NEWS & ANALYSIS FMJ.CO.UK
IOSH ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2019
SAFETY TECH
“New technologies can
actually help us better
protect people, so we must take
advantage of this.” That was a key
message from Professor Vincent Ho,
the outgoing President of IOSH, as he
opened IOSH 2019.
The world of work is evolving at pace,
said Prof Ho, much of it being led by new
technologies. This brings new risks for
working people which the occupational
safety and health profession must
respond to.
But Prof Ho urged delegates at the ICC
not to be fearful of new technologies; but
to embrace them and consider how they
can actually help enhance the way that
working people are protected.
Some of these new technologies were
highlighted at the conference. One
session, for example, led by researchers
from the University of Nottingham
looked at how virtual reality can be used
to predict the behaviour of employees
during emergency evacuations. As a
result, this can lead to improved safety
outcomes.
Dr Glyn Lawson, from the University
of Nottingham’s Faculty of Engineering,
told delegates their research – funded
by IOSH – revealed that virtual
10 OCTOBER 2019
environments increase engagement in
safety and health training.
Safety during evacuations was the
subject of another session at the
conference, led by Professor Ed Galea
of the University of Greenwich and Jim
Senior, formerly of construction giant
Multiplex.
This also highlighted recent IOSHfunded
research, which focused on the
evacuation of high-rise construction
sites. Trials done by researchers on two
construction sites in London, and a
questionnaire sent to workers involved,
revealed an issue with people not
responding immediately to evacuation
alarms, instead completing some tasks
and wasting critical time.
Delegates had earlier heard from
Martin Temple, Chief Executive of the
Health and Safety Executive (HSE). His
opening address looked at the current
state of the safety and health profession,
the big issues that need addressing and
the future.
He highlighted the importance that
consultants working with businesses
provide proportionate advice to
risks. With the HSE working to tackle
bureaucracy and ensure the regulatory
framework is fit for purpose, he said
some businesses are “not sure what
good safety and health looks like”.
He said: “Good quality and
proportionate expert advice underpins
much good practice in health and safety.
IOSH members are in a great position
to get across messages for a more
proportionate agenda to parts of the
system the HSE can’t reach.”
Temple highlighted one example
of disproportionate advice in an
organisation where sta were given
safety tips for removing cups from a
cupboard. He added: “The fear of being
sued is a key driver of unnecessary
paperwork.”
Temple also explored how safety and
health professionals need to manage the
risks of older workers, with 1.3 million
people aged 65 or over currently in
employment in the UK.
“So, what are the gaps in knowledge
and understanding you have to address
and respond to?” he asked. “Do you
know the health needs of older workers?
We must be thinking how ready business
is to cope with these new challenges.”
Another challenge highlighted by
Temple was that of employees not
being based in a central location. One
occupation this relates to is journalism,
and delegates were able to hear the
first-hand account of one well-known
reporter’s experience of being attacked
while working overseas.
Frank Gardner, who is Security
Correspondent for the BBC, looked back
over his career and his shooting in Saudi
Arabia by Al-Qaeda terrorists which le
him severely injured. He spent several
months in hospital and has been unable
to walk since.
One of the key factors behind his
recovery, both mentally and physically,
was being able to return to work. He said
when his bosses came to visit him he
asked for confirmation his job was still
there. Confirmation was given, which
was “a huge incentive to get better and
get up and out”.
Gardner said when he returned to
work, his employer had to make some
small readjustments to accommodate
his needs, including putting ramps in
television studios. He urged delegates,
including safety and health professionals
and other business leaders, that the key
when assessing the requirements of
disabled workers is to take the time to
ask them what they need.
“They listened to me,” said Gardner.
“Always ask people what they need
because no one size fits all. I still have
movement in my legs, though I’m unable
to stand on them, but other workers may
be paralysed from the neck down.”
Gardner said his experience of being
attacked had made him “much more
risk aware”. He said the trip into Riyadh
he made, chaperoned by minders,
happened just before they were due to
fly home and was not needed because
they already had the footage they
required.
Closing his presentation, he urged
delegates to consider when faced with
obstacles how they can get around
them. “There’s nearly always a way
around things,” he said.
Moments a er the close of IOSH 2019,
the Institution held its AGM, at which
Professor Andrew Sharman became its
new President for 2019-20.
Earlier Prof Sharman had made the
o icial closing address to delegates,
during which he said the hall was a
“treasure trove of intelligence, ability,
expertise and willpower”.
He added: “By being here, we
demonstrate our collective will to
improve the working world, ensure
business is safer, healthier and more
e icient, and make life better for
everyone. I believe we – me, you and
IOSH – can shape the future together.”
IOSH 2019, the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health’s annual international
conference, took place on 16-17 September at the International Convention Centre in
Birmingham. Marcus Boocock, IOSH Communications Offi cer, reports