Negating and managing occupational health risks is key to your business and your teams’ well being. Vice President of the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), James Quinn, took to the main stage at this year’s Asbestos: The Truth Conference to inform delegates about the importance of implementing effective risk management strategies.

According to IOSH, research suggests that cancers caused by work claim at least 742,000 lives annually, worldwide. As the largest health and safety body in the world and the only chartered body for health and safety professionals, IOSH called for action from businesses to make investments in safety, health, and well being.

The Healthy Profit

Quinn informed delegates about how investing in effective health and safety risk management strategies and controlling the risks to workplace health is a healthy investment for all businesses. Adhering to cutbacks in health and safety poses risks to employees, employers, business owners, and a company’s reputation.

“Having healthy profit is by having health and safety”

– James Quinn, Asbestos The Truth Conference 2018.

No Time To Lose

According to Quinn’s sources, estimations of at least 742,000 people die every year from work-related cancer. This equates to more than one death every minute. Negating the risks presented by occupational illnesses and disease is paramount to operating a successful, compliant and responsible business.

IOSH commissioned Opinium to conduct a survey of 500 UK tradespeople to find out more about their knowledge of asbestos. According to their research, Opinium uncovered that:

15% have never been informed about asbestos
Only 3 in 5 have the risks regularly reinforced
Only two-thirds recognised the signs of lung disease caused by asbestos exposure
¼ say they have been exposed to asbestos and a further 42% believe they may have been exposed at some point
Nearly a fifth of respondents do not know what to do if they discover asbestos
Staggeringly, a third never check the asbestos register before starting work with 15% of these not aware the register exists

The No Time To Lose campaign from IOSH is trying to raise awareness of significant health and safety issues facing employees and work to offer businesses free practical materials and advice to tackle the problem. Collaborating with their members, IOSH wants businesses and providers to come together to share knowledge, techniques and solutions to managing workplace health and safety.

Access free materials provided by IOSH here: https://www.notimetolose.org.uk/

8 Step Asbestos Risk Prevention Strategy

Quinn informed delegates during his keynote speech at the Asbestos The Truth conference 2018 about IOSH’s eight-step asbestos risk prevention strategy. By adhering to all eight steps, businesses can limit the dangers of potentially deadly asbestos exposure and will have an effective risk management strategy in place for the benefit of both employees and the business.

Know where the asbestos is
Record where the Asbestos Containing Material (ACM) is
Complete a Risk Assessment
Create an Asbestos Management Plan
Plan how to work on ACMs
Inform those who are potentially exposed
Train workers
Investigate asbestos incidents

Quinn continued his speech stating that everyone, every business, every employer and employee has a duty to manage and report health and safety issues and concerns including potential asbestos-containing materials and possible exposures.