working environment where risks with your safety are routinely taken.

“Keeping fit and healthy is good for business.”

ContractorsCompare.com

John spoke to ContractorsCompare.com about the IOSH 10 conference and exhibition in Glasgow in March. He said:

“IOSH 10 provides a terrific platform to show the world some of the excellent work that health and safety professionals do. Through our efforts, lives are saved and stopped from suffering debilitating ill-health everyday.”