Rank: Guest 
|
Posted By John Allen
Isn’t it about time that IOSH was represented on the HSC? The Commission has always been made up of “lay” people. Even in the seventies when it was formed and there was for a long time a vacancy on the Commission the responsible minister refused to appoint an inspector to the Commission despite entreaties from the inspectorate’s trade union.
Looking at the biogs of the current crop there is only one person from what could be called “an H&S background”.
Despite the avowed intent of the government to open up Quangos to a wider membership, the composition of the Commission still reflects the philosophy of the Seventies ie business/unions/LAs. At that time IOSH was a fraction of its current size and was just changing over from being the Institute of Industrial Safety Officers – an almost invisible organisation with no influence at all. Now we are a Chartered Institute isn’t it about time that someone moved over and let us have a seat at the big table?
The business/unions/LAs triumvirate no longer represents civic society; as well as professional organisations such as IOSH we have Non Governmental Organisations, single issue pressure groups and individual campaigners. It’s a much more fractured situation nowadays and the same pattern exists in the political spectrum as recent elections have shown.
There is a deep rooted belief in British civic life that well-intentioned amateurs somehow bring more to a subject than those who work with it on a daily basis. While not denying the need for some “lay” representation on the Commission the “muddling through” philosophy no longer works in the 21st Century and probably didn’t for most of the 20th.
There would be substantial benefits from IOSH representation on the HSC. Not only would we get the advantage from being in the information loop there is an opportunity to bring our expertise and approach on managing risk to the Commission. If IOSH aren’t lobbying the minister for representation on the Commission the next time there is a vacancy there should be a very good reason why we are not.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By David Sinclair
I'm sorry, but I am not sure I would want IOSH representing me on anything. Particularly, if it is one of the unelected officials of the institution.
David
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Jimmy
The British Safety Council also (I believe) have a charter. Ive yet to hear from one of their members complaining that the big boys wont let them play with them.
IOSH, The BSC, ROSPA etc all play a massive big part in general safety without the need to enter politics and the HSC listen to them.
If it aint broke, don't fix it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By John Allen
Well, there’s no accounting for negativity!
Perhaps I didn’t make myself sufficiently clear. I certainly never intended to suggest that an IOSH official become an HSC member. But I do feel that a working safety professional with continuing day to day experience of risk management should be on the Commission. The individual would not be there solely as IOSH’s representative but to bring a career long safety professionalism perspective to their discussions and decision making.
It is also an opportunity to break the old boy/girl mould that has dominated that institution since its inception. Look at the biogs of the existing members – does anyone seriously suggest that one of our senior members couldn’t make a stronger and more pertinent contribution?
Just because something is “not broke” is no reason not to suggest ways to make it work better. If we didn’t spend our working lives trying to improve things we might as well have all packed up and gone home years ago.
Finally will someone remind what Royal Charter the BSC have?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Dave Daniel
I fully agree although I feel the HSC has no real role other than to be the dog that is wagged by the HSE tail.
It would be nice to see and IOSH HSC commissioner, but I feel it will take much more than that to control the burgeoning mass of safety regulation trivia which I have to report ashamedly to all my hard-pressed clients......
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By George Wedgwood
Sounds a reasonable idea and some might prefer an 'Officer' of IOSH or a respected Member - but who should be nominated? To be able to contribute as a nominee of IOSH, perhaps you would need to consider either the Chief Exec or a Past President? I don't think the suggestion is sensless but could be thought through by the Corp. Strategy Committee to see if it has merit for IOSH in terms of its Corportae Plan. Of course, there is nothing to prevent some motivated individual applying for a vacancy from time to time, which I have seen advertised before.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum.
You cannot reply to topics in this forum.
You cannot delete your posts in this forum.
You cannot edit your posts in this forum.
You cannot create polls in this forum.
You cannot vote in polls in this forum.