Occupational hazards Feb 19

If you stop people in the street and ask them about what they would expect from a health and safety professional, what would it be? Would it be a middle-aged person who walks around with a clipboard, ticking boxes and telling people not to do things? I’d expect that to be the case for the majority of people.

Whether it is the stories in the press or the opinion of people in the street – most probably formed from what they’ve read about – the reality is much different.

Health and safety is a wide and varied career with many exciting opportunities. As IOSH President, I hear about how our members are involved in work on oil rigs, at major sports stadiums, on the railways, on largescale construction sites, in schools and hospitals, police and in the military, and many more industries. 

They aren’t stopping things from happening; they are enabling things to happen without people being harmed. That is what health and safety is about.

And what about the impression of health and safety professionals themselves? It is true that many of them are middle-aged, but they don’t simply walk around with a clipboard. They are vastly experienced people, some of whom operate at the very top level of their business, communicating with their board and with workers out on site.

The profession also has many young, talented and ambitious people. But we do need more of them, not least to step into the gaps left by the older professionals when they retire.

This is a challenge we are facing. We have got to engage the youth and students to join the profession. 

IOSH has long recognised that our profession needs to adapt to respond to the way the world of work – and the world as a whole – is changing. Our WORK 2022 five-year strategy points strongly to that.

New risks are emerging everyday as new technologies are introduced. We have to move with the times and ensure these risks remain just that – and don’t lead to injuries and illnesses.

At the same time, businesses are placing increasing emphasis on the value of health and safety, which is leading to people in our profession moving closer to the boardroom.

This is another challenge we are facing: how do we ensure that health and safety professionals are capable of working at the very highest levels of organisation? How do we ensure they are capable of being involved in key decision-making?

One of the ways we can achieve this is by bringing in talented and ambitious young people and training them to the right standard; not only supplying them with the technical know-how but with strong business acumen and influencing and decision-making skills.

IOSH has been making big strides in this regard. Just over a year ago, the Institution introduced its level three qualification, Safety and Health for Business, into the market. This course combines technical skills with a business approach, to ensure those who qualify are immediately employable and ready for the challenges that lie ahead.

IOSH has also introduced its new Student Membership category, giving free IOSH membership to full-time students on a course accredited by IOSH. 

It is of course great that these offers are in place, but we have to come back around to our other challenge. How do we attract these talented and ambitious young people? Why would they choose a career in health and safety over another path?

Of course, one thing that doesn’t help is the portrayal of health and safety in the media and the general public incorrect perception of the role, as previously described.

That is no quick fix. As a profession, we must strive to do all we can to change perceptions. We need to shout more about our achievements and demonstrate that health and safety is about allowing things to happen while avoiding workplace accidents and work-related ill health. It is not a business burden but a business accelerator. 

Businesses across the world are now viewing health and safety with increasing importance, as they are aware of the financial and reputational benefits – as well as the moral and legal obligations – of looking after employees. 

The next step is to have that view spread wider. It’s no quick fix, though. What is for sure is that our profession has a bright future. 

Dr Vincent Ho is president of IOSH. For more information, visit www.iosh.co.uk