IOSH Flexes its Muscles with 'Fit for the Future' 2013 Conference Programme

LONDON, November 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

The world's biggest professional health and safety organisation, IOSH, today announced details for its flagship annual conference and exhibition.

IOSH 2013, which will again be organised by UBM Live, will focus on how health and safety professionals can strike the right balance between promoting wellbeing in the workplace and safe work practices. It will look at how practitioners can influence the strategy of organisations. And, delegates will learn how they can communicate the real benefits of good health and safety to their businesses.

Taking place at London's ExCel on 26-27 February, the event promises to provide professionals with the right tools and knowledge to be truly 'fit for the future'.

This year, the IOSH Conference has been shaped by the industry, in consultation with a working party and a comprehensive survey of more than 3,000 IOSH members, to ensure that the topics and challenges the industry are facing are covered over the two days.

More than 60 expert speakers will participate in the conference, with the Rt Hon Stephen Timms MP, Shadow Minister for Employment, providing the keynote speech on the first day.

Additional confirmed speakers include Lawrence Waterman OBE, Head of Health and Safety for the Olympic Delivery Authority, David Ashton, Director of Field Operations at HSE, Dr Richard J L Heron, Vice-President Health and Chief Medical Officer at BP and Dr Todd Wright, Managing Director of Sellafield Ltd.

IOSH President Gerard Hand said:  "In a fast-moving world, it is recognised that the health and safety profession needs to be 'fit for the future'.

"The conference theme has been developed by professionals from a diverse range of industries in order to focus energy into the health issues affecting all sectors, as well as consistently striving to improve safety standards.

"The conference will bring together professionals from all over the world to share experiences and enhance knowledge. The program is truly inspirational and will help to further develop the profession and ensure it continues to be 'fit for the future'."  

New for this year, we make the audience the judge in Compensation Claim: Live!, an interactive seminar that builds on the popular 'in the dock' sessions from previous IOSH Conferences. The focus for this will be compensation claims in the civil courts, the audience will be called upon to deliver judgement on issues of liability, contributory negligence, causation, legal costs and the amount of compensation to award. This will be led by Kevin McLoughlin, Keith Morton QC and Dominic Adamson, Barristers at Temple Garden Chambers.

For Health and Safety practitioners with an international remit, or for anyone that wants to hear all about global trends within the industry, the International Question Time panel discussion will explore how health and safety professionals can tackle global issues and learn from best practice. The panel session will feature Danny Martland, Director for Safety, Health & Environment for BAE Systems with Andrew Page, Director of health and Safety for Tata Steel and Craig Notman from the Mines Rescue Guardsman , who recently featured on the award winning BBC Two Series Toughest Place to Be .. A Miner.

Additionally, The changing face of health and safety session will host Richard Pollock, President of the ASSE, Andrew Cooper, President for CSSE and Sue Pilkington, Chair of Safety Institute Australia, who will provide insight on the hot topics for the year ahead.

The IOSH exhibition runs alongside the conference and offers visitors the chance to meet with leading companies showcasing their latest innovations, as well as advice and guidance on best practice and compliance. The exhibition is packed with a variety of free seminars led by keynote speakers, designed to provide topical content that will keep delegates up-to-speed with developments in the industry.

For more information on IOSH 2013 Conference & Exhibition please visit the website at http://www.ioshconference.co.uk follow the event on Twitter at #ioshconf13.

About UBM Live

UBM Live connects people and creates opportunities for companies across five continents to develop new business, meet customers, launch new products, promote their brands and expand their markets.   Through premier brands such as MD&M, CPhI, IFSEC, TFM&A, Cruise Shipping Miami, the Concrete Show and many others, UBM Live exhibitions, conferences, awards programs, publications, websites and training and certification programs are an integral part of the marketing plans of companies across more than 20 industry sectors.

The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH)

IOSH is the Chartered body for health and safety professionals. With more than 38,000 members in 85 countries, we're the world's biggest professional health and safety organisation.

We set standards, and support, develop and connect our members with resources, guidance, events and training. We're the voice of the profession, and campaign on issues that affect millions of working people.

IOSH was founded in 1945 and is a registered charity with international NGO status.