Posted By Graham Clarke MIOSH, RSP, MIIRSM, MaPS I have been a safety professional for some 10 years now, working in manufacturing, construction, local authority and warehousing. I am now eligible for Fellowship, (something I have been striving for, for 10 years), after reading the application form I find the one area I am lacking is a reference from a Fellow, however I do not know any as I never attend the IOSH meetings, I do keep up my CPD, in fact I have completed 3 sets now; started before I needed too. I find I am far too busy, (work a 60-70 hour week, have not had a holiday in 3 years), actually doing the job of protecting the people, the company and me to have any time left for my family let alone going to meetings, so I can network. Has anyone else faced this dilemma.

Posted By Karen Todd Hi Graham, You probably already know some fellows, but you just don't know it yet. Advice given to me years ago was, "Network, network, network" and I appreciate you have little available spare time, but strongly do suggest you try to go to events where you might meet fellows. Particularly good events to go to might be the likes of IOSH AGMs in your area, or local Safety Group meetings. When I was trying to get chartered as a mechanical engineer, I had to get my form signed by 2 people who were chartered engineers and I had the same problem as you - I didn't know any. However, I forced myself to start going to events they organised. I'd avoided going to them for years as I was terrified that I wouldn't know anyone and that it would be very stuffy and people would be quite standoffish. However, at the first ones I went to lots of people made a point of introducing themselves to me and were really nice. I also bumped into people I knew there too! I've made lots of useful contacts and also found my 2 people to sign my form and since got chartered. The events that I've gone to have been really worthwhile too. Regards, Karen

Posted By Philip McAleenan Graham, (with tongue firmly in cheek) the sooner we advance the world of work to a time when every worker does a 70 hour week, when we can scrap these ridiculous holidays that sap the energy of our productive forces and realise, (as did GF van Froneman when he was Deputy Minister of Justice in South Africa) that workers “must not be burdened with superfluous appendages like women and children” then the safer we will be. Go for it I say, Philip ;-)