Hello and welcome to

Connect

Hello and welcome to another issue of Connect.

The UK might be technically out of recession but there are still signs that things will be tough for the foreseeable future.

And while health and safety has had a rough ride over the past few weeks in the media, it’s in the boardroom where nerves are being shredded and budgets being axed.

The IOSH 10 conference in Glasgow will address the issues of protecting your budget together with achieving ‘buy in’ from senior management. These skills, coupled with advice on how to control costs, will be critical to the success of your department in the coming months. If you haven’t booked your ticket for the conference in March, register online or call +44 (0)870 112 9131.

In this issue of Connect, we’ve an article on the recent proposal from the Sentencing Guidelines Council regarding sentencing for corporate manslaughter and health and safety offences.

We also take a look at the 18000 standards, the international assessment standards for occupational health and safety.

For our On the record feature, we talk to author Richard Byrne about IOSH’s new book Be the best: how to become a world-class health and safety professional.

We also have a round-up of the latest industry news, including details of a contractor who was killed working on the Forth Rail Bridge in Scotland and how the winter vomiting bug, norovirus, has forced the closure of some hospital wards in south Wales. 

As usual, thanks for reading Connect and if there’s anything you want to comment on, please drop me a line.

Shaun Gibbons
e-Editor, IOSH