IOSH president's diary

Goodbyee! Goodbyee! (part 3 – the finale)

So what now?

Well for me it is time to start thinking about what I do next. Do I go back into full time employment, do a bit of consultancy or continue with the retirement? I hope the coming year as Immediate Past President will afford me some opportunities to visit those four branches I never got to visit during the last year. It has been a whirlwind of things and events, things that 30 (or even 5) years ago I would not have thought possible. I have enjoyed the experience immensely and in particular the privilege of meeting so many members at many diverse events across not just the UK but around the rest of the globe.

Is there anything I won’t miss? Well, if I’m honest, it’ll be nice not to wake up at 2 am in a hotel room and wonder “where the heck am I?” or think “where am I supposed to be tomorrow?” In the words of an old Frank Sinatra song “It’s nice to go travelling, but so much nicer, yes it’s so much nicer to come home.”

I hope that I have served you well (but only time and history will tell) and represented IOSH and ultimately you to the best of my ability. I’ve not achieved all that I set out to do 12 months ago but my main aim was to try and dispel the dafter stories that crop up about OH&S and raise the positive profile of the profession and Institution. I believe that with the invaluable help of all the full time staff at the Grange we’ve achieved that aim and above all previous measure. We are being noticed and consulted by those who influence.

Thank you all most sincerely for allowing me the honour and privilege of serving as your president and most especially for the warm, generous and sincere welcomes that I have received as I have gone around the branches, IOSH is alive and well and flourishing thanks to you. I am humbled by what many of you do in both the day jobs and as IOSH volunteers.

I wish Nattasha every success in her coming year of office and know she will do everything in her power to continue to move IOSH and the profession forward. If she has as half a great time as I have had then she will be in for the best year of her career (so far).

Ray Hurst
November 2008

Goodbyee! Goodbyee! (part 2)

14/15 October - Off on my travels again, this time to visit the South West branch in Plymouth. Thanks to Trevor Sillifant I have the opportunity to look around HMS Montrose, a type 23 frigate, and afterwards meet the captain in charge of H&S in the dockyard before attending the branch meeting itself.

I was impressed with the number that turned out to hear both Jon Cooper of Bond Pearce Solicitors and myself. It was almost standing room only, which I think is a good indicator of the vitality of the branch.

My thanks go to all on the branch committee for asking me and for the warm welcome I received from everyone. I would also like to thank the Royal Navy for allowing me look around HMS Montrose and to the OOD for being so patient with me with all those questions I asked.

20/21 October - Now it’s off to the Isle of Man International branch for their conference on proposed changes to the CDM Regulations (which the Isle of Man government is currently considering prior to their introduction a little later –probably early 2009). I get the opportunity to present a Presidential Distinguished Service Certificate to Steve Bentham for outstanding service and a presentation of some very nice crystal ware to Paul Hornsby the soon-to-be ex Chairman of the IOSH construction group. This was done at the unanimous request of the branch executive committee to mark his long and dedicated service.

22 October - Back at the grange for the Board of Trustees meeting then straight off to Birmingham International Airport to fly to Belfast to speak at the Bombardier Aerospace annual safety reps away day. This was fixed up earlier in the year when I spoke at the HSENI spring conference – thank you to Craig Gamble of Bombardier who invited me.

My flight was delayed and this left poor Chris Macartney from the Northern Ireland Branch standing around in the cold at Belfast International airport waiting to give me a lift to the venue. However, his company over dinner (which was a chip butty from what I am reliably informed is the best chippy in Belfast), the few drinks and the chat we had were very pleasant and informative. I discovered that Chris was about to go off (the following week) to Dublin for his peer review for CMIOSH. I trust that went well. Chris was also keen on getting involved more with IOSH as a volunteer and I understand that he has now put himself down for training to become a mentor to other aspiring safety professionals. This is the sort of enthusiasm among our younger members that we need to nurture. Good luck Chris!

27 October - Get a quote on the Jeremy Vine show on BBC Radio 2 in reaction to the story about the man refused permission by the Forestry Commission for a permit to forage for firewood (after many years and many permits before) because of….. yes, ‘elf and safety.

29 October - Off to London for the annual dinner of the Society of Occupational Medicine at the invitation of their president, another example of the close co-operation between the two professional bodies.

3 November - This is my last official “outward facing” function as your president, consisting of a presentation to an audience of local business leaders in South Bedfordshire at the offices of the District Council. This had arranged through their environmental health department. Pauline McIlravey one of their EHO’s had requested me to do a 20 minute session as part of the European risk assessment theme. Pauline has been one of those EHO’s who has been part of the filming being undertaken by October films as mentioned above.

Goodbyee! Goodbyee! (part 1...)

An appropriate heading I thought on which to end my year as IOSH president especially as we approach Remembrance Sunday and the 90th anniversary of the end of the Great War, and the actual hand over date to Nattasha is 11/11. In case you are wondering, the above words are from a well known (at least in 1914-18) music hall song.

As I write this there are but six short days to go before the AGM and I hand over the reins to Nattasha as she embarks on her presidential term of office. Not quite in the same league of course as the other presidential race across the pond, but nonetheless, for both her and I, it is a milestone moment.

I’ve left this particular posting until today (well that’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it) as my very last “public engagement” as your president, and other than twiddling my thumbs until next Tuesday I have little left to do except reflect on the last year.

I have of course been doing things since the last posting and this should update you on my activities.

8 October - The prestigious surroundings of the London Hilton in Park Lane beckon for the equally prestigious IOSH/SHP black tie awards dinner. The latest edition of SHP covers all the details of the well deserving recipients of those awards in various capacities/fields of endeavour, so it’s not my intention go over them again in this posting. I would merely say that the event was a night to remember for the award winners, guests and for me too. It was particularly pleasing to hear Lord McKenzie once again talk in glowing terms about the safety profession and IOSH.

9 October - Straight off from London on the train with Rob Strange IOSH CEO and other members of the SMT to Leicester. After some meetings and catching up on e-mails. It’s off to Rugby for the inaugural Allan St. John Holt Memorial Lecture organised through Royal Mail and RoSPA.

The lecture itself was, as Allan would have loved, both thought provoking and contentious in its scope. Allan was never one to steer clear of controversy when it came to the profession or IOSH – so it met its aim fully and gave attendees much food for thought. I look forward to next year’s lecture.

10 October - Get back from Rugby and find myself being interviewed for Anglia TV who would like to do a piece on the World Conker Championships. So off we go to a local country park (with no conker trees). In the meantime I learn that John Holden (who will be the next president elect subject to ratification at the AGM) has been doing something similar with Granada TV in Manchester.

11/12 October - Off up to Northamptonshire and Ashton for the conker championships itself. Massive interest in the IOSH stall (who would have thought that bonkers golf t-shirts would be so popular?!) and from the press with Anglia TV news doing another interview to cut together with what they did on the 10th.

A film crew from October films were there too -  filming a segment for a Channel 4 Cutting Edge programme they are working on relating to OH&S. They’ve been following and filming some EHO’s (IOSH members) and some HSE people as they carry out visits.

To my undying shame I was knocked out this year in the first round by a Frenchman. Angie from the IOSH webteam was the only IOSH player not knocked out in the first round. We all had a great deal of fun and were able to spread the sensible safety message.

13 October - Get to see the segment filmed for Anglia TV on the evening news and I think IOSH and the profession comes out of it well. I also got a letter from my local MP wishing me well in the competition, I understand he has picked this up from local newspaper coverage (and the fact I mentioned it to him – more than once when we last met).

A media storm

19/22 September - I took a break from anything IOSH in order to spend a few days with some old work colleagues in order to visit my old boss (now retired) who now lives in the picturesque Yorkshire town of Howarth (home of the Brontes). 

26 September – A pleasant visit to East Anglia Branch (as a branch member)  to listen to a fascinating speaker on the Barrow-In-Furness legionella prosecution and all its twists and turns relating to the manslaughter charges.  I’ve got to keep those CPD points up to scratch just like everyone else!

Before leaving to get to the meeting I had a call from the media team in the Grange asking if I could do a radio interview over the phone, unfortunately I couldn’t as I would still be driving at the time station wanted to do it. Many thanks to Malcolm Adcock, IOSH’s media manager, who stepped in to do it for me.

After I arrived at the venue and caught up with some branch members I got a call from a researcher at BBC Radio 4 wanting to do a piece on the conkers championships and our sponsorship for the PM programme. This was closely followed by a call from Radio 5 Live who also wanted to run a piece later that day.

To cut a long story short it got as far as Radio 4 booking a taxi to get me from the venue to the BBC Radio Cambridge studios but then PM pulled out (running a story about an attempted aircraft hijack in Germany). However, Radio 5 live drive ran with it via an over the ‘phone interview from home at 6:50pm. I think it went well.

29 September - Late evening I get a call from BBC Radio Essex, can I do a slot on conkers in the morning, happy to oblige but it has to be sooner than they plan because I have to catch an early train to get to London.

30 September – Arrive at my local station at about 6:35 am and as arranged the night before go to the car park to RV with the BBC Radio Essex interviewer. I am expecting to see a van with a great big aerial sticking out of the roof (like last year) but no. It seems as if the radio van has gone on the “blink” with a dodgy clutch. After a couple of calls the interviewer and I “hook up” together around the replacement radio car (a Peugeot 207) but the link with the studio keeps cutting out. In the end I finish up doing the interview over a mobile ‘phone link standing in the pouring rain. Oh the glamorous lifestyle of an IOSH president! However, it went well although the item was also shorter than they planned because of the link up problems. I am beginning to get a bit paranoid about technology and me in light of the Chiltern branch episode and this. If you count the complete crash of my desktop PC (mentioned in the last blog update) technology and I are seemingly at odds.

Hopefully I got the points across about sensible safety. Then on the train to meet up with Rob Strange our Chief Executive in order to attend an IIRSM function being held at the House of Lords. Good to catch up with a number of old friends from IIRSM and talk shop. Lord Hunt of Wirral acts as our host and another good friend of safety professionals Lord McKenzie of Luton gives a presentation which includes encouraging comments about the various safety bodies coming together to look at how we can achieve a regulated profession and debunk the dafter OH&S stories. 

I was also sorry to see that this was the final day at work for Julie Silvester (IIRSM CEO) who I have had the pleasure to meet and talk to about common areas of interest to both IIRSM and IOSH over the last couple of years. She is off to travel the world and I wish her the best of luck in that and good fortune for her future career whatever that may be.

Those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer

Some who read this diary, my old boss for one who I think is still keeping an eye on me, have been asking why no update on this diary since late July when I got back from Korea and Hong Kong?

Simply put, it’s because there’s been little happening. August is the traditional holiday period and presidential visits and events seem to taper off a fair bit. I have therefore been largely twiddling my thumbs, although there has been far too much washing, ironing and use of the vacuum cleaner in there too for my liking. I’ve also been catching up on e-mails and IOSH correspondence, reading the chat forums on the IOSH web site and writing to various newspapers (the usual suspects of course) to rebut yet more daft ‘elf ‘n’ safety’ stories like the reported “ban” on older persons’ whist games etc. All in all a nice relaxing break, or perhaps the calm before the storm?

I’ve attended a few IOSH meetings including the Board of Trustees, and I also had a very enjoyable visit to the South Wales Branch to talk about the sensible safety message. Thanks to all those that turned up on a very wet day for making me feel so welcome.

Some of the rebuttal letters we’ve had published have had a mixed response from members of the public, some supportive but unfortunately others that still think that all the ills of the world are a result of ‘elf ‘n’ safety’ bans on innocuous events, we still have much to do but at least we are getting noticed. There is a saying “if they are having a go at you then you must be doing something right.”

You may have read by now that we’re sponsoring the World Conker Championships again this year, and we hope to get a lot of positive coverage through the media as we did last time – so John Humphrys and Chris Evans, here we come again. The only blight on the horizon seems to be the one affecting UK conkers this year – seems as if there may not be enough available for the competition and we may need to source from abroad. Any out there who want to form a team and take part too? Have a look at the event website and get your entries in soon before all the places are filled. I hope that I avoid getting a yellow card this year!

September soon and the diary is starting to fill rapidly, looks like the end of the holiday is imminent. It’s also the time of year that the president starts to reflect on what has happened since taking on the role last November and the time when the president elect starts to realise what is in store for them next year!

Putting my media training to good use!

16 May: In Central London for the British Safety Council 50th Anniversary Banquet. Their chairman is Nina Wrightson, a former IOSH president, so I was once again among like minded friends. Brian Nimick, chief executive, reiterated the sensible safety message and I was pleased that he formally recognised the collaborative efforts of HSE/IOSH/BSC in making the Workplace Hazard Awareness Course (WHAC) such a sucesss. Just to prove safety isn’t about stopping people having fun, there was an impressive indoor fireworks display (and laser light show) and we didn’t burn down the Grosvenor Hotel (where was the press that night)?

20 May: Travelled to Northern Ireland to present a keynote speech at the HSENI annual spring conference in Cookstown. The theme was managing health and safety sensibly. After being picked up from the airport by Wilson Lambe (another ex IOSH president) I went to the HSENI offices to be interviewed for BBC TV Ulster - a bit surreal because behind me there was someone on plasterers stilts with a high viz jacket, safety goggles and hard hat carrying a pair of shears and a hanging basket! All of course to highlight and try to debunk the health and safety myths that crop up on a regular basis.

Then off to do a live studio interview on Ulster TV for their early evening programme Ulster life. Bearing in mind we got the second slot, and before coverage of Prince Charles’ visit that day to the region, I think we got a fair hearing from the presenters and were able to put the sensible health and safety message across. There was also a full page in the Belfast press.

21 May: HSENI spring conference.  A record turn out, I can do no better than quote one of the attendees at the conference who said “I personally found conference both extremely well organised, with a good balance and very informative. The opportunity to network with so many people with a genuine interest in health and safety will have a lasting benefit.”

29 May: Got a phone call from BBC Radio Essex asking me if I would like to come into the studio to do a live face to face interview on a couple of Essex-based silly health and safety stories that had run in the national press over the weekend. The media team at IOSH were already onto these along with some other stories – perhaps it was a slow news week, or we are truly into the silly season? Have a read of the IOSH rebuttals sent to the Daily Mail and The Times.

I truly believe we need to take every opportunity to get the message across that health and safety isn’t about stopping people having fun. The two stories I was asked to comment on were my old employers’ highways department reportedly banning the hanging of bunting across the road and footpath at a village festival, and a local university apparently banning graduates from throwing mortar boards in the air after receiving their degrees. No surprise that both were reported as being banned because of ‘elf and safety'. Once again I believe we got a fair hearing and a full seven minute slot to debunk the myths.

And on to May…

1 May: Attended the Middle East branch seminar and gave a keynote address. The branch committee had arranged an interesting array of speakers on a wide variety of occupational safety and health issues in the Middle East. In light of my last visit to Dubai back in January, it was great to find a) George W wasn’t expected and b) it didn’t rain. Travelled back to Dubai for an overnight stay and a night out with branch members before a flight back to the UK. I understand there are photos celebrating this event…and my dancing skills (or lack of them) feature prominently in them. How much not to publish?

8 May: Attended the IOSH Honorary Vice Presidents luncheon at the House of Lords, generously hosted by Lord Brougham and Vaux. I gave a keynote address raising the issues that prominently feature in our Get the best campaign. Judith Hackitt talked about how the profession is featured in the media – something we’re all fighting against, and which is now IOSH’s Stop taking the myth! campaign. I particularly liked the part “… a generation of children who will not just be risk averse but risk paranoid…” I was very pleased to confer IOSH Honorary Vice President status on Lord Brougham and Vaux and Judith Hackitt.

9 May: A strange but satisfying presidential visit to the AGM of my own branch (East Anglia) the only branch I have been able to cast a vote at during my visits. Nice to see the branch is alive and well and prospering in deepest Norfolk. I found it quite strange to take over the branch while the election of the new Chairman took place (my first time back in that position since I chaired the branch in my own right all those years ago). It is clearly in good hands.

13 May: Manchester this time to visit and present to the Public Services Group meeting in the afternoon and then on to the main branch AGM in the evening. A very interesting presentation at the main branch meeting from Yvonne Liverton about her early experiences in occupational safety and health. Rather than reiterate what was said, you can read the press release about it here.

14 May: Off to Bristol, somewhat hindered by Rangers supporters in Manchester for their match against Zenit St Petersburg in the UEFA cup later that day. The town and station was full of good natured fans but it made the journey into town rather slow and I got a bit worried about making the train. Unfortunately, of course, Rangers lost and the following day it would have been almost imposible to have made the station let alone the train.

In the evening I attended the annual dinner of the British Occupational Hygiene Society (BOHS). I was pleased to be able to congratulate their new president and assure him that IOSH was looking forward to the continuing collaborative work with them that we have already carried out. A great evening spent talking to like minded people.

15 May: Attended the Bristol and West branch AGM (at 08:00hrs) and once again assumed the power of the Branch Chairman (for a very brief period) while we elected the committee and chairman for the ensuing year. Nearly didn’t make it as the taxi driver had no idea where the venue was!. Another warm welcome and lots of good questions from members.

Commons dinner

Time to update the diary again before I get another slap on the wrist.

25 February: I attended a dinner hosted by IOSH at the House of Commons, we were joined by some 24 MP’s and 4 Peers.  Of course there is no such thing as a free lunch and this event was to discuss a range of issues relating to occupational safety and health and to present our views and update them on our campaigns.

I was particularly pleased to see that we had a mix of parliamentarians across the political spectrum who took the time to attend and contribute freely to the free and frank exchange of views during our “round table discussion.” Among them were many who have given valuable support to IOSH over the years: including Lord McKenzie of Luton, Michael Clapham MP, Terry Rooney MP, the chairman of the DWP select committee and Joan Humble MP a member of the DWP select committee. We were also pleased to have Judith Hackitt, Chair of the HSC and Dame Professor Carol Black to add to the debate.

The evening started with presentations from Lord McKenzie, Michael Clapham MP, Dame Professor Carol Black and myself to set the scene for the discussion during dinner.

I truly believe that events like this help us get across our message and also to get a better understanding of the issues between the profession and the lawmakers.

27 February: Back in Central London at Portcullis House along with Richard Jones and Ian Waldram to give evidence before the DWP select committee. This was to clarify the previously submitted IOSH written evidence and gave MP’S the opportunity to clarify and expand on issues from that submission.

28 February: Off to Dublin from Stansted (only 15 minutes from home – oh the joy of not having to go to Heathrow or Gatwick!) for the day at the invitation of the Construction Industry Federation to present Safe-T-cert awards (at grade A) to two companies Ascon & Rohcon and Patrick Lynch Ltd. These were the first coveted grade A awards to be awarded in Eire. For those who may not be aware, Safe-T-Cert is the sector specific safety management system for construction companies. In order to achieve the award they have to demonstrate that they have integrated safety management into their business operations. Each year they have to prove they are continually improving in order to retain their Safe-T-Cert   In addition to the recipients of the awards I was also pleased to meet Tom Parlon the newly appointed Director General. My sincere thanks go to Aiden Burke of the CIF for acting as taxi driver and keeping me on track for the event. A little known fact I learned during my visit - the M50 to/from Dublin is so designated because the traffic is twice as bad as that on the M25!

A little later than planned...

OK, I know it has been a long time since the last update but circumstances have got in the way. I fully accept the ”slap on the wrist” for being so tardy.

So what has been happening since the last update? Well, here goes:

On 22 January I chaired a meeting of the Communications and International Committee, the following day I attended a meeting of the board of trustees.

31 January saw me (accompanied by Lisa Fowlie our Immediate past president and Rob Strange our Chief executive) visit Rose Court in London for our regular quarterly update and exchange of information meeting with HSE.

4 February: Travel to Liverpool

5 February: I attended a lunchtime meeting with the Merseyside branch executive committee during which we discussed a number of issues. I then attended the branch meeting itself. My thanks go to the committee and the branch for such a memorable visit, as a result I am looking forward to IOSH 09 that will take place on Merseyside. I know we should have been there this year but issues with the venue and its readiness meant we had to revert back to Telford. I also thank Lisa for her attendance and support at the meeting - although Merseyside is her branch, I realise that it is no mean feat travelling from Anglesey just to hear me talk!

6 February: I travel to Sutton in Surrey to be interviewed by Occupational Health Magazine on my presidential themes and how IOSH is working in conjunction with others in the OH field to improve the health of the working age population.

7 February: I am in Ruislip to attend the funeral of Martin Bessant. Much has already been written about Martin that covers his work over many years for the Institution. Even when he knew he was terminally ill he continued for a long as he could with the moderating team on the discussion forums. I had known Martin for many years and consider myself lucky to have been able to call him friend as well as colleague. Martin and I were part of the original “gang of four” moderators. Of course I also knew him from other areas within IOSH including his years on the council of management. I for one will miss him, as will many others that have come into contact with him. I will always recall his gentle humour, commitment and dedication to the profession and IOSH in particular.

12 February: Travel to Leicester for a pre Council of Management meeting.

13 February: IOSH Council Meeting.

15-20 February: In the Kingdom of Bahrain to chair a session (by invitation) at the 8th American Society of Safety Engineers - Middle East Chapter (ASSE-MEC) conference and exhibition. This was a high profile event with many top quality speakers from across the globe on a range of interesting and informative subjects. There were too many in fact to list and unfortunately too many to attend more than just a handful of presentations.  It was also an opportune time to renew contacts in the Middle East with some of our members who are also part of the ASSE, IOSH course providers and active supporters of IOSH in the region. It will take me quite some time to read through all of the papers (thoughtfully bound in a large tome which added substantially to my luggage allowance) I was unable to attend. I was however, able to listen to the keynote address given by Geoffrey Podger the CEO of the HSE and also an interesting session on “The role of Internationally recognised qualifications in promoting regional heath and safety competence” presented by Barry Wilkes, Development Manager from NEBOSH.

My thanks go to the organising committee for the invitation and the opportunity to be a part of this event in, particular Abdullah M Al-Ghamdi the ASSE Middle East President and Tariq S Al-Ghamdi the Conference Director. I also thank everyone I met for their generous hospitality and friendliness.

It wasn’t all work of course and I managed to fit in, along with Jonathon Gorvin from International Affairs, a visit to the Grand Mosque in Manama (the capital of the Kingdom of Bahrain) to get a better understanding of the region and Islam. Also thanks have to go to Alawi Shubber (one of our course providers who I am pleased to say will be our guest at Telford) and his family for putting on, and inviting us to, a desert party (including camel, traditional Bedouin dancers and music). Photos to appear on this site soon.

Fortunately, unlike Dubai earlier this year, we didn’t have any disruption caused by a visit from George W or torrential rain to hinder proceedings!

West Wales and a few more conkers!

After landing at Heathrow, I headed straight for Haverfordwest to present to the West Wales District.

I had lunch with the District committee and was impressed by the work they’ve been doing to advance the cause of IOSH and safety in the area. In particular I would like to thank Keith Jackson the district secretary for acting as taxi driver and getting me around.

The evening itself at Pembrokeshire College, which was preceded by a district committee meeting, was considered by the committee to be a great success with 32 members (a record attendance I believe) turning out to attend the meeting. To all those in attendance I also extend my thanks, and for the questions after the presentation.

At the weekend I went along to the presentation evening hosted by Ashton Conker Club. The 2007 World Conker Championships raised more money than ever for charities for the blind, and it was a pleasure to represent Team IOSH and hand over some cheques to Guide Dogs for the Blind and the RNIB. You’ll be glad to hear that I wasn’t yellow-carded for my behaviour. Although I suspect Richard Howard had it handy just in case!