Posted By Tony Birchall Zzzzhhhhhh !! Quite frankly, this is becoming a monotoneus topic. I was of the understanding that IOSH had covered all the issues raised in the initial thread. Apologies for the response but there are "other" IOSH members who are gald to see the back of it on this forum. This type of topic should be discussed directly with IOSH and the forum left for members (or non members) to seek information, post questions, answer questions etc and not to debate structural business plans. Surely these are issues that can be tackled confidentially. I may be alone on this view but at least I've got my point accross.

Posted By Ken Taylor The argument for archiving the thread being given as the long download time, my response stated on another related thread was: [Angela, could you arrange an amendment to the forum to the effect that one normally only downloads the last 25 responses but with an option to download all if preferred?] However, as it appears that there are readers prepared to incur this time penalty in order to continue the discussion I can see no reason why we should not be permitted to retain ready access to an issue of evident continuing interest to forum visitors.

Posted By Tim I agree with Geoff the Chartered Status thread is topical and was interesting to those of us who where either participating in it and I assume to the many who were observing it’s progress from the sidelines. What was the justification for archiving it? The reason given certainly appears to be spurious. I had more to say on the matter but Philip [text reproduced below] has already said it in response to website co-ordinator on Stuart’s thread. ""Chartered status" [is] now archived to let other discussions like this one develop". What authority is being invoked to close a debate that is still very active and has held the interest of many readers, (over 21 thousand viewings with several thousand in the past week or so)? Have the controllers of this website decided that there are certain debates which are preferable [had to correct your spelling here Philip – you know how some people get upset by spelling mistakes :-) ] and that others are to be "archived", i.e. prevented from developing any further, because of their preference. This thread is interesting. So is "Chartered Status", but the actions of closing down "chartered status" raises very serious questions and concerns about the openness, fairness and integrity of this forum. Put "Chartered Status" back on-line and allow readers to study and develop all debates and not simply those, which the co-ordinators prefer. Fraternally Philip” In response to Tony who is glad to see it removed – Your opinion is valid and is to be valued however if you go to the cinema and don’t like the movie would you expect the cinema to be closed down? Tim

Posted By Jack Tony, I may be wrong but you seem to be saying this forum should be used exclusively to help each other deal with practical health and safety problems. I think it does that and very well. But surely it is also valid to discuss issues concerned with the profession and it's professional body. If you don't want to be involved with such threads don't open them; that there have been some 20000 hits would suggest others do. It's an open discussion with people sharing/debating views with others. Of course there is a place for face to face discussions but not everyone has that opportunity and the discussions may not be communicated with others. But for discussions like this many of us would have a much shallower understanding of chartered status and it's implications for us. Debate should be encouraged not swept under the carpet because it's a bit embarrassing.

Posted By Tony Birchall Threads get opened simply because they are at the top of the list on the forum. For example, if you have twenty people who have a disagreement with IOSH's structure and they each reply to say twenty similar people then that post has 400 reponses. It keeps therefore staying at the top of the list and gathering more and more hits. I don't think that say 20 people represent enough opinion to justify argument. Whilst it is clear that certain members have strong opinions on this issue, it is also clearly evident that there is a sustantial amount of members who are not that concerned either. Yes, I do feel that this forum should be for posts on health and safety but I feel that such issues must be debated on a face to face basis.

Posted By Tony Birchall I might just read them, just to get the hits up, but as you infer, I won't comment as people may get the impression that only one viewpoint counts.

Posted By Tony Birchall This will be my last post on this topic Geoff. What I mean is that surely you don't expect everyone to agree with your views. It appears that you don't like the fact that I disagree with certain issues that you have on IOSH's development and how this sets high standards for the future. This is very much in it's infancy so lets hope it's to the benefit of all members. Let's also hope that it sets good standards for safety professionals, and in the long run put's a higher price on this profession. On a professional level, I apologise if the subject is sensitive.

Posted By Jack Tony, I have no problem with people having different points of view nor with them expressing them vigorously. But I reserve the right to disagree. I know you might have to open a particular thread once to see what it's about but once you have found that it is of no interest you don't have to keep returning to it. Surely better for you to resist the temptation than for the thread to be removed so no one can see it!

Posted By Stuart Nagle In response to Tony Birchall's Comments: I aggree with you... I think this web site is for members to express their views and exercise interest in issues that are topical. That is why we are debating the issues of CSP !! Whilst we may have bored you rigid, as it seems from your comments Tony, you do not have to take part in this debate - as you rightly state... Yes we could all glog IOSH's switchboard, or we could all write to IOSH, I personally think a frank and open debate here however, is of more value and likely, as you rightly state, to appraise persons of the ongoings within IOSH and the views of it's membership.

Posted By Ron Young Before this thread is lost, can we have an answer to Geoffs initial request.

Posted By Ron Young Geoff, There appears to be a concensus that threads of this type/subject are not wanted by the powers that be. Therefore, bearing this in mind and to answer your last question, yes, it will happen again. Ron