Posted By srd 'IOSH is Europe's leading body for health and safety professionals.' reads the opening paragraph on the 'About Us' page of the IOSH website. Why is the organisation called the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), and not the Institution of Occupational Health and Safety (IOHS)? Stephen.

Posted By srd Hi Merv. I take your point. However, the HSE points out that for 2005 / 2006, out of the 30 million working days that were lost overall, 24 million were due to work-related ill health compared to 6 million due to workplace injury. Surely this ranks health as a higher priority than injuries/safety? Stephen.

Posted By Ken Taylor Occupational Safety always seems to predominate. Perhaps it's to do with the evolution of the body from the Institute of Industrial Safety Officers and the later inclusion of the Institute of Municipal Safety Officers. Personally my more recent job titles have listed 'health' before 'safety' and I have argued the need to address both 'health' and 'safety' at work. The term 'health and safety' seems to have achieved something of a 'collective noun' identity (or notoriety) these days so, perhaps, the Institute's title is seen as a means of declaring the inclusion of safety practitioners and health practitioners - as well as the 'health and safety' ones? An official response from IOSH would be of interest here.

Posted By Mart Does it really matter!

Posted By Ken Taylor Well, I think it important, Pugwash - and both are correct. The first statement refers to a subject known as 'health and safety' whereas the second refers to two subjects namely 'health' and 'safety'. All three are important - as are the distinctions between them.

Posted By andy evans If I recall correctly: An Institution has Royal Charter but an Institute does not.

Posted By Tabs Institution = (n)an important organization or public body Institute = (n)an organization for the promotion of science, education, etc. Ref: Oxford online dictionary.

Posted By Pugwash hummmm..... I don't think that they are completely interchangeable. I sense subtle differences. Would you rather be a member of an Institution or an Institute? I would rather join an "Institute" as it sounds more classy than "Institution", more up-market. "Institution" conjures up thoughts of a musty old hall at the end of narrow alley lit by gas-lamps. While an "Institute" brings to mind an august body housed in an impressive mansion on the top of a hill. I think a name change would be in order to the "Institute of Occupational Safety and Health". Much more 21st century. I feel a long holiday coming on.

Posted By srd Or even the 'Institute of Occupational Health and Safety' - IOHS. Stephen.

Posted By William IOHS does not have any ring to it really, but as for more people being off work with health related issues as opposed to safety, the following should be considered. Occupational illnesses can be developed over years, sometimes decades. These can include RSI, back problems, the results of exposure to asbestos, stress and so on. So if there are 24 million days lost a year due to conditions such as this it does not mean that they were developed in that year. Then this brings us into a different area about the way that lost working days are calculated, such as should a company with a employee or ex employee who develops asbestosis 20 years after being exposed to asbestosis, report this as a lost working day, and what if the worker has retired?