I would very much welcome fellow IOSH members views on a new initiative I am attempting to get going known as Safety Heroes. I am presently employed as the Deputy Chief Environment and Safety Officer for the British Army and have recently completed a Level 6 Occupational Health and Safety Diploma. I am responsible for training policy and developing a positive safety culture throughout the Army while on operations and at home. I would like to provide soldiers who have been injured on operations with the opportunity to attend a number of internal and external courses. A number of them are run in-house:including the Safety Advisors Course (British Safety Council Level 3 Certificate), Risk Assessment Train the Trainer, First Aid Instructor and a number of other similar courses. Safety Heroes will then provide the soldiers with some experience including working and operating in a variety of Health and Safety environments or businesses in order to build up their experience and knowledge. Ideally, the soldiers would be deemed competent and experienced to move into a variety of Health and Safety appointments by the time they are classified fit enough to leave the Army. I am looking for mentors or businesses that would be willing to guide and help a soldier as he progresses through this challenging period. I would also like to hear from companies that provide Health and Safety training in any of these disciplines who would be willing to provide a free training slot for an operationally experienced soldier recovering from an injury. Safety Heroes will provide a service to link the qualified, experienced and competent soldier with companies looking to recruit reliable, enthusiastic, well trained and competent safety practitioners. If there are any IOSH members out there that could help, I would be most grateful to hear from you. It is hoped that the Safety Heroes Website (www.safetyheroes.co) will be fully operational shortly.

Ben today I cant help but I will talk to my Operations Director who like me is ex military. If we can come up with something I will get back to you. Regards Alex

Ben - I will PM you with some thoughts - hopefully later this evening...

It would be nice to see IOSH get officially involved in this

Ben, First of all, this is a great initiative, so well done. Hopefully I'm not about to start some interservice incident, but can I just ask whether this is specifically for soldiers or for the wider forces community? To me it looks like it could be a really useful idea for any injured service people but I realise there are probably issues around a tri-service programme...! Anyway, it's a great idea, I wish you and the guys your looking to help all the best and when I get a chance I will try to sell the idea to my bosses as this will be a win win for all concerned. If you have any more details please PM me, Jim

Ben, I’m posting as CEO of NEBOSH. As a charity we would really welcome the opportunity to help. We have a scheme already through the Charities Safety Group where we waive examination fees for candidates working for voluntary organisations and charities, who we place with one of a number of our course providers who offer free course places. I’m sure it would be possible to offer something similar and publicise it through our network of 500+ course providers. (I heard you ask a question at IOSH Conference and tried to find you afterwards to make this offer.) Please email me at info@nebosh.org.uk

Ben I am based in Salisbury as a Safety Manager in a business, I maybe able to offer mentoring or practical experience but I will need to check this out with my bosses where are you based? As I see you are south east

Ian, I am based in Andover. I think both your ideas are excellent. I will send you more info later this week. Many thanks for your suggestions and I hope that we will be working together shortly. Kind Regards, Ben Baldwin