SHOW PREVIEW
The BOHS has just launched a new initiative on respiratory disease, focusing on the construction industry. Construction has historically been one of the sickest industries as far as occupational ill health goes – exposures to dust, diesel fumes, silica, noise, vibration – there’s a huge burden of ill health in the construction industry, the toll on their bodies is horrendous. We need all industry sectors to wake up to this.
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HOW DOES THE BOHS PROMOTE AND ENCOURAGE OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH TO ITS
MEMBERS? Over the past 60 years, BOHS has spent a lot of time focused on the science of hygiene. We’re fundamentally a scientific organisation, and we’ve focused on standards, the competency of our members and publishing research.
However, we’re beginning to realise and take seriously our responsibility as the chartered society for worker health protection. Our strategic aim is to raise awareness of occupational hygiene and the benefits it can provide. In support of this, our initiative on respiratory disease in construction will be producing materials on recognising, evaluating and controlling exposures to the causes of diseases. We’ll be working with people like HSE, Land Securities, Crossrail, Battersea and Mace to get the message out to where it’s needed.
Don’t we all believe that prevention is better than cure?
new cases of work-related ill health, making up about £8.6 billion.
It must be emphasised that these figures do not include the costs of work-related conditions caused by historic working conditions such as cancer and lung diseases. This brings in the statistically tricky question of latency, but it is probably safe to say that when you add in the costs of occupational cancer and lung disease, the nation’s occupational health bill will be several billion higher than £8.6 billion. To solve this problem, we need to make awareness the very first step. Simply recognising and admitting that there is a problem is crucial.
www.tomorrowshs.com 4
WHAT KIND OF INITIATIVES WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE
BEING RUN FOR THIS YEAR’S HEALTH AND SAFETY WEEK
(15-19 JUN)? I would love to see companies signing up to say “We take occupational health seriously”. For us, that means preventing the ill health and disease our workplaces can cause.
The second step is to make employees aware. We need to make sure that we talk about the key issues and that we begin to promote some of the fantastic materials that are available from us, the HSE and others.
Employers who can demonstrate that they’re taking the need to manage
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workplace health risks seriously will have a more engaged workforce – and of course this is actually a legal requirement. Health is an issue that is on the rise with the millennial generation; it’s a cultural trend that the younger workforce is aware of. If you’re an employer that just doesn’t bother about health, then you’re potentially signing your death warrant for the future.
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WHAT CAN BOHS BRING TO THE CAMPAIGN?
I think we can bring the credibility, the expertise and the knowledge of how to deal with workplace health risks and prevent ill health and disease. We also bring passion – I’ve got some of the most engaged and passionate volunteers in my organisation.
NOW IN ITS SECOND YEAR, HEALTH AND SAFETY WEEK
IS STILL QUITE YOUNG. WHAT DO YOU THINK AN INITIATIVE LIKE THIS CAN BRING TO THE
PROFESSION? A week like this can help people in the broadest sense – be that the general public or the working population. I think employers and employees already realise the benefits of health and safety, but this week can help the general public realise that proper health and safety is really important.
Britain’s health and safety system is highly respected around the world as one of the most highly effective – from a professional and a regulatory perspective. We have goal-setting regulations, qualified professionals and a system that strives for continuous improvement. This is why Britain is recognised as a global leader on occupational health and safety.
With expertise that’s highly sought after, I hope Health and Safety Week will encourage British people to celebrate our profession’s track record, rather than get sidetracked by silly ‘elf and safety’ stuff. We’ve got a fantastic product, let’s be proud of it.
www.bohs.org www.healthandsafetyweek.com
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