This one, as a public forum, does not require iosh membership in order to post.

You just loose some of the functions like being able to edit posts (makes one a bit more careful with typing)

Hi firesafety

I have an instinct that the proportion of those using these Forums who are NOT Members of IOSH is going to increase as time continues.

I had not been aware that non-Members using the Public Forums didn't have access to the Edit (and presumably) Delete function when it comes to things THEY post (thanks, Roundtuit).That does seem like a very odd feature.

However, there is MUCH more traffic on the Public Forums than on those allocated to Members only. At the most basic level it is shown in the statistics - nearly 100,000 Registered Users since the Forums were revamped in, 2009 - so twice as many as the TOTAL number of IOSH Members.

Now, some of those 100,000 might have visited just once or twice, but the picture would probably not be dissimilar if one looked at those who have Registered who ARE Members of IOSH. 

I have always been of the view that opening up the Public Forums to non-Members has been one of the success stories in terms of IOSH doing what it says in the last few words of Article 3 of its Royal Charter.

"The objects for which the Institution is established are –

(a) to promote systematic and organised methods of improving occupational safety and health and to advocate, advise upon, disseminate, explain and advance the principles, methods and systems of their application at work generally;

(b) to facilitate the exchange of information and ideas amongst the members of the Institution and of other professional bodies in the field of occupational health and safety and to work together with other professional bodies in pursuit of mutual objectives; and

(c) to do all such other things as may be necessary or desirable for maintaining and improving the professional status of members of the Institution and of persons engaged in professions requiring a knowledge of the matters mentioned in paragraph (a) above;

in the interests of the general public benefit."

Easy to miss a few words tagged on at the end of a lot of legalese!!

If someone asked me to guess, I should imagine that currently (and for quite a long time) there are at least FIVE non-Members using these Forums for every ONE Member of IOSH.

Edited by user 01 April 2025 17:37:03(UTC)  | Reason: Checked a date

Originally Posted by: A Kurdziel

…and of course none of the AI bots who put up their pointless postings are IOSH members either!

Can we find a way to charge them to reduce our fees?

Originally Posted by: firesafety101

One of my postings in the near future may be my last as I'm undecided whether to renew my annual subscription.

I don't work any more but I do enjoy using this forum.  I'm not too old to learn something new and it keeps my grey matter alive.

If I do not renew my membership will close as will my ability to post on this forum.

I have to say thank you to everyone who posts here because I really enjoy logging in each day.

I thank everyone who has contributed to my posts and wish you all well for the future.

Thank you.

I am a none IOSH user of the forum and am grateful for the opptuity to knontribute and lern from peers, but get iritated  to not be abel to editt my postz ;)

I am also retiring propery this year and will give up my IFSM Membership with a heavy heart. But the combined  costs of CPD, membership of a professional body and insurance makes it near impossible to work part time or zero hours  - something I would like to do to keep my grey matter turning over  I dont intend giving up popping by here and hope you will too Firesafety 101 

According to the information provided at the Forum home page there are apparently 66 Forums, but for most IOSH Members they only have access to a total of six.

Was three within the Public Forums, but I am not entirely sure whether the Study Support Forum is usable by non-Members and three Members' Forums.

Taking three of each, approximate statistics today:

Public Forums - some 65,000 topics with about 400,000 postings.

Members Forums - some 5,000 topics and about 41,000 postings.

So, those not paying IOSH dues and hence not being able to access the Members only Forums don't lose much except - what I have learnt this week - the ability to edit one's own postings! 

Today's lesson for members is that non-members also have no Delete function.

Once you have posted it is, as I often told the kids, in the interweb forever.

Originally Posted by: firesafety101

Thanks for posting everyone, and as I wrote I learn something most times I come on here.

Last year I changed my membership to Retired and paid a reduced fee thinking I had to be a member to access this forum, now I know different I shall continue to open up most days, whatever I decide.

By the way Messey I pay PI insurance at a reduced rate because I need to cover myself in case of claims against me from past work, I also took off my fire safety work, just keeping H&S.  Not sure if I need any PI at all now.

Am I being nieive to think that once you retire you no longer need insurance? Surely the insurance you had in place at the time of any incident would cover you? 

I wonder how many self employed people just stop the insurance when they retire, give up work or become an employee of another company.

Do we have statute of limitations for bad H&S advice?  Surely you can't be expected to purchase insurance for the rest of your life?

Originally Posted by: WatsonD

This type of cover is called 'run off' and is usually advised for around 6 years from what I have been told by my insurers.

Many thanks for the response. Every day is a school day. I hadn't even condiered insurance for when I finish work.

My self employed PI was always £1million.

I understand your logic but the insurance term covers you for one year and covers you against that risk during the agreed term for any claims made within that time period.

You are insuring yourself (your business) for a period of time against a claim, regardless of the historic date of the infringement. Provided of course that is within the legal parameters of how old that claim can go back, which I believe to be 6 years 

More often then not they are dealt with at the time, which is why you can expect the run off insurance will reduce each year.

One of the reasons we keep copies of contractor insurance details on file - not bothered about the individual just need an organisation to push any claim towards.

As to "run off" what happens when the insured individual "is no more", "has ceased to be", "bereft of life" before a claim is lodged? Sounds like a money making scam as the insured risk was during the period of cover.

I wonder if the insurance cover dies with the owner or can it transfer to the widow/widower or other family member.

Originally Posted by: Roundtuit

As to "run off" what happens when the insured individual "is no more", "has ceased to be", "bereft of life" before a claim is lodged? 

It would pass to their estate.

Originally Posted by: Roundtuit

Sounds like a money making scam as the insured risk was during the period of cover.

What happens if the insurance company used at the time "is no more", "has ceased to be", "bereft of life" before a claim is lodged?