IOSH 10 – conference round-up
30 March 2010
Two days, 800 delegates, 1,400
pre-registered visitors, 35 conference sessions, more than 100
exhibitors – and plenty to think about. These were the ingredients
for a lively and thought-provoking IOSH 10 conference and
exhibition in Glasgow last week.
Expertly chaired by news broadcaster Gavin Esler, with the
audience able to text in their questions during the keynote
interviews, the conference was guaranteed to stimulate lively
debate. The wider context of a critical media, the effects of
recession and an imminent general election, made the topic of how
to make the case for health and safety all the more pressing.
The anticipation was tangible as delegates gathered to hear
Lord Young of Graffham open the
conference with the Conservative party’s views on the health and
safety profession. Those views – including an alleged lack of
qualifications among health and safety consultants and an assertion
that health and safety is simply a matter of ‘common sense’ – were
guaranteed to stir up strong feelings. And Lord Young’s audience
didn’t let him off lightly as the questions came thick and fast to
challenge his views.
In fact, Lord Young’s views provoked discussion and debate
throughout the conference. Keynote interviews with E.ON UK managing
director John Crackett, HSE chief executive Geoffrey Podger and
IOSH chief executive Rob Strange all included questions from the
audience relating to Lord Young’s comments. For each interviewee,
the focus was clearly on getting to grips with the serious issues
facing health and safety, with Geoffrey Podger cautioning the
audience against getting sidetracked by crazy ‘elf ‘n’ safety’
stories in the media.
Meanwhile, the exhibition space was a hive of activity with
presentations, demonstrations and advice. Highlights included
performances by theatre-based training company AKT Productions,
free technical guidance, and a chance to meet David Eves, author of
the latest IOSH book Disasters: Learning the lessons for a
safer world.
And for the first time in IOSH conference history, those who
couldn’t make it to Glasgow could also get involved. Two IOSH 10
sessions, ‘Disaster! Sharing industry lessons from large-scale
accidents’ and ‘In court: live!’, were streamed live from the
conference to the desktops of those who registered, as well as to
the IOSH stand and Networks theatre in the exhibition area.
Lord Young said in his opening address: “In terms of public
perception, health and safety is in crisis”. IOSH 10 provided a
forum to begin the debate on how to address that crisis and make
the case for health and safety. It wasn’t always comfortable, but
it was challenging and incisive – and it kicked off what promises
to be a productive debate on the issues that matter.