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30 April 2013
IIRSM and KOSHA Resign Memorandum of Understanding
Representatives of IIRSM met Mr Gye-Wan Bae and Mr Kyung Wan Lee of KOSHA on 30th April. The meeting saw the renewal of the Memorandum of Understanding between the two organisations as well as discussions identifying areas for mutual cooperation, both as individual organisations and as joint members of the International Commission of Occupational Health (ICOH). Read Peter Hall, IIRSM Chairman's speech below:
It gives me great pleasure to personally welcome you to London and, as Chairman of International Institute Risk and Safety Management, to extend the welcome on behalf of our Board, Officers and Members.
We know from evidence produced by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the World Health Organisation (WHO) and other leading national and international organisations that the multi-trillion dollar cost of poor health and safety is a significant millstone around the globe.
We do recognise, therefore, the need to share our expertise in order to save the lives and livelihoods of workers throughout the world. IIRSM is an internationally facing body and we look to work in partnership with
governments and other similarly minded bodies to help develop effective accident prevention systems, processes and culture in order reduce the appalling cost of poor Occupational Health and Safety.
However there are clear and present signs that the tide is starting to turn. There is a growing movement of governments, businesses, None Government Organisations, Trade Unions and Stakeholder Groups who are determined to tackle this unacceptable blight that is killing, injuring and making ill many millions of workers every year. Our involvement with ICOH and our partnership with KOSHA is key to ensuring that we are playing our part in a cooperative and effective manner.
This is the reason why this meeting is so important; in spelling out the magnitude of the pain and suffering that poorly managed working conditions are causing; by welcoming and sharing the successful measures that have been put in place to improve workers health and safety through accident prevention and by providing the foundation for more cooperative working.
We have with us today the Chairman and the Secretary of the ICOH Accident Prevention Scientific Committee. We believe that by supporting ICOH we can help promote their call for all organisations across the globe to demonstrate their commitment to accident prevention and we look to working with both ICOH and KOSHA to help transfer their knowledge and expertise.
I know that both organisations recognise that ICOH is committed to working with its members to achieve real and lasting change. We believe that we can make a real difference if we work together.
As Chairman of IIRSM, I have looked forward to this meeting and to our discussions on how we can work in partnership and how, with our connections to ICOH, we can help you with the delivery of the Seoul Congress in 2015.
Thank You.
Peter W Hall Chairman IIRSM (30th April 2013)
26 April 2013
IIRSM comment on the Dhaka garment factory building collapse:
I’m sure the thoughts of all our members must go out to the victims and families of those killed or injured in the collapse of the Rana Plaza near Dhaka. At the latest estimate over 273 workers have been killed with hundreds more injured or missing. Inevitably fingers are pointed at the building develops for exploiting loopholes in planning laws and at legislators for not introducing and enforcing stricter planning controls. However, are these the sole causes of this disaster?
Bangladesh is the major supplier of cheap garments to many global retailers including those with outlets in the west. If we look at why manufacturing has moved there to such a large extent we have to admit that it is due to the low wage economy which keeps down costs for the retailers and leads to higher profits. So as well as addressing the obvious local causes perhaps other stakeholders should be putting pressure on the suppliers to improve wages and conditions for their workers even if we have to pay a little more for their products or that their profits may be reduced.
Once again there is a need for global companies to make their Corporate Social Responsibility programmes a reality rather than just a piece of paper to put in the annual report & accounts.
Read the full story here.
Barry Holt, IIRSM Director of Policy & Research.
04 April 2013
Safe & Secure Report on IIRSM East Midlands branch meeting
The following report was originally posted on the Safe & Secure website here.
"During March of this year, our very own managing director and one of the UK’s leading Legionella experts Keith Froggatt (BSc, DMS, MCIM, MWMSoc) was duely invited to give a legionella lecture to members of the East Midlands Regional Branch Of The International Institute Of Risk And Safety Managements (IIRSM) during their monthly meeting by Chairman Gary Musson (CMIOSH, FIIRSM, FlnstLM, RMaPS) at Swadlincote Town Hall.
The lecture is designed to raise awareness of the dangers of legionella bacteria and the ease of which it can develop, the categories of people most at risk and their susceptibility, the bacteria’s optimum growth conditions and locations, as well as giving a clear outline of how to reduce the risks and manage an effective, combative control programme. There was also a short Q&A session in which Keith invited the members to broaden their knowledge and learn invaluable information by being able to discuss any related issues and gain understanding of legionellae directly with him.
The evening was a great success, and we would like to extend our gratitude to Gary Musson and the IIRSM members for their very welcoming atmosphere, and look forward to being able to attend future meetings enabling us to keep up to date with the latest Health and Safety information and guidelines
If you would like any further information regarding this in-depth lecture or would like to arrange for a lecture to take place, please do not hesitate to contact us at liz.froggatt@legionnairesdisease.com. Alternatively, if you would like to obtain information regarding the IIRSM and who they are, how to become involved or for general enquiries please contact Chairman Gary Musson at gary@gsmusson.com"
06 Febraury 2013
Progress on achievements of Prof. Löfstedt recommendations
The Minister for Employment, Mark Hoban MP, has published a review by Prof Ragnar Löfstedt into the progress that has been made on actions arising from his report. The achievements include key recommendations for changes to both legislation and guidance including:
• Changes to the HSE Approved Codes of Practice. The changes include six simplified Codes and the withdrawal six by consolidation and the completely withdrawal of a further three Codes.
• A further seven sets of regulations which are obsolete have already revoked and it is proposed that a further thirteen will be withdrawn by April 2013.
• Measures have been introduced to simplify compliance for SMEs. This has included the Health & Safety Toolbox.
• To reduce the burden on business, the Primary Authority scheme will be strengthened. This will be aimed at multi-site businesses in order to ensure greater consistency of in enforcement
• One of the more high profile changes has been the establishment of the Myth Busters’ panel to allow challenges to disproportionate or inaccurate requirements. So far there have been over 100 challenges where application has been ruled ‘over-zealous’.
The report gives a detailed breakdown of the actions both as a result of Prof Löfstedt’s report and the earlier one, “Common Sense, Common Safety” produced by Lord Young’s committee. This, of course, recommended the establishment of the Occupational Safety & Health Consultants’ Register (OSHCR) which was established in 2011 with IIRSM playing a fully active part.
The new review also stresses an issue which has been raised previously by Prof Löfstedt and which IIRSM strongly supports, namely the need for a closer engagement with the EU Occupational Safety & Health Agency (EU OSHA).To provide this support IIRSM is once again a Campaign Partner in the current ‘Healthy Workplace Campaign’, ‘Working together for risk prevention’. As much of our recent health and safety legislation has arisen from the EU it is the view of Prof Löfstedt that rather than blame Brussels for what is seen as excessive regulation, we should work with Europe to ensure that such new standards are proportionate and improve standards while not imposing an ‘excessive’ burden on business.
You can read the report here (pdf).
05 February 2013
E-Waste Dumping in Nigeria
IIRSM Nigeria branch Chairman Eugene Itua comments on e-waste dumping in Nigeria in the Nigerian Tribune. View the article here.
30 January 2013
Risk communication forum follow-up
Risk communication is a topic which is rapidly increasing in importance for risk management at both corporate and operational levels. For example organisations involved with developing and promoting new technologies such as pharmaceuticals, nano-technology and food and drink products need to be aware of how to manage public perception of risk. As we all know the way the media reports on such subjects as well as on major incidents, can have a serious or even catastrophic impact on a business.
On Jan 29th, 2013, IIRSM in association with the Risk Initiative & Statistical Consultancy Unit of University of Warwick ran a successful forum to provide risk practitioners with results of current academic research. The speakers were Prof. Simon French, Director of RISCU and IIRSM Honorary Fellow, and Research Fellow, Dr Nikos Argyris, who had developed scenarios for analysis by work groups. The presentations covered the issues facing good risk communication, perception of risk and individual behaviour, society, risk and the media and finally participants were introduced to tools for categorising risk identifying the context and planning communication.
The forum was oversubscribed and as result we are planning to hold a repeat event in the autumn. To register your interest please email eleanor.doherty@iirsm.org.
IIRSM would like to express their gratitude to Warwick University and also to Cardinus Risk Management Ltd for providing the venue.
28 January 2013
IIRSM comment on the 27 January Brazil club fire that killed at least 233 people
IIRSM, along with the whole world must be horrified by the events at the Kiss nightclub in Santa Maria, Brazil. Over the years we have seen similar incidents closer to home and each time the shock so many lives are lost is the same.
In 1973, in the Summerland fire in the Isle of Man, 50 people died and 80 were injured, while in the 1981 Stardust nightclub fire in Dublin 48 died with another 214 injured. However, these have been eclipsed by the death toll of 233 in this latest incident. While the cause of the Stardust fire was never definitely determined, theories included arson or an electrical fault, the Summerland and Kiss fires both appear to have been caused by behaviour, in the Kiss fire by the band setting off a flare and in Summerland, boys smoking in a kiosk.
However, the severity in all cases was increased by issues of smoke inhalation and difficulties in evacuating the buildings once the fire hard started.
On behalf of IIRSM and its members we send our sincere condolences to the families and friends of those killed or injured in Santa Maria.
You can view the news story here.
16 January 2013
IIRSM's comment 16 January Vauxhall helicopter crash
IIRSM is shocked to hear about this morning’s helicopter crash in Vauxhall and our sympathies go out to the casualties and their families. We await with interest the outcome of the investigation as helicopter flights through London are strictly controlled and normally follow the route of the Thames. This is to allow for a landing on water should there be a problem. However, the crane which was struck was on a site on the south bank of the river.
It is understood that National Air Traffic Control had made an announcement to aircraft operators about the height of the crane within the last few days: there is also a rule that aircraft should not approach within 500 feet of tall structures so the investigation will have some immediate questions to address. Clearly at the time, visibility was very poor due to low cloud.
Although we do not wish to speculate at this stage, one point which should be made is to praise the actions of the emergency services who have responded promptly, efficiently and with bravery.
The police are expected to hold a press conference at 11:30 GMT at Vauxhall bus station.
You can view the news report here.
10 January 2013
New IIRSM Director of Membership & New Business Development / Deputy Chief Executive
Phillip Pearson has joined IIRSM in the new role of Deputy Chief Executive; he will also be responsible for membership and new business development activities. Phillip has almost 20 years of experience working for a range of high profile professional bodies. Most recently he was Group Director for Learning and Member Services at the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), where he was responsible for the global delivery of training, conferences and member services. Prior to the RICS Phillip worked as Head of Member Services for the Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIOT), where he was responsible for the strategic lead on all membership and branch activities.
Over the coming months Phillip will be looking to meet as many members and employers as possible to understand their requirements and how IIRSM can meet those in a modern and effective way. He sees it is vitally important that IIRSM continues to collaborate with other bodies and organisations to truly reflect the needs and wishes of its members at all levels and welcomes the opportunity to discuss this further.
PLEASE NOTE WE ARE CURRENTLY UPDATING THIS WEBPAGE SO SOME ITEMS WILL NOT APPEAR.
01 December 2011
IIRSM member David Beamont has written an article/review of our Project Risk Management forum. To view click here.
18 November 2011
IIRSM comments on HSE injury & ill-health data
Recently HSE published data on the number of fatal injuries for 2010/11. These showed an increase of 15% from 147 to 171 over the previous year. Although this is undesirable and could give cause for concern, given the methods employed for identifying trends, this does not necessarily show a change in the underlying downward trend. To identify whether this does show a real upturn cannot be established on the basis of a single data set which could be a distortion. Where it does raise concern is that the figures are published at a time of change for the UK enforcement system.
However, figures published on Nov 2nd provide data on non-fatal injuries and ill-health where the recent downward trend has continued. The number of injuries reported under RIDDOR was 118,000 with a total of 200,000 reportable (>3 day) injuries being reported through the Labour Force Survey.
Although these figures are the ones which have grabbed the headlines IIRSM is particularly concerned over the figures relating to work place ill-health, where 22.1m working days were lost last year.
Figures relating to work-related stress show that there were 211,000 new cases reported during the period compared with 189,000 pre-existing cases. These represented a worrying loss of 10.8M working days. Other facts which emerged were that workplaces with >250 employees had the highest rate s and the rates for women were higher than those for men and that the age group most affected was between 35-54.
Encouragingly we have seen a significant reduction in cases of musculoskeletal disorders over a 10 year period with a total of 158,000 new cases for the period as against 351,000 pre-existing cases.
However, there is still considerable concern over underreporting by both employers and employees. Although opinion seems to be generally supportive of the change of RIDDOR reporting from 3 to 7 days and other changes which are being proposed, we are concerned that the issue of reporting may not improve in the short term and even were it to improve how reliably will we be able to compare year on year trends. We must consider future figures very carefully indeed.
