Mental health and wellbeing “should be part of OSH role”

Managing mental health and wellbeing at work should be part of the OSH role. That’s the opinion of nearly three-quarters of those who responded to IOSH’s member survey. Meanwhile, nine out of ten respondents said the health and safety role is valued in their organisation, with 61 per cent saying it is “highly valued”. These were among the key findings of the survey, which took place in 2023 and had 7,015 responses.

Importance of the OSH role

IOSH President Stuart Hughes said the survey results clearly indicate the importance of OSH roles across the business landscape.

He said: “The mental health and wellbeing of staff is something many more businesses take seriously now, rightly so, and OSH professionals have a key role in supporting this. So, it’s encouraging to see that many of our members view it as a part of their role.

“OSH is about far more than just physical safety risks; it’s about managing risks to health, and this includes mental health and wellbeing. By effectively managing these risks, OSH professionals can support businesses to become more sustainable through reduced rates of staff absence and turnover, leading to higher productivity.”

Key findings of the survey included:

• 91 per cent believe IOSH builds excellence in the OSH profession
• 87 per cent say IOSH prioritises OSH standards around the world
• 77 per cent feel IOSH puts people at the heart of sustainability
• 74 per cent think IOSH offers good value for money

“A ticket to the dance”

The survey asked members for the reasons they would recommend IOSH membership. One member replied: “IOSH membership is your ticket to the dance. It’s a straightforward way of showing competence.”

Another said: “I recommend IOSH to my colleagues because it is a globally-recognised professional body for occupational safety and health practitioners. By becoming members, they can enhance their professional credibility, access valuable resources and knowledge, and engage in CPD.”

A quarter of those members who responded were Chartered members, while 60 per cent of those who hadn’t reached Chartered status aspire to do so once they have the required competence and experience.

Construction was the most common industry among respondents, with 43 per cent saying they worked in it, while 23 per cent said they worked in manufacturing and 20 per cent said they were in consultancy and training. Nearly a quarter (24 per cent) said they were based outside of the UK, while 51 per cent were aged 50 or over.

Stuart added: “The survey gives us some important information both about the demographics of our membership but also about perceptions of OSH and of IOSH as a professional body, so I’d like to thank those members who gave up time to answer the questions and I’d actively encourage more members to do so in the future. Your voice is important to IOSH and your opinions help to shape our future direction.”