Protecting our professional reputation

It's that time in the publishing cycle where I start writing the news for the IIRSM Newsletter. I ran a Google search on recent health and safety stories and this is what it came up with:

Clock run stopped
A unique event to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Tredegar Town clock has been cancelled on health and safety grounds. To celebrate the milestone ...

Donkey derby falls foul of health and safety
This was after insurers backed away from the race due to the UK’s stringent health and safety legislation. Now the inflatable animals look set for another ...

Under-threat theatre cancels show
The Little Theatre in Rhyl has postponed its latest production by a month following a bitter row over health and safety with Denbighshire Council ...

"It is a huge contradiction that news reports simultaneously focus on serious and substantial safety issues (sometimes overstated or poorly researched) at the same time as repeatedly criticising safety people as over-zealous killjoys," Paul Hopkin, IIRSM Chairman, recently told HSW magazine.

And he couldn't be more right. As safety professionals, let's continue to promote sensible risk management and protect the reputation of health and safety. If we don't do it, who will?

Apologies for the lack of posts...

...but I've recently been sunning myself in Cuba. Oh, and Birmingham. On arrival back to the UK from a fabulous holiday in Cuba, I found myself on a train to the Midlands for this year's Expo - hence the lack of posts.

Speaking of the Expo, thanks to all those who took the time to visit our stand to say hello to the team - and for your feedback on the new website. It was great to meet so many of you!