Open-access content
Issue date: March 2021
Over the course of my career I have come to respect highly the real value that the OSH profession brings.
I am delighted and privileged to be part of this community now, one that is absolutely critical to ensuring people can go to work without having their safety, health or wellbeing placed at risk.
I have seen the very best outcomes when we get things right: for example, when delivering the London Olympic Games in 2012. I have also seen the worst outcomes when things are done badly: in the government reviews I was involved in and my work as an expert panel adviser following the Grenfell Tower tragedy. (Read an interview with Peter here.)
I am looking forward to hearing your views and perspectives about our profession and the Institution – where you see problems to address and where you see us moving towards in the future. I will ensure we engage with leaders of business and government to listen to their needs and help raise the profile of our profession and the essential role we fulfil for them. This includes in the area of sustainability and human capital management – how our work as a profession links to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
There has been good progress in the past few years, and IOSH’s WORK 2022 strategy has had a positive impact. Our opportunity, need and duty now is how we build on this progress together to further grow our positive impact on a safe and healthy workplace and, alongside it, our reputation as a profession and as IOSH members.
Competency, professionalism and ethics are key for us all in this changing world. They must be components each of us holds close and works on relentlessly, along with the values and behaviours we expect of each other.
Having more diversity and equality is an essential part of our future success and impact. Inclusion, where everyone is able to bring their whole self to work and to be valued for their whole self, is an essential part of feeling safe and something we must embrace.
There is much for us to build on and take forward so that we can improve ourselves continually to protect society and working people even better. I am looking forward to doing so together.
Dr Peter Bonfield OBE FREng FIET | Chair of IOSH Board of Trustees
