January 5th, 2012

October 2010 – Defining Priorities for Health & Safety Managers

Aviva Risk Management Solutions (ARMS) asked more than 200 health and safety managers who visited the Safety & Health Expo at the NEC in May the simple question: what is your priority? No options were given and the participants were free to give their own answer. Once the responses had been categorised, more than 30 different “priority” issues emerged, ranging from stress and violence to display screen equipment and lone workers.The number-one priority, however, was reducing accidents, closely followed by training and improving management systems and policy. Other issues mentioned included behavioural safety, and achieving a recognised safety standard, such as OHSAS 18001 or ISO 14001.Head of ARMS, Brian Wallace, commented: “The findings reveal that not only do health and safety managers have a lot to deal with but that their priorities differ considerably from one workplace to the next.”IOSH said the results are not surprising, as helping reduce workplace accidents and ill health, and improving management of health and safety are fundamental to a health and safety practitioner’s role. The Institution carried out its own research into the diversity of roles in the profession as part of a European study in 2005 and found a similar range of responsibilities and tasks.The IOSH Managing Safely qualification is GH Safety’s recommended training course for managers with health & safety responsibility. Open courses are held regularly at our office in Oxfordshire.NOVEMBER OPEN IOSH MANAGING SAFELY COURSE

The next open IOSH Managing Safely Course will be held on 15/16/22/23 November at the GH Safety offices mid way between Oxford and Swindon Places available