What is IIRSM bringing to the show?

The International Institute of Risk and Safety Management (IIRSM) is extremely pleased to be providing the educational programme at the Health and Safety Event 2015 and has sourced an excellent array of speakers across the three days.

We are most grateful to supporting partner the British Occupational Hygiene Society (BOHS) who we have worked closely with to develop a programme that we are sure will inform and entertain you.

The programme has been designed to include a good mix of practical health and safety focused subjects, expanding in to wider risk management and the opportunities that this presents - and providing insights in key areas such as marketing communications and business case development. In providing information on a variety of integrated management techniques IIRSM believes that health and safety specialists can achieve a more cohesive and inclusive approach to their profession.

A priority for IIRSM is to ensure that its members are recognised for the range of experience and expertise that they offer.  Developing this educational programme has allowed us to do this. Our technical committee, which is made up of a selected group of experienced and highly skilled experts from across the industry, have been instrumental in providing speakers and developing content.

Highlights

One of the highlights of the programme is sure to be the Panel Discussion on the topic of Zero Harm on Wednesday 25th March. Technical committee member Mike Stephens of the Medical Research Council, will be chairing the Panel session and will be joined by IIRSM council member Clive Johnson (Land Securities), IIRSM member Andrew Sharman (Safety and Risk Consultant), President of BOHS Mike Slater, Daz Stephenson (MoD) and Dave Mason (RS Components). Mike will discuss with the panel and the audience the concept of zero harm – a goal which assumes that all accidents are preventable. Does it follow then that all accidents are predictable? Is this an acceptable philosophy? It is a laudable aim, but does it go against our current approach to risk management and should we be accepting the concept of zero risk?  It’s sure to be a lively debate and a session not to be missed.

We were also keen to address the issue of psychosocial risks and are delighted that one of our technical committee members, Dr Gayle Brewer of University of Central Lancashire, will talk about the issue of bullying and harassment in the workplace. IIRSM has been a campaign partner on the EU-OSHA Healthy Workplaces campaign ‘Managing Stress’ and has run two extremely popular educational forums on the subject of psychosocial risks. Gayle provides an insightful and interesting look at this aspect of workforce wellbeing.

John Kinge of SSIP (Safety Schemes in Procurement) will look at the history of health and safety prequalification in the UK, the birth of SSIP and what effect this has had upon the approach to consistent health and safety pre-qualification in the market place. This session will also discuss the savings and impact SSIP has had since its inception in 2007 and what the future holds with the introduction of CDM 2015 for SSIP and health and safety pre-qualification in general.

IIRSM is delighted to have the opportunity to work with Western Business Publishing at this event, as well as the British Occupational Hygiene Society and their president who were instrumental in bringing you the health risks in construction session presented by Ian Strudley of HSE. Reductions in occupational disease in construction have not kept pace with improvements in safety management in the industry. It is estimated that approximately 100 times as many people lose their lives from ill health caused by working in construction compared to fatal accidents. HSE are encouraging the industry to do more to ‘Think health’ and working in partnership with many to achieve this. A session not to be missed on day one.

We hope you will agree that IIRSM and BOHS have brought you a programme that will provide food for thought and practical advice that will benefit you and your business.

Providing the educational content at the Health and Safety Event gives IIRSM a valuable opportunity to profile our members and showcase our Institute. We will be celebrating our 40th year in 2015 and hope everyone attending the show will join us on our stand for a slice of cake.

We hope to see you there.

About IIRSM

The International Institute of Risk and Safety Management is a membership body that offers recognition, support and resources to over 8,000 members around the world. We are proud to be a community-minded organisation, run by members for members.  We cater for individual and corporate members in all sectors of industry related to risk management, including health and safety and occupational health.