I would very much like an IOSH official to pass coment on the Webinar delivered by Gareth Milner. A very confusing webinar to say the least. 

Hi Ali

I guess the webinar you attened was that run by IOSH South West Branch Managing musculoskeletal disorders | IOSH though apparently hosted in London.

From the look at the advertised programme there could have been some contentious moments:

The presentation will highly focus on the following:

• True Stories from my Book ''Sorry! We're Closed'' including the case of £160,000 Injury at Work Claim Payout from Lumbar Disc Prolapse

• Understanding Hazardous Practices as well as Optimal Handling Techniques

• Risk and Ergonomic Assessment and common pitfalls '' Open your Eagle Eye '' from Sorry! We're Closed • Effecting Upskilling Training Strategies including Digital Training Options

• Manual Handling Negligence, HSE lack of focus on Optimal Handling Techniques and bad advice

• Jacks of All Trades Training Providers (e.g. iHasco) and so-called Manual Handling Training Experts (e.g. Pristine Condition)

• The Occupational Health Nurse vs. The Osteopath when it comes to MSD Assessments and Medico-Legal Reporting

• The future of Manual Handling, Equipment, Automation and Exoskeletons/ AI

The presenter here is a practising osteopath. Osteopathy only has limited recognition from the NHS/NICE. It is only recognised as a form of manual therapy, just like similar treaments  carried out by physiotherapists or chiropractors.   The theoretical basis of osteopathic treatment is not recognised as a scientific medical discipline by mainstream health practitioners. The list headings in the training offered seems to be bad mouthing occupational health professionals and  organisations that follow medical mainstream approaches.   

Ah but, Elfin, you clearly don't realise that the Gerneral Osteopathic Council got it all wrong!

 Gareth Milner Osteopathic Solutions

"The gosc has published on their website a statement that is both misleading, factually incorrect and more worryingly as they are the Profession's Regulator, a statement with significant dishonesty about me."

....and there is more! Forum Rules prohibit much discussion about what the person claims.

I guess that the outline of the presentation done last week might be summarised along the lines of:

1. Please buy my book.

2. Most people other than osteopaths shouldn't be doing manual handling risk assesssments - a similar line is run sometimes by psychotjherapists who can't appreciate that many OSH professionals should be able to work with others to identify (and find solutions to) poor management practices that are a factor in work-related stress

3. HSE don't spend enough time on manual handling (just as they don't spend enough time on occupational health risks, but resources are thin and more people die from occupational health risks than from manual handling).

4. HSE guidance on manual handling and tools such as "TILE" are not good enough.

5. Training providers by organisations including at least two which claim to have materials approved by IOSH do not deliver adequate MH training, particularly when it comes to online materials.

6. Occupational health nurses don't know what they are doing when it comes to MH issues.

7. A brief look at the future as everyone likes a bit about AI and exoskeletons and such like.

8. Please buy my book and all the other services that I provide.

Not really surprising that Ali came away somewhat confused.

P

Edited by user 17 March 2025 21:30:16(UTC)  | Reason: Formatting

There are a number of people on the fringes of H&S who are able to make a career for themselves as trainers but have more in common with snake oil salesmen.  The problem is that the people that book these trainers often do not have a background in H&S but go by titles like Organisational Development and Culture. They create slots in the training calendar and then book someone to deliver this training without really understanding what they really need and what the trainer might deliver. So we have Fire safety “experts” telling your staff that a rollcall  during a fire evacuation is “ a legal requirement” despite the fact that it would be impossible to do this on your site or COSHH is all about WEL and how to calculate exposure to airborne hazardous substances and nothing else really counts as COSHH.

Perhaps we need to set up an organisation that represents H&S professionals who are interested  in delivering effective H&S in the UK. Of course it will never happen!  

Originally Posted by: A Kurdziel

Perhaps we need to set up an organisation that represents H&S professionals who are interested  in delivering effective H&S in the UK. Of course it will never happen!  

Shots fired!