The IOSH 2001 Annual Conference and Exhibition was held at the Bournemouth
International Centre on 7 and 8 March. The theme of the conference was
"New challenges for the new millennium" and boasted eminent speakers
from the world of health and safety. The first day began with Dr Timothy Walker
CB, director-general of the HSE, discussing the "Revitalising health and
safety" initiative and the Human Rights Act.
The next speaker was Dr Nerys Williams, head of the Employment Medical
Advisory Service and senior medical inspector with the HSE. Dr Williams
explained the basic components of "Securing health together", the
Government’s long-term occupational health strategy.
Other representatives at IOSH 2001 from the health side of the OSH coin
included David Harrison MIOSH RSP, director of the health and safety unit at
the University of Birmingham, who reviewed the challenge posed by adopting the
risk management model to prevent stress at work.
In his presentation "Get a grip – managing the musculoskeletal
threat", Matthew Trigg MIOSH, consultant at JDA Associates, called for a
more inclusive and proactive approach to the identification of musculoskeletal
disorders and proposed a new model for managing them.
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Bill Fox, managing director of Maybo, examined the key elements of an
effective management response to conflict and violence at work, and gave an
update on the latest initiatives. He also provided a checklist for employees.
Finally, Martin Jones FIOSH RSP, president of the European BioSafety
Association, addressed the conference and explained in detail the latest
developments in BioSafety.
The next IOSH Annual Conference will be held in Manchester, April 2002.
