What do you think of the topics covered in IOSH magazine? Here’s a collection of member views, taken from ioshmagazine.com over the last few months.
IOSH’s Competency Framework
iosh.com/my-iosh/competency-framework
Re: How liable are employers for homeworker accidents?
CF: Technical – Health and safety law
This is an interesting article; however, wouldn’t it be reasonably practicable to expect some form of rules or procedure to be put into place by an employer for the employees working from home?
It is an expectation that DSE [display screen equipment] assessment is carried out in the employer’s office/premises, but from what this article is saying, an employer would have no control over the employee’s premises, therefore working at the kitchen table or sofa would be okay?
Where would the employer stand on musculoskeletal injuries?
Or does this make DSE assessments a pure farce?
To me, this case in Germany has more questions than answers (whether I agree with the outcome or not) and if we are asking or expecting employees to work from home, surely we have to know that they have an adequate set-up in the first place?
Rob Andrews
ioshmagazine.com/accident-liability
Re: IOSH urges caution over MPs’ call to remove asbestos from all non-domestic buildings
CF: Technical – Risk management
Until those in charge of premises undertake management surveys to the extent that they are needed, persons using structures and maintaining them will continue to be exposed.
Trades going into them, particularly the self-employed, still haven’t got a clue about the risks or choose to ignore them to earn the money, and some property owners seem content to let them.
Furthermore, it is just as alarming to know that many demolition surveys do not go as far as they need to with regard to identifying asbestos prior to any works taking place.
How many occasions do we have to read ‘area was not surveyed as the client did not provide access or the area was too difficult to reach’. And yet the very same areas will require asbestos to be removed. Absolute farce.
Where do the government think all this removed asbestos is going to go? Landfill, the very places we don’t want? And who do you think will remove all this asbestos? Cowboy contractors are bound to spring up and we can look forward to seeing another spike in deaths in 25 years’ time. This really needs to be thought through.
Dazzler
ioshmagazine.com/asbestos-non-domestic
Re: Potato factory fined £300,000 following a catalogue of errors
CF: Technical – Health and safety law & culture
This is a fantastically detailed article. I hope we get more like this!
Darren Glendinning
Digital ed: Glad to hear you found it useful – where possible we will speak to the investigating inspector to try to give members as much detail and insight as we can.
ioshmagazine.com/factory-fined
Re: Knowledge is power, but also a privilege
CF: Behavioural – Communication (Communicating effectively)
As I have said many times before to many people who believe knowledge is power and do not share knowledge… my own take on this is that knowledge is powerful when shared; if knowledge is not shared then it becomes worthless.
Timothy Briggs
ioshmagazine.com/knowledge-privilege
Re: Sedentary work post-COVID
CF: Technical – Health and safety law & culture
When in the office people typically move greater distances to make a cup of tea/coffee, use the toilet or go to a colleague's desk. I advocate doing a stint at your DSE then hang the washing out, another stint then hoover, etc. Finding what will motivate an individual to move more is the real trick.
James Wright
We encourage colleagues to stand during calls from home. Some have sit/stand desk modifications, others use an ironing board to get the camera, etc, at the right height. This gets them moving, and helps some meetings become a little less formal.
Ian Turvey
Let us know
Do you have an observation or comment on an article you’ve read in the magazine or online? Or perhaps you’ve had to deal with an incident at work? Contact the editorial team with your thoughts and you might see your reflections on this page. Email us at [email protected]
