The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) has launched a new course targeting a trend it has identified in leading businesses that are viewing health and safety beyond compliance with legislation
According to IOSH, organisations such as Nestle and Arco have been adapting their approach towards health and safety compliance by viewing the area as one leading to what it termed “valuable business benefits” through happier and more confident work forces.
IOSH chief executive Jan Chmiel said, “A safer work environment is, of course, a moral imperative. However, those organisations who seek to put safety and health at the heart of their business – through management systems that go beyond compliance with legislation – find it has huge benefits for their reputation, productivity and results.”
Along with a reduction in accident rates, IOSH claimed that companies leading or following the new trend were experiencing fewer staff absences and sick leaves, reduced insurance premiums and legal costs, and increased productivity and profits.
In order to cater to the new trend, IOSH has developed a new course targeted towards those with leadership responsibilities, helping these employees understand how they can generate better results by investing in safety and health. Launched in partnership with business leaders, ‘Leading safely’ has been designed to provide practical knowledge and solutions to workplace leaders, which is said would enable them to embed safety and health at the core of how they do business.
The course, which was officially launched during the Safety & Health Expo, held in London, UK, from 16-18 June 2015, has been tailored to varying needs and industries. The short format course, which lasts for five hours in a classroom or for three hours in a classroom plus one hour e-learning, has already been successfully piloted with industry leaders.
IOSH executive director – commercial, Richard Orton, commented, “We feel that anyone with leadership responsibility, no matter the size of their organisation, will find ‘Leading safely’ will help them recognise the true value of successful safety and health performance.”
Site Service Engineering managing director Chris Claypole described the course as “excellent”, stating that it was “full of relevant material and pitched just right for leaders”.
Claypole remarked, “It has reminded me of my safety and health responsibilities and brought home the need for me to get out more on site visits, to talk to the team and understand the challenges and opportunities. I want to build a culture of care in my business, and that needs to start with me.”
IOSH has more than 44,000 members in 120 countries, including three chapters in the Middle East in the UAE, Oman and Qatar, and has set up a section on its website offering more information for interested parties on the ‘Leading safely’ course at www.iosh.co.uk/leadingsafely.
