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#1 Posted : 05 June 2003 15:59:00(UTC)
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Posted By Website Co-ordinator
There’s been much discussion recently on this forum about the need for a means of separating discussions about IOSH business from health and safety topics or study/career matters.

It’s something we’ve been aware of for some time and have been working towards. By the end of this month, we will have in place an area on the discussion forum to which access for both viewing and posting will be restricted to IOSH members only. We will be providing information within the next fortnight about how to register to use this new area.

Regular users will no doubt have noticed that the threads, "Chartered status, the case against" and "Chartered bodies" have been removed today following formal complaints to IOSH. The topics will be accessible again in the new closed area as soon as it is available.

Regards,

Angela Wheatcroft

Website Co-ordinator
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#2 Posted : 05 June 2003 16:20:00(UTC)
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Posted By Dave Wilson
Nice one, Good idea!
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#3 Posted : 05 June 2003 16:30:00(UTC)
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Posted By Sean Fraser
Dave,

I think that answered your Angry Wasp question as well!!

Sean.
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#4 Posted : 05 June 2003 16:39:00(UTC)
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Posted By Dave Wilson
Certainly did mate, as a person who has never used a discussion site before didnt really appreciate the wider ramifications of the who, what and why people enter sites!

Will be a bit more wary in the future until this site is up and running.

Agree that shouldnt wash our dirty washing or disagreements in public for the whole global world to see!
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#5 Posted : 05 June 2003 19:13:00(UTC)
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Posted By Hilary Charlton
Thank you on both counts - for creating the members area and for removing the threads which were offensive.

Hilary
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#6 Posted : 06 June 2003 08:46:00(UTC)
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Posted By Robert K Lewis
Angela
This has been needed for some time. The definition of member perhaps needs to looked at - There are some affiliates who are not intending to progress to be safety professionals - Should such an area be for those qualified or actively in training?

Bob
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#7 Posted : 06 June 2003 09:01:00(UTC)
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Posted By Andrew Gordon
Angela
After using this web-site for around 8 month's and as a new member to Health and Safety I have found the site an invaluable source of information, Should you go ahead and restrict access to information to us trainee's studying and consuming the info then we will be left high and dry.

I take it this is because of certain individuals who cannot act in a professional manner when posting threads.

Please could you consider non-Iosh member's who already have access to the site to keep the option of viewing only.

Also recreate the criteria that people have to follow when subscribing to this site, this would hopefully stop people signing in anonymously or under different names.
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#8 Posted : 06 June 2003 09:39:00(UTC)
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Posted By John Donaldson
I fully support this action.

Yes there is a need to “wash our dirty linen” but not in public and restricted to IOSH members only.
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#9 Posted : 06 June 2003 10:00:00(UTC)
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Posted By Website Co-ordinator
Just to confirm – the plan is to retain the current OSH Chat, Careers and Study Support forums as they are, in the public domain. The members only area will be available to all who are members of IOSH and will provide a location for the discussion of IOSH business.

Regards,

Angela Wheatcroft, Website Co-ordinator
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#10 Posted : 06 June 2003 13:39:00(UTC)
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Posted By Sean Fraser
Robert,

I agree with your comment to some degree, but as someone who is only just embarking down the route to full Membership, I would still be interested in the affairs and initiatives emanating from "my" Institution. After all, I do pay a contribution towards it.

I would suggest that the definition of "member" is any card-carrying individual with a valid membership number - anyone who's membership expires and is not renewed would lose the right to access this new area as a consequence while still being able to contribute to the 'open' forums.

After all, we are not voting on anything through this proposed board and no decisions are going to be taken solely on the strength of what is discussed here, so why can't financial contributors have their say and be included?

Please don't freeze people out unnecessarily.
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#11 Posted : 06 June 2003 13:54:00(UTC)
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Posted By Dave Wilson
Sean,

Think what Angela meant by member was anyone who subscribes to IOSH and NOT the term 'Member' as a grade of membership.

Hopefully this is what is meant?
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#12 Posted : 06 June 2003 14:02:00(UTC)
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Posted By Dave Wilson
Its Friday afternoon its nearly 5 o'clock and anyone under 40 will have no idea what comes next!

Anyway isn't it interesting how persons can interpret things in the 'written' word in a completely diffirent way in which they were intended.

No body language, facial expressions or even instant clarification of points made before someone can respond to your coments, I personally find this quite fascinating, never really thought about this until using this discussion area.

I would normally get my 'angry wasp' head on and away I go but have no realisation of who I am really trying to communicate with, alwAYS assumed that everyone was an IOSH member and therefore in the 'safey' world! Aparently Not, OOPS!!
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#13 Posted : 06 June 2003 14:34:00(UTC)
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Posted By Arran Linton - Smith
As an IOSH Moderator, I can confirm that the proposed member’s only area will apply to all the IOSH membership grades.
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#14 Posted : 06 June 2003 15:57:00(UTC)
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Posted By Philip McAleenan
Angela,

Let me formally register my opposition to the guilotining of debate, the removal of threads containing open and professional postings, and/or the burying of them in a restricted access forum.

Fraternally, Philip
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#15 Posted : 06 June 2003 17:04:00(UTC)
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Posted By Zoe Barnett
A word to Dave - I'm only (well, I say "only") 36 and I know that it's Friday, it's five to five, and it's CRACKERJACK!

I think that a members only section is a sensible idea - if only because the forum does seem to get messages from non-H&S people who use it in all good faith to ask for help and advice, and who don't want to be bothered with either the political stuff or the rather sad arguments that there have been recently.

And it is also true that what can be written in one tone of voice as it were can be completely misunderstood by a reader - so maybe the new section needs a slightly tougher code of practice, to try and minimise the risk of things being taken the wrong way.

All that notwithstanding, I very much appreciate a forum where I can ask colleagues questions and know that the replies will be informed, good humoured and helpful. Have a good weekend everybody.
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#16 Posted : 06 June 2003 18:17:00(UTC)
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Posted By Hilary Charlton
Yes Dave, I'm 38 and I remember Crackerjack as well. Even as a kid I thought the idea of a Crackerjack pencil was pretty naff - nothing's changed then! So, isn't that nice, on the new forum we can all reminisce about how much better things were when we were kids which begs the question - what did we do before we had nostalgia?

On that light hearted note - thanks for bringing some cheer back to the forum - I shall bid you adieu.

Hilary
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#17 Posted : 06 June 2003 20:27:00(UTC)
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Posted By Tim
So this is it, the interesting stuff restricted to members?

Hope there is still some interesting stuff left outside for the non-members!

I agree with Philip. Its a disgrace that every time the debates go well (please note that some of us can even handle the insults, in a professional manner) but criticise or question the Institution it is withdrawn. What have you to fear?

A quote lifted from your Privy Council website;

"The strength of democracy is that it is ultimately the test of whether the society in which we live belongs to us"

I don't think so do you?

Shame IOSH

Tim :-(
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#18 Posted : 06 June 2003 21:43:00(UTC)
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Posted By Geoff Burt
Tim

As I see it the new forum for members is not intended to restrict discussion or any individual topics (I'm sure the chartered status topic will come up again) but to restrict it to members only. I can see the sense in that. If members have internal disagreements is it right the outside world should know about it?

The H&S side is still there for everyone, which after all is what this particular forum is about, and will be unaffected - that's the main thing.

The action by IOSH in removing the two threads is a separate (although related) issue and was in response to complaints, mine among them. The threads were becoming an embarrassment especially to other contributors - you saw the number of complaints about it.

In the end the discussions were becoming more and more acrimoneous and leading nowhere. As one of the participants, and as guilty as anyone, I applaud the moderators actions in this particular case.

We don't often disagree, but perhaps we could agree to on this one?

Geoff


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#19 Posted : 07 June 2003 17:43:00(UTC)
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Posted By Nick Higginson
Personally I think it is a great idea to have a members only forum.

This forum's strength lies in its ability to be relevant to all - whether safety professionals of years of experience, or people from other professions who simply drop in for some advice. Providing a place for members only discussion just provides another facet to this excellent facility.

I bet you don't get a service of this quality from the Institution of Marine Engineers! (Oops, shouldn't have said that, best wait til the new part of the site is open!)

Recent discussions may have harmed the websites reputation somewhat, it is better to have those disputes between ourselves and leave this section to what it is good at - providing prompt, accurate, diverse advice for anyone that needs it!

Kind regards

Nick

PS I am 26 and I still remember crackerjack on a Friday afternoon, it was hosted by that camp bloke "Ooh, I could crush a grape".
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#20 Posted : 07 June 2003 20:40:00(UTC)
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Posted By Tim
Hi Geoff

I won't joining you on the other side.

Still I hope you have fun.

Tim
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#21 Posted : 08 June 2003 17:40:00(UTC)
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Posted By Merv Newman
Carefull, ladies and gentlemen, we do risk having this thread removed and placed on the "restricted access", adults only site.

Which I am for, by the way.

Merv Newman
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#22 Posted : 08 June 2003 21:41:00(UTC)
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Posted By Ken Taylor
I'm a little worried if the title is to be something like 'Members Only Area' in case we finish up with two forums of which one is used by members and the other by non-members. If the intention is to provide a place for members of IOSH to talk about IOSH and IOSH matters, I would suggest that a title be given that will clarify this so that all the useful discussion for the benefit of members and non-members in doing their jobs and helping to make workplaces healthier and safer can continue in one place. I welcome the interaction between people of all categories when it's constructive and well-intentioned.
I'm afraid to divulge my age now as, judging by postings to this thread, I seem to be the eldest so far and can remember pre-Robens Committee and not just pre-Crackerjack. I only hope that the rest of you look as young as me when you get to my age.
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#23 Posted : 08 June 2003 22:35:00(UTC)
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Posted By Jack
Tim, we'll just have to use our real names!

Doesn't seem unreasonable to restrict discussion of IOSH business to it's Members though.

Arran, does the 'moderator' role also mean you make decisions about the forum or are you simply in the know. Who actually made the decision, 'officers' of the Institution (Website Coordinator)? Moderators? Have my elected representatives discussed the issue? How did they vote?

Jack
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#24 Posted : 09 June 2003 09:16:00(UTC)
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Posted By Hilary Charlton
I hear what the non-members are saying and understand their feelings, however, OSH Chat will continue as previously and I guess that most threads will be started on this forum so there will be scant change. I believe this new forum is to remove political IOSH issues from the domain of the general public and restrict to those who are actually involved in the changes and so that any disagreements starting on the OSH Chat forum can be moved when they start to get heavy. All grades of membership are entitled to view and add to this new forum so perhaps those who will be left out could join IOSH as Affiliates - this way they would have access.

Hilary
Admin  
#25 Posted : 09 June 2003 09:25:00(UTC)
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Posted By Richard Spencer
Well it’s about time I had another say, so all those of delicate disposition, please do not read further.

Right you have been warned!!!




The removal of items being discussed by officials of the IOSH, without reference to the membership is a bit bureaucratic and a might high handed in my view, and dare I say undemocratic.

What utter conceit to believe that others not in IOSH would have the slightest interest in the machinations of a few people prepared to say it like it is.

Perhaps we should have a ‘nanny net’ for the more sensitive contributors, and filter out all those things that might cause offence.

Who are we really trying to protect, or better still whose egos are under threat?

‘Get real’ (an Aussie euphemism for) let’s all grow up a bit!

That’s better I had my say – what do you say - hey?

By the way whose going to win the world rugby cup? Because we know who won the ashes don’t we!!

Richard the Realist.
Admin  
#26 Posted : 09 June 2003 10:06:00(UTC)
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Posted By Website Co-ordinator
The provision of a secure members-only area on the website is in the Corporate Strategy, which was approved by Council and which is available on the website at http://www.iosh.co.uk/index.cfm?go=about.vision

En route the topic has also been considered and approved by members at Corporate Strategy Committee, IS Strategy Sub-Committee, and Corporate Communications Sub-Committee.

With regard to the removal of threads, this is undertaken by moderators – again, members – and not by IOSH employees without reference to members.

Hope this helps,

Angela Wheatcroft, Website Co-ordinator
Admin  
#27 Posted : 09 June 2003 12:28:00(UTC)
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Posted By Dave Wilson
I have a really strong feeling about people who hide behind the anonymous button, for whatever reason, and this is your right, but but but unless you can stand the post don't criticise the manner in which this is provided (Officer and a genleman I think).

Maybe this will not be a part of the new site!

And for our Colonial friend running with a large peanut under your arm in a zig zag line is not sport!!! neither is standing around for 5 days getting bored! Try tossing the caber, and wearing a skirt in -20C, the thing about sport is that at least we know we are C**p and therefore the expectations are not as high, These words could come back and bite you mate as the All Blacks will win!

Free debate / discussion is great but should we really be discussing some stuff in an 'open' global forum?
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#28 Posted : 09 June 2003 12:58:00(UTC)
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Posted By Hilary Charlton
Rugby - a game played by men with funny shaped balls.

Cricket - we lost the Ashes - you lost Shane Warne - hmmm let me think ....
Admin  
#29 Posted : 09 June 2003 17:32:00(UTC)
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Posted By Jack
My grovelling apologies to Angela and Arran.

At least it made me read the Corporate Strategy!

Jack
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#30 Posted : 10 June 2003 14:30:00(UTC)
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Posted By David Scott
Not the first time I've taken part in this OSH chat, but the first time in this type of debate!

I've always considered that this forum was for H&S professionals and others, who have a problem with an H&S issue that requires technical help from such like professionals.

Indeed, I quote the introduction to the OSH Chat page as follows; 'Discussion here is about occupational health and safety in its broadest sense. As well as health and safety in the workplace, there is scope for issues that include aspects of risk management, environmental protection, health care, hygiene, personnel, education, quality management, and business'.

Now, I'm not sure that some of the discussions regarding constitutional issues, which should only be relevant to its paying members (of all grades), should be hung out in a public forum for all to see the in fight.

I guess therefore, that I am all in favour of the proposed 'Members only' forum and lets use this chat page for the professionals and others who need these technical problems solved, which is why this network is provided.
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