I think Rob pretty much sums up how the majority of us feel about H&S is often portrayed in the media; in particular the tabloid press. His commenst are long overdue. I recall on the 'old' forum the seemingly endless and tiresome posting of links to DM H&S 'stories' and the subsequent debate that often followed, with people 'lambasting' individuals on the basis of what can at best be described as 'dubious' reporting. It seems to me that many of these health and safety stories are just that; stories.

hmmmm, this might not go down well but...

Of course the way that media present elf n safety news stories is wrong. No disputing that.

However, we can't use that excuse not to turn our gaze inwardly as well. There are many health and safety professionals (including some that post on this forum IMO) that are over zealous in their approach to health and safety and those people are feeding the elf n safety stories in the press.

So whilst I agree that the media needs to show a more accurate reporting syle (dream on!!) I think we also need tackle the problems within our own community too.

By the way, the comments beneath the article do have a point. With the decrease in heavy industry in this country there would have been a reduction in fatal accidents anyway so it is hard to attribute how much is down to an improvment in health and safety - although I like to think it has made a significant difference. There has in fact been an increase in occupational health disorders in line with our changing work environment. you could argue that RSI is better than a fatality but I'd rather not look at it so simplisitically. I shudder to think what would happen to the figures if you included those who die whilst driving on work business. Have the fatalities dropped or shifted to another area?

IOSH (and other H&S bodies - pull together not apart) should do more to dispel the untruths in the press but we should also do more to stop the sparks that light the fires.

Well done Rob and IOSH. Totally agree with the points made.
Maybe next we could have some TV coverage to get to the masses?

On the negative side, I have some agreement with Clairel. In our profession we have a small number of people who mean well but, possibly due to experience and technical ability, go either on a crusade over quite trivial matters or give poor advice.

Also, over the years I’ve personally come across individuals proclaiming to be health and safety experts who give some of the most appalling and dangerous advice you could imagine. These experts have turned out to have little in the way of qualifications or technical ability. Many claim to be Chartered and are not, quite a few even utilise the IOSH logo.

But the majority of companies and other bodies that I’ve had dealings with are not aware of this. They see a title of health and safety and wrongly assume that they are engaging with a competent individual.

I applaud the work by Rob and all the hard working individuals of IOSH but I also believe that until we are more prescriptive in terms of competency, whether by legislation or not, we will always get this very negative press.

One cheer for a clearly written article on an important subject, especially to readers of this forum.

Sadly, however, it was a good opportunity that was not converted into a thoughtful response to the proposed Conservative Party strategy on a non-trivial change to the system of regulating safety and health at work.

The article by Mr. Strange would have had much greater credibility if he had taken up the Tory challenge, and set out the issues clearly and factually. He could, for example, have cited relevant data about the OHSA Voluntary Protection Program in the USA and, in particular, of the extent to which the 'Star' and 'Merit' categories in this scheme have measurable benefits as well as possible limititations.

To the extent that the occupational safety and health profession is going to be taken seriously, it will have to engage with the legislators before the change laws and not simply comment from the sideways decades afterwards.

This may in turn require the kind of radical overhaul of the core training at NEBOSH certificate and diploma levels, which are recognised for entry to the IOSH. For the mote in the eye of the safety and health profession, with Mr. Strange fails to acknowledge, is the comparative lack of education in social, diplomatic and political skills that members of the profession need to have the impact required with management, from day one. Mr. Strange's comments would have more credibility in the minds of members of the public serious about safety and health if he had acknowledged how far the profession he leads still has to go. The kind of strategic change I refer to is a very tough one; business psychologists have struggled with it for some time with marginal success. By contrast, the CIPD, in the 95th year of its history, has in the last six months shown publicly how this kind of major overhaul of basic training can be executed swiftly, where there is a will.

In short, good effort by Mr. Strange yeut FAR,. FAR greater ambition about raising the bar is ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL if IOSH amd the safety profession is ever going to have the social standing necessary to counter the negative press that is the focus of Mr. Strange's observations.

And here's Rob's response to Littlejohn's response...
http://bit.ly/ctcOrR

Anne Smart
IOSH media and campaigns co-ordinator

I agree with Claire and it would also concern me that this is top of the list of real H&S concerns:

"Like fighting to prevent the looming spectre of more cancer caused by asbestos, a time-bomb that currently sees thousands of workers dying each year from past exposure"

How do we diffuse this time bomb, short of finding a cure for lung cancer caused by previous asbestos exposure.

I think most would agree that we are all ready doing an excellent job of preventing on going exposures, we are not in any fight on this that I am aware of.

Rob's piece in the Independent has also struck a chord with an Australian blogger. Read his post here: http://bit.ly/aiQtv7

Anne Smart
IOSH media and campaigns co-ordinator