Networks news Summer 2019 by IOSHNetworks

Networks news Summer 2019

For IOSH volunteers by IOSH volunteers

Working together to make a difference P6 Cascading fire safety P4 Stronger together P10

Welcome When I was asked months ago to be guest editor of Networks news, I thought, ‘Why not? Plenty of time … No sweat!’ Well here I am, doing exactly that, writing this in the heat of Spain while attending an international conference on farm safety, representing IOSH and the UK. My presentation is on ‘Working in partnership to reduce fatalities in agriculture in the UK and beyond’ so it is no surprise that I’ve chosen collaboration as the theme for this edition – because that is what we do! It is easy to focus on our own areas of interest. Previous editions of Networks news remind me of many innovative approaches developed by IOSH branches, industry groups and individual members, some of which we can all adapt and use. I urge all

We want to hear your stories

volunteers, especially new Committee members, to look at previous editions and review the six priority areas highlighted for collaboration in WORK 2022. This edition shows how we can have even more impact by working together as groups and branches, with other agencies internationally, with other OSH groups – and even recognising the achievements of non-OSH professionals. As one of the articles points out, when we collaborate, everyone ‘wins’.

ALAN

Alan Plom Chair, IOSH Rural Industries Group Get in touch: newsletter@iosh.com

IOSH is running eers ss a project to tell Piono re of Pr g the story of the development of the occupational safety and health profession. The Pioneers of Progress project will use archive material and interviews with significant figures – from IOSH and more widely – to illustrate the experiences that have shaped the profession and will drive its further development. An online resource – illustrated with photographs, film footage and audio recordings – is planned for 2020, IOSH’s 75th anniversary year. Members are asked to send their reflections and recollections of significant developments in the profession. Especially welcome are photos of health and safety practice from different times, industries and locations. Contact the project at: pioneers@iosh.com.

Focus on...

Social media Twitter Twitter is a fast-paced social media platform where posts are limited to 280 characters. Many IOSH networks use Twitter to talk to their members, share updates and resources, and post photos live from their events. By clicking a word or phrase with a Twitter hashtag, such as #NTTLAsbestos, you will load all other Tweets which have also used that hashtag. This can help you find others who are interested in and talking about the same topics as you. To tag or mention someone in your Tweet, use their Twitter handle. For example, we’re @IOSH_Tweets. The user will get a notification to say you’ve mentioned them. It’s a great way to start a conversation or thank someone for speaking at your event. 02 Networks news

LinkedIn LinkedIn is the professional social network, often used as an online CV, where people job-hunt, network and share content related to their work. Posts on LinkedIn have a more professional feel – there’s less talk about favourite films or posting photos of food. LinkedIn is a great place to get talking with members about health and safety, policies, conferences and more. People are more likely to use LinkedIn during typical working hours, so they’re more likely to engage with resources and discussions about work topics. Search for the IOSH page on LinkedIn to see how we’re using it to engage with users. We regularly share resources, news items and upcoming events. There’s plenty for you to comment on and share.

Dates for thE DIARY - IOSH 2019, 16–17 SEPTEMBER 2019 EARLY-BIRD CLOSES 19 JULY – DON’T MISS OUT! IOSHCONFERENCE.COM - EXCELLENCE AWARDS 2019 ENTRIES CLOSE 14 JULY 2019 EXCLUSIVE.IOSH.COM/EXCELLENCE - IOSH CPD COURSES NEW COURSES, DATES AND VENUES ADDED FOR 2019 EXCLUSIVE.IOSH.COM/CPDCOURSES

Using social media

to get connected Social media platforms have been around for a while now, but it’s only comparatively recently that our Branches have started to take advantage of what they offer. Darren Brunton and Andrew Needham talk about how Singapore Branch and East Midlands Branch have made the most of the opportunities. Singapore Branch Whenever we attend events or meetings these days, the first thing we do even before they start is to learn about the activity on social media. Earlier in 2018 the Singapore Branch set up our LinkedIn page and in less than a year we have nearly 500 ‘followers’ and many posts with 100s of likes. So social it is, then. Using electronic mailers, LinkedIn and other means to reach out to branch members is a powerful tool that we are embracing. To be honest, our committee were reluctant at first to establish such social communications, mainly due to the fact that having such communications means it is paramount to keep them up-to-date and current – there’s nothing like ‘social’ history to disengage the audience. However, with a branch like Singapore, with branch members in the UK, Africa, India, Malaysia,

DARREN

Indonesia and many other countries, and of course Singapore, we find social media an excellent mode to engage with our members and keep them as current as possible. More recently one of our Executive Committee members has developed an app that is now free to download and has many features available for IOSH Singapore Branch members – from education videos for schools to network events news and updates and much more. Social media is here to stay. The only challenge we now have is staying current with the media – the social part comes easy! Darren Brunton

East Midlands Branch In 2015, our past Chair, Colin Jenkinson, asked Committee members for ways we could improve communications and improve Branch meeting attendance. At that time, we were typically 30- to 60-strong. I had just been appointed

Andrew

Joint Communications Coordinator with Mark Creed who had knowledge of Twitter. I had knowledge of LinkedIn. We decided to use “unofficial” IOSH East Midlands Branch accounts on both platforms, to bolster communications, alongside the IOSH Committee Mailer system. We were pioneers, so didn’t know how successful it would be. Four years on, we have 794 contacts on LinkedIn and 430 followers on Twitter. Branch attendances have grown, with 180 members attending March’s Legal Update Meeting and 75 members present at our AGM. Both LinkedIn and Twitter have been instrumental in maintaining good communications with members, complementing printed programmes, the Branch website and the mailer system. Combined with our hardworking Committee, sourcing excellent speakers, you have a recipe for Branch success. We are proud to be the first Branch authorised by IOSH to have an official Twitter profile and, recently, LinkedIn. Andrew Needham Networks news 03

Cascading fire safety

DAVID

MICHELLE

Networking is an e ssential, integral part of the IOSH Fire Risk Management Group’s (FRMG) efforts to raise fire safety awareness among the IOSH membership and beyond. Chair Dr David Gold and Committee Member Michelle Pitkin explain. We, the Fire Risk Management Group (FRMG) Committee, have developed four 40-minute seminars on occupational health and safety firerelated topics, with a fifth currently in development. These seminars provide important continuing professional development (CPD) skills to IOSH branches, networks and their members In addition, once members of the FRMG have participated in a specific seminar, they will have useful content to use as teaching materials, enabling them to deliver a seminar based around a set programme and structure. This results in a far-reaching cascading effect, strengthening the profession with basic fire safety awareness and knowledge. To date, these seminars have taken place at various IOSH networks and conferences: in Newcastle (the Health and Social Care Group); Belfast (the Northern Ireland Branch); Dublin (the Irish Fire Risk Management Section); the Building Research Establishment, Watford (Chiltern Branch); Rugby (Mid Shires Branch); Hong Kong (the APOSHO Conference); and the Swiss Federal Railroad, Olten and the University of Bern, Switzerland (the IOSH Swiss Network in both instances). How did we make these different connections? In many cases, the FRMG Committee has been contacted by a branch or group chairperson (during Chairs’ Day or at the Networks Conference or through a known Committee contact). A discussion between the FRMG, the branch or group and the respective 04 Networks news

IOSH Network Relationship Manager would determine the scheduling, logistics and financial and practical arrangements for either one or two seminars or a fullday fire safety event. The host network would generally propose the technical content of the day, along with options for chairing, co-chairing or facilitating the programme. Networks will, at times, also contact other speakers to participate in a day’s event to either supplement the programme or to focus on recent newsworthy events. The FRMG Committee works actively with network chairs or others to provide a cohesive programme and a smooth event. As each FRMG seminar involves interactive group work, other members of the Committee are frequently present to help stimulate and facilitate the sessions and to encourage participants’ feedback to plenary. For example, when there are four seminars in a day’s event, the FRMG members facilitating the other seminars help with coordination. Positive results The value of the seminars themselves is patently clear. Jackie O’Neill, former Chair of the Northern Ireland Branch, welcomed the possibility of “strengthening the occupational safety and health professional’s competencies in dealing with fire safety and complacency when an alarm sounds”.

There are real gains to be made by working with another IOSH network. A member of Chiltern Branch told us that they “really appreciated the way the Group was able to collaborate with us, not only building a powerful element to our event but also spontaneously setting up a questionand-answer session relating to a major fire-related news release on the day of the event.” Alison Hinde, Coordinator of the IOSH Swiss Network, enjoyed the way the FRMG was able collaboratively to integrate into a day-long face-to-face programme, including a seminar and a technical demonstration. Individual members will also benefit from the capacity-building work. Anne Isaacs, Chair of London Metropolitan Branch, for example, believes that working with the FRMG Committee is helping to develop a capability within the Branch to cascade the seminars to other members for CPD.

With colleagues from the Swiss Federal Railroad

In addition to each member benefiting from these seminars, the FRMG has the opportunity to raise our profile and share our knowledge and expertise with others. Everyone wins.

philip

Working with a likeminded organisation It’s one thing for an IOSH network to talk up the benefits of working with outside agencies, but what’s the view from those who collaborate actively with IOSH? Philip Trehern, of environmental pest control company Ground Control, explains what impact the relationship has had on the company, while colleagues Carl Powell and Neil Huck give their reflections. From a personal perspective, the engagement of our Safety Team outside the company is something to be welcomed. It gives our team the opportunity to share their knowledge with like-minded safety colleagues from different walks of life. The collaboration is an excellent way to share experiences, working environments and protocols. For the curious, it’s a real opportunity to upskill. The event has strengthened our team’s confidence and honed their presentation skills. By using subject matter closest to their heart they are able to generate interest and demonstrate technical knowledge. For me, health and safety is all about communication and listening. What better way to be challenged than with a safety community ‘peer review’ event like this where delegates are hungry to learn? Our safety team leap at the chance to participate as willing volunteers. All the characteristics of a team-building session are expressed as they work together to determine content, points of interest and core messaging.

We have a wide client base, each with their own safety campaigns and focus areas. We are therefore at the cutting edge of thinking differently: things we may not have considered on our own. To be able to share these insights and what we have learned hopefully will help raise the bar as a professional community’. For Carl, who delivered the tree surgery, working at height and near powerlines workshop,‘being a member of the IOSH family, has been a fantastic opportunity. I have personally benefitted from access to our friendly supporters network who challenged me with explorative questioning as they sought to understand our daily health and safety considerations. I really enjoyed the opportunity to share our knowledge through this workshop and raise our sector profile.’ Neil, who demonstrated machines in relation to people and working environments, says ‘We have been delighted to support the ‘Trees, Grass & Caterpillars’ IOSH event over the years. Our outdoor working presents

many hazards, some that may not have even been considered by others as hazardous. However, the rise of industry-wide incidents has made us rethink how we manage these in the modern age. For example, Ground Control uses remote-controlled mowers to cut steep grass banks e.g. motorway verges and reservoir dams. Our tolerance to risk has definitely been reduced and the introduction of technology has reduced the need to be on the bank. The workshop allowed us to demonstrate live some of our remotecontrolled mowers, along with their highly skilled operators. We also covered invasive species, both plants and insects. My technical knowledge gave rise to a great interactive session with delegates which continued via email and telephone calls. For example, Giant Hog Weed is not easily identified or known but can cause very serious skin blisters and photosensitivity that can last for year.’ The benefits of collaborative working are clearly two-way. Networks news 05

From your editor

ALAN

By working together we will make a difference IOSH’s Rural Industries Group (RIG) prefers to run events based around practical demonstrations to share good practice. We are a small group which has grown from around 300 to over 1,000 members in the past few years. However, we have managed to ‘punch above our weight’ by collaborating with a range of partners, whose help and input have been invaluable. Collaborations within the farming industry and beyond IOSH members support the Farm Safety Partnerships (FSP) in the UK and Ireland and RIG has a key strategic alliance with England’s FSP. This industry-led initiative has agreed a challenging target to reduce fatalities on farms by at least half by the summer of 2023. IOSH has opened up networking events to the FSP and other non-IOSH members, to help the FSP identify priorities in raising awareness and influencing the industry by sharing good practice and guidance. These workshops have focused on major causes of deaths and injuries, including machinery safety and handling cattle. We are fortunate to attract support 06 Networks news

from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), leading industry organisations, machinery manufacturers and individual companies to collaborate and speak at our workshops, share the latest research and demonstrate good practice. RIG members’ activities cover 17 different sectors, from forestry on the remotest mountains and offshore fish farming, to maintenance of transport and utility networks, to arboriculture and grounds maintenance in inner cities, landscaping and construction sites – anywhere with vegetation and water! Given this, it is not surprising that we find ourselves working with partners in other industry sectors too.

Workers are around five times more likely to be killed on a farm than on a construction site. In the last ten years nearly 400 farmers, family members, employees and members of the public have been killed on British farms. Thousands have had life-changing injuries. The International Labour Organization (ILO) estimates that 1.3bn people – 50 per cent of the world’s labour force –

Working with other IOSH networks We have developed ‘model’ events which we hope Branches will use. For example, our first Excellence Awardwinning ‘Trees, grass and caterpillars’ event – featured on the cover of the first Network news – was run in collaboration with East Anglia Branch and has since been run with Chiltern and South Cumbria Branches (in the latter it was delivered in cooperation with other local OSH groups, one sponsoring a group of arboriculture students to attend). Another topic of wider relevance for Branches (and Industry Groups) is our ‘Working on or near water’ event. (See our Past Events webpage.)

are employed in agriculture. Agriculture commonly has the highest fatal incidence rates throughout the world. According to ILO estimates, some 170,000 of the 330,000 fatal workplace accidents which occur worldwide each year happen on farms. Ensuring safety and health in rural workplaces is therefore a humanitarian as well as an economic principle.

From your editor

We have also worked with other IOSH industry groups – for instance, on transport and deliveries to farms (with the Food and Drink Industries Group) and a safety day with the Railway Group on rail crossings and transport. By getting involved in their local branches, Industry Group Committee members can also create extra opportunities for cooperation, such as another successful RIG event run jointly with my own Chiltern Branch recently, on practical management of noise and vibration. This was attended by over 100 members and non-members of IOSH, from a wide range of ‘non-rural’ sectors. International collaboration IOSH has been central to the development of the International Social Security Association’s (ISSA’s) Vision Zero

About Alan Alan Plom recently took over as Chair of IOSH’s Rural Industries Group (RIG) after several years as Vice-Chair, to mentor new Committee members. Originally co-opted to represent the Health and Safety Executive’s Agriculture Sector, Alan now represents IOSH on HSE’s Agricultural Industry Advisory Committee and the Board of England’s Farm Safety Partnership. He has convened numerous awardwinning networking events, working together with other specialist Groups, Branches and industry organisations and in 2016 received the Strange Award (named after former IOSH Chief Executive Rob Strange) for services to IOSH networks.

global campaign, based on the premise that all work-related accidents, diseases and harm are preventable. The ISSA’s International Section on Prevention in Agriculture recently held its 39th Colloquium on Farm Safety, in Cordoba, Spain and I was invited to speak about how working together in UK is starting to make a difference and how IOSH’s strategy WORK 2022 will help to achieve Vision Zero on farms too. ISSA has developed Seven Golden Rules to improve safety, health and wellbeing in all sectors. Guidance for agriculture was launched at Cordoba. It is more than coincidence that ISSA’s key themes are reflected in the six priority areas for ‘collaboration’ highlighted in WORK 2022. Over 500 organisations across the world have joined the ISSA as partners, including businesses, universities, government ministries, social security agencies and professional bodies. We face the same difficulties in terms of changing the culture to improve safety

in agriculture globally, and Cordoba was a useful opportunity to make many new connections. It takes perseverance Farming is a sector that is notoriously hard-to-reach (and influence) – this is a worldwide pattern. It is expected to take a generation to change the culture. In the end, success will depend on building long-term national and international links, through the ISSA and others. While the gains may not be immediate or tangible, perseverance and keeping connected (and not a little hard graft by IOSH volunteers and staff) to work together will pay off. So many good things are happening (as described in other articles in this edition of Networks news) and there is a renewed positivity that we could actually change the culture – by collaborating and working together more closely to reinforce and support the key messages. I truly believe that through the synergy of collaboration, we can, and will, make a difference!

PLACEHOLDER IMAGE

Networks news 07

Conversations, connections and collaborations

STEPHANIE

The word ‘collaboration’ has become so overused and overhyped lately that it risks becoming meaningless. However, for Stephanie Berkeley, Manager of the Farm Safety Foundation, it has real meaning. Collaboration is a deeply human activity, and one that can reap massive benefits as well as presenting a unique set of challenges. Nowhere can this be seen more than in the campaign for farm safety. With around 346,000 people employed in the industry, farming accounts for around one per cent of the UK’s working population – but 20 per cent of all workplace fatalities. The Farm Safety Foundation is a small independent charity established by rural insurers NFU Mutual in 2014 “to preserve and protect the mental and physical health of farm workers, dwellers, the rural community and all others affected by farming and agricultural accidents by providing facilities and support services…” Collaboration is at the very heart of everything we do We meet people, make connections, have conversations and agree that we share a common goal and should work together. From Day One, we have worked closely with young farmers, education providers and partners in the industry to engage, educate and communicate strong and relatable farm safety messages. Through our national campaigns such as Farm Safety Week and Mind Your Head, we are bringing together those voices in the industry to tackle the stigma around risk-taking and poor mental health, ensuring that the next generation of farmers is resilient and equipped with smart strategies and specific skills to live well and farm well. For our campaigns, the most effective way to make an impact is by 08 Networks news

campaigning in collaboration. How do we do this? Simply put, we ask for the industry’s support. A secure, healthy and resilient farming industry is everyone’s business. So is the safety of our farmers and farm workers. The problem of accidents on farms is not going away. We have the ambition, drive and determination to change behaviours in the industry but we are a small charity and we cannot do it alone. Neither are we the experts in every area – so why not bring the experts on board? Shared responsibility The connection is too hard to ignore – we are all trying to do the same thing. We all care about the same outcome. My hope is that this is where shared responsibility lies – it’s not any one’s responsibility, it’s about the strongest players coming together to make a difference at a scale where big change can happen. We can lead the charge, create the content and bring the team with us on the journey but no one player ‘owns’ the cause. This is an industry problem, and if other organisations plan on aligning with the cause, then maybe they can become part of the solution – or work with us to find others to help. As an industry we have to work together. With change, competition

and consolidation now permanent features in farming, organisations with common interests need to recognise their mutual dependence. Farmers are constantly vulnerable to unusual events and circumstances that can affect their bottom line, from extreme weather and natural disasters to international trade disputes – all of which are outside our direct control. What we can control, however, is how we work to support each other. By working together we all have an opportunity to make a difference, drive a change and even save a life – isn’t this worth collaborating on?

Since Farm Safety Week began four years ago, IOSH’s Rural Industries Group has supported and promoted Yellow Wellies events and guidance (which address young people’s safety and mental health), via its e-news and social media. Some members of the Group deliver the safety awareness training to farmers around the country.

Digging in to make partnership work

TOM

Tom Price, the National Farmers Union’s Policy Advisor on Farm Safety and Transport, and Secretariat to the Farm Safety Partnership (England), comments on the benefits of working with IOSH. The Farm Safety Partnership (FSP) is a group of about 40 leading stakeholders in the agricultural industry who share a common purpose and vision of a safer agricultural industry with substantially reduced numbers of fatal and serious injuries. We have set ourselves a challenging target to reduce deaths on farms in the UK by 50 per cent by 2023. One strength of the Partnership has been collaborative working and the bringing of FSP partners together to raise awareness of safety within the industry and promote best practice. IOSH’s Rural Industries Group has played a leading role in promoting the FSP and encouraging collaboration, convening several key policy-forming events and practical demonstrations. Over the years, highlights include the coordination of: - a ‘machinery safety’ workshop in October 2013, to canvass and collate the views of farmers, workers, instructors and educationalists, machinery manufacturers, national regulators and many more, to share good practice and help devise our communications strategy. - a very practical ‘cattle handling’ event, using the livestock facilities at Askham Bryan College farm in York in October 2014. This focused on

insights into animal psychology as part of efforts to improve safety when handling cattle and avoiding hazards to the public on footpaths. This event brought together representatives from the UK and Irish livestock industry with researchers, veterinary experts and equipment manufacturers. - a ‘safe transport’ event (also at Askham Bryan) which brought together safety experts with representatives of farming and leading companies in the agricultural/food supply chain and haulage industry to highlight and manage the risks connected with farm deliveries and collections. - an ‘effective communications’ workshop in May 2019 at which attendees heard about the latest research by the Health and Safety Executive, universities and others into how to deliver safety messages to farmers more effectively. FSP’s industry partners work with the Health and Safety Executive, and we have devised and agreed to promote a series of key themes and timely messages, based on common incidents and reflecting the farming calendar to provide more impact and ‘leverage’. IOSH RIG members have been active in that process.

Our key themes for 2019 are: - Winter –Transport - Spring – Livestock - Summer – Children - Autumn – Falls from height But we obviously need to do more. The most recent (well-attended) workshop convened by IOSH (on 01 May) for FSP partners and others was to help us all be more effective in communicating with farmers, their families and workers. We heard about HSE’s latest research, which segments farmers into four groups, based on their response to different messages and methods of communication. This research has enabled HSE to target its resources more efficiently and will help us all to be more effective in influencing this hard-to-reach group by improving the impact of our communications with the wider farming community as well as other organisations and the media. Universities and other FSP partners also shared their research and initiatives, including the ‘Yellow Wellies’ campaigns, aimed at young people’s safety and mental health. You can read more about the Farm Safety Partnership at: www. nfuonline.com/cross-sector/farmbusiness/farm-safety-partnership/ and if you would like to join us, please email: thomas.price@nfu.org.uk. Networks news 09

We are stronger when we work together

Paul

South Wales Branch committee member Paul Chappell CFIOSH outlines how a vibrant alliance between like-minded organisations has helped to raise his branch’s profile.

An alliance is a ‘union or association formed for mutual benefit’, and we’re rightly proud of the comingtogether of the five independent safety groups in the South Wales region, with the vision of being ‘together stronger’. While individual groups have enjoyed informal and ad hoc joint working arrangements with others for many years, the South Wales Safety Groups Alliance was set up formally in 2015 and is made up of the following groups, with further development also possible. - IOSH South Wales Branch - Cardiff and South East Wales Occupational Health & Safety Group - IIRSM Wales Branch - South and West Wales Safety Group - South Wales Construction Safety Group A set of shared aims We established the aims of the Alliance as soon as the Committee was formed, with a requirement for ‘active’ members nominated from each individual group to sit on the Committee. All groups are contributors to the Alliance and agree not to undermine the strengths of working in this way by, for example, pushing their own agenda. Regular meetings are arranged to share and stimulate ideas, progress 10 Networks news

initiatives and organise and manage the process for holding an Annual Conference and Exhibition, as well as setting up and organising a Shared Annual Event Calendar. The HSE Annual Review is among the most popular, with HSE providing an update of key priorities for the year ahead. From strength to strength The Annual Conference, however, is the ‘showcase’ event, attracting some 200+ delegates and 35+ exhibitors, with the venue alternating each year between Cardiff and Swansea, to offer individuals both in the South East and South West Wales local opportunity. It’s unlikely that such an event would have been organised by any one member group, showing again how working together can bring about benefits. It’s personally very pleasing to see the development of the Annual Conference as it goes from strength to strength from year to year. April 2019 saw the 4th Annual Conference with a first-class keynote speech from Martin Temple, Chair of the HSE Board. The event overall was again a resounding success. Well done, the Committee and group volunteers! The Alliance initiative also provides the ability to further promote ‘positive occupational safety and health’ or ‘POSH’ within the region, a term

coined by Louise Hosking (IOSH VicePresident) when delivering her excellent session at the 2019 Conference. Why do we work like this? The benefits provide for the Alliance to have a stronger and louder voice in the region (as well as further afield) which leads to an enhanced profile and greater ability to influence. Not only that: an improved choice and flexibility of events is realised, organised and managed to reduce potential for clashing event dates and times and made ‘open’ to all members of individual groups, except where a delegate fee applies. Working through the Alliance has benefited IOSH South Wales Branch in numerous ways, not least being shortlisted in consecutive years for the IOSH Excellence in Communication Awards. It’s far from a one-size-fitsall approach, but something for possible consideration by each IOSH Branch (worldwide) whether through geographical or IT-based collaborations. There’s no reason why joint working couldn’t be further explored between like-minded organisations. Here’s a challenge – put ‘joint working’ on the agenda of your next Branch meeting and discuss the possibilities!

Rewarding

those who go the extra mile Every year, IOSH’s West of Scotland Branch presents its Certificate of Merit Awards to recognise the efforts of non-OSH professionals in protecting their colleagues and the public from harm. Fraser Allan, from the branch committee, explains more. Preventing workplace accidents and work-related ill health is everyone’s responsibility, not just those with health and safety in their job title. As OSH professionals, we develop the systems and seek to create a culture where workers are health-andsafety conscious. But these systems require buy-in from everyone across an organisation if they are to be successful. Members of the West of Scotland Branch committee believe that workers

who go the extra mile in the name of health and safety should be rewarded, which is why we run our annual Certificate of Merit Awards. Our most recent awards, the 27th we have held, took place at Hampden Park stadium in Glasgow on 25 April. The ceremony is a fantastic way to celebrate success, but there is a huge amount of work that goes on behind the scenes. What the awards really do is build collaborative relationships with organisations in our area, through members of the West of Scotland Branch. These members, who work closely with colleagues across their organisations, put forward nominations for the awards. It is really inspiring to read about the great work that is being done. For example, this year, we had two award winners from the Ocean Youth Trust Scotland, both of whom are 19. They helped to ensure the refitting of training vessels was completed without anyone coming to harm.

FRASER

We also heard how the University of Glasgow is encouraging the reporting of hazards and near-misses, among many other safety initiatives. Meanwhile, we also found out about how naval ships designer and manufacturer BAE Systems is using virtual technology as part of its safety management systems and training. Over the years, the awards have grown in stature significantly. They are a fantastic way of driving home the message that health and safety is the responsibility of all workers, while also collaborating with organisations both large and small in our area. We would like to take this opportunity to thank the organisations who continue to support the Certificate of Merit awards scheme each year. In addition to presenting the awards, during this year’s event we also raised nearly £2,900 for Beatson Cancer Charity, a local organisation.

The full list of winners of the 2019 Certificate of Merit awards - Melissa Cannon – SMS Plc - Mark Cochrane and Jamie McGurn – SGB - Stuart Dougall – SGB - Helen Gilfillan, Derek McAllister, Andrew Stevenson, Connor MacDonald and Alan Cathcart – University of Glasgow

- - - - - -

Jim Graham – One Stop Access Equipment Ltd Jim Haveron – CBES Ltd Alan McDonald – SGN Stewart MacPhail – Balfour Beatty Stephanie Macpherson – BAE Systems Naval Ships Chris Morris – City FM Ltd

- - - - - -

Jamie Muir – City Building Engineering Services Ltd Richard Nicholson – NCG Testing & Consultancy Ltd Tom O’Moore – George Leslie Ltd Darren Pennycuick – Story Contracting Ltd Mark Quirk – KA Leisure Brian Redmond, Dominic O’Lone and Richard Kerr – EK Life

- Katie Smith – Network Rail - David Watt – GHI Contracts Ltd - Molly Whitney and Lewis Haig – Ocean Youth Trust Scotland

- Lynne Williams – AJ Cable Group

Networks news 11

OHS Initiative

MASUD

Workplace health and safety issues in Bangladesh leapt into global focus with major industrial disasters in 2012 and 2013. Project Worker Masud Parvez gives an account of a community capacity-building response that seeks to establish long-term resilience. In November 2012 a deadly factory fire in the Tazreen Fashion building killed around 112 garment workers and another terrible tragedy took place in April 2013 when the Rana Plaza building collapsed, killing 1,138 workers. These disasters highlight that while Bangladesh is becoming a global powerhouse in clothing production, second only to China, there are almost no occupational health and safety (OHS) programmes or capacity in the government, among factory owners and management, or in worker and community organisations. Against this background, the Occupational Health and Safety Initiative for Workers and Community in Bangladesh (the OHS Initiative) brings together labour, women’s rights, public and occupational health organisations in Bangladesh, to provide intensive training and educational materials on workplace health and safety. The project was launched in October 2016 with the

mission of establishing a sustainable OHS Academy in Bangladesh. During the Initiative’s preliminary phase, a group of 75 OHS trainers was to be developed through advanced training so that they could deliver training themselves to some 6,000 workers in the ready-made garments sector on OHS issues over the threeyear period 2016–2019. Prominent Government officers and civil society experts acted as instructors in the “train the trainer” phase. The Occupational Safety, Health and Environment Foundation (OSHE) is the lead institution in this project, together with other founding organisational partners namely the Naripokkho, Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies (BILS), Gonoshasthaya Kendra (GK), the Industrial Bangladesh Council (IBC) and the Bangladesh Center for Worker Solidarity (BCWS). The project received donor support from the LUSH Charity Pot, the San Francisco Donors Group, the New Ways to Work Foundation,

How IOSH got involved Following the 2013 Rana Plaza tragedy, Richard Jones, IOSH Head of Policy and Public Affairs, co-organised a multi-stakeholder awarenessraising event. The purpose was to ensure that the need for urgent improvement was firmly on strategic and public policy agendas. Participants included multinationals, NGOs, parliamentarians, trade associations and OSH professionals. In the months that followed, IOSH was contacted

by the Chair of an ad hoc group on OSH in Bangladesh, seeking volunteers for an OSH pro-bono roster, which we were pleased to share with IOSH members, several of whom registered their interest. Following IOSH’s support for this volunteers’ roster, IOSH was invited to join a collaborative proposal to help set up a Worker–Community OHS Academy, to help ‘train the trainers’ in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Recognising this very practical and positive grass-

12 Networks news

IOSH, the Global Works Foundation and individual OSH professionals. The project concentrates on human resource development and various other capacity improvement actions of workers on OHS issues. We also provide other training, emphasising the building of young workers’ and women’s confidence and leadership abilities. This helps them to challenge and change negative thoughts, managing stress, building relationships and actively participate in the Sexual Harassment Complaints Committee and safety committee within their factories. Project achievements The OHS Initiative has developed 54 OHS master trainers from six founding organisations and workers’ unions. By November 2018 they had conducted 112 follow-up training sessions covering 146 factories located in Mirpur, Savar, Ashulia and Narayangonj. A total of 2,240 garment workers (1,656 female and 584 male) have participated, of whom 2,180 were under the age of 35. In the future, we want to establish a resource centre for workers and expand our activities in other sectors such as tannery, construction and shipbreaking. roots project with the potential to help raise standards and eventually become self-sustaining, IOSH was pleased to lend our support. We were the first body in the world to commit to help fund this three-year project, the ‘OHS Initiative for Workers and Community’, which pleasingly, others followed. Since its launch in 2016, IOSH has received regular progress reports about its success and we have been delighted to share this news with our members.

for Workers and Community Project