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THE KNOWLEDGE BUSINESS LEADER FORUM

The voice of

business

The first meeting of IOSH's new Business Leader Forum discussed how

today's operating climate is impacting OSH and creating cultural erosion

WORDS ANGELA GRAY

mprovements to OSH culture can meets their own needs and expectations. the expanded parameters have undeniably
often take years to achieve. Imparting Managers and supervisors too are on energised the profession. On the other,
appropriate knowledge, building the move, creating skills and knowledge this enhanced focus on OSH has, ironically,
Iapplicable skills and nurturing a positive vacuums across workforces. Signifi cant diverted attention away from the elements of
mindset across entire workforces changes in the migrant worker demographic good, safe work.
should be relatively straightforward, are also impacting businesses as they look to OSH performance is driven by eff ective

but often requires consistency in the backfill displaced staff. And sickness absence management systems, policies and
operating climate. compounds the problem. procedures. However, embedding safe ways

Of course, the reality is that things rarely Recruitment to fill these voids can of working among workers takes time,
stay the same for long. Brexit, a pandemic, be expensive. Reviewing and assessing money, vigilance, training, coaching and
a cost-of-living crisis and various armed applicants, conducting interviews, consistent communication. Future-facing

conflicts are just some of the factors that onboarding new starters and providing businesses should aspire to good OSH as

have affected the business landscape in necessary safety training all come with a core value across all their activities, and
recent years. One of the biggest negative costs attached. nurture a positive and engaged attitude
impacts on OSH performance and culture At the same time, the elevated profi le towards OSH within their workforce.
is instability in the workforce, and this has of safety, health and wellbeing – be it The challenge is not only building an
been a notable global consequence through the prioritisation of infection risk OSH culture from scratch, but maintaining
of disruption. management in the workplace or the broader it when it exists. Businesses who already PHOTOGRAPHY: SHUTTERSTOCK
Workers are moving between jobs in great mental health agenda – has shifted the way possess more mature OSH cultures face the

numbers, looking for work that more closely that OSH is understood. On the one hand, significant challenge of maintaining safe
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