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Posted By Adrian Watson
Everybody seems to assume that health and safety is a profession. However, at this time I doubt that we meet the criteria of being a profession. So my question is "What makes Health and Safety a profession and therefore of regulation?"
Regards Adrian Watson
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Posted By CFT
Hi Adrian
Before attempting to answer would you be so kind as to share what your perception of 'profession' is?
Charley
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Posted By Martyn Hendrie
There are various dictionary definitions. One that we certainly meet is
"the body of persons engaged in an occupation or calling"
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Posted By Steve Cartwright
Adrain
One description of profession is a type of job that requires advanced education or training.
At the moment if you agree with the above definition we are not a profession, because anyone can claim to be a health and safety advisor/officer/consultant.
Steve
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Posted By Adrian Watson
A profession has:
a. A well-defined theoretical base;
b. Recognition as a profession by the clientele;
c. Community sanction for professionalisation;
d. A code of ethics;
e. A professional organisation.
Regards Adrian
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Posted By CFT
Adrian
In that case then, 'we' do have a profession, and a good one at that; in the majority of instances at any rate!
Charley
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Posted By Robert K Lewis
I vote with CFT
Bob
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Posted By Tabs
Adrian, a nice list but where from?
Oxford Dictionaries defines profession as "a paid occupation, especially one involving training and a formal qualification" (so not necessarily trained or qualified)...
and "treated as sing. or pl. a body of people engaged in a profession."
Perhaps common / modern usage has outrun the dictionary definition, but to answer your question I could just say that "H&S is a profession because we get paid".
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Posted By Steve Cartwright
Adrian
I don't disagree with interpretation. However the fact remains that anyone can call themselves a health and safety advisor/officer/consultant.
In the eighties there was a program on tv called the boys from the black stuff. There was a charactor in it called Josser Hughes and his phrase was GIZ A JOB I CAN DO THAT, and it happening in health and safety.
Steve
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Posted By Bob Youel
anybody can call themselves a doctor, a lawyer, a professor etc as has happened on many an occasion - its only when something happens that they get found out
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Posted By Arran Linton - Smith There is a very good description in Wikipedia See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ProfessionI do believe that through IOSH we meet this criteria, after all this has been accredited by the Privy Council when we obtained our Chartered Status.
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Posted By Rob Campbell
Whilst with IOSH we (H&S Professionals) may meet this definition, the problem is you don't have to be a memeber of IOSH to be considered a professional.
I think it's a good point either way.. it can be considered a profession though at the same time does point out how the idea of regulation isn't such a bad one.
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Posted By Arran Linton - Smith
Rob,
I am an H&S professional as I also get paid for it, just as professional footballer gets paid for playing football, however I am also a Chartered Safety and Health Practitioner acquired through IOSH just as a Solicitor acquires their professional status through the Law Society or Physician through the BMA.
The word professional has more than one meaning, however I suspect that we are both pushing on the same door on this issue.
Incidentally what is commonly regarded as the world oldest profession does not fulfil Adrian’s criteria and the second oldest only met that criteria just over 100 years ago.
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Posted By mike morland
Well I'm becoming somewhat confused between the definitions of what is a 'profession' and whether you consider H&S be a profession based on academic achievement.
By all means 'raise the bar' but in any 'profession' one has to start somewhere and that is usually the bottom.
One description referred to a paid job with learning and qualifications.
I started out my career many years ago as a Cabinet Maker and served a recognised apprenticeship and eventually attained my City and Guilds. Neither the pay, training or qualifications guaranteed that I would be any good but the products I made and the high level I made them too assured my continued employment. And yet this was never regarded as a profession only a 'trade' by definition. Yet I was a professional because I was proficient in what I did.
I moved into production management and for years successfully managed without a qualification until I achieved my Diploma in Management Studies ten years ago and have just recently become a Member of the Chartered Management Institute (MCMI).
Seven years ago I became a H&S manager and collected my NEBOSH General Certificate and a credit pass in Risk Assessment accredited by CIEH and in that time have helped to reduce incidents at work by 70%.
Now I'm sorry for the long winded resume but I could start to feel unworthy for not being as academically qualified as some of my peers on this forum.
I believe that H&S is regarded as a profession regardless of what level we enter it and we have to accept that in all trades and professions there will be the 'cowboys'.
Wow! I feel better for that!
Regards
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