About Humberside Occupational Health and Safety Group

Chairman’s Introduction to the Humberside Occupational Health & Safety Group

I am very proud to be confirmed as the Chairman for the Group after serving 5 years on the Committee, the last two years as Vice-Chairman.

I currently work for the Hull College Group (Hull, Goole, Harrogate Colleges and Commercial Training Service) as Head of Service for Health, Safety & Welfare/Security. I have worked for the College for over 23 years, initially as a Lecturer in Media/Performing Arts Technology for over 10 years before doing various college management roles leading to my current role. Previous to this I worked for York-based Saville Audio Visual Systems as a Regional Sales/Technical Manager.

I am a Chartered member of IOSH, a Registered Incorporated Engineer/Member of the Institute of Electrical Technology and a Member of the Institute for Learning. I am married with 2 children and we live in Cottingham where two of my interests are easily taken care of – drinking real ales in local pubs with an occasional game of snooker. My other love is Hull City and I am fortunate to work as a volunteer in providing an audio football commentary to partially-sighted/blind persons at the KC Stadium, so mixing pleasure with business!

Enough about me – let’s talk about the HOHSG.

The Group was instigated approximately 77 years ago by a small, pioneering band of people to reduce accidents and instil the principles of safety as a moral rather than statutory obligation.

The following aims and objectives, originally instilled, are still proudly followed by the Group:

  • To develop and stimulate the spirit of danger alertness in employer and employee.
  • To afford the opportunity for the sharing of ideas and accident prevention.
  • To devise ways and means of accident prevention.
  • To foster the spirit of co-operation between employer and employee in accident prevention.
  • To assist in the establishment of a safety organisation or any form of accident prevention in the workplace.
  • To encourage the recording of accidents for the purpose of analysis and comparison.

The Executive Committee Members work very hard behind the scenes to ensure the Group has a very interesting, varied and diverse programme of meetings, seminars and an annual awards event to celebrate the success of the participants and winners. The Group ensures that annually we can enjoy an evening of celebration and fun with good food and drink. This year we are trying an alternative venue at Lazaats in Cottingham with an international-style buffet and, for a change, live entertainment by “Reloaded”, a band with a comprehensive repertoire of songs that should suit all tastes.

The election of the coalition government in May 2010, however, means that health, safety and welfare regulations and enforcement are once again in the spotlight. Employers are facing a number of planned and potential changes to regulations, procedures and practices, all designed to reduce bureaucracy while maintaining health and safety standards at work. Lord Young’s report has recently highlighted many issues and this has already resulted in some immediate and planned changes to safety law practices, particularly regarding the impact of the perceived “compensation culture”.

Professor Löfsteds in-depth review of all existing health and safety regulations, expected in late 2011 (deregulation?) will certainly test us further in ensuring that employers appropriately interpret the recent and possible changes to health and safety law and related practices.

OUR group can provide a forum through its website, events and bi-monthly meetings, which will help in keeping us all up to date and sharing good practices to meet these challenges ahead.

 

Graham Kettlewell, Chairman 2011/12