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THE NEXT 12 MONTHS AND BEYOND

Ruth WILL CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON PSYCHOLOGICAL
Wilkinson
CMIOSH HEALTH AND SAFETY, A THREAD THAT
Head of policy, IOSH RUNS THROUGH ALL ASPECTS OF WORK
THE KNOWLEDGE PREDICTIONS FOR 2024
New digital
technologies will
continue to transform the workplace.
There’ll be no let-up in the speed of this Stuart Kate Field
innovation, particularly the use of artifi cial Hughes CMIOSH
intelligence. Our collective challenge will CMIOSH Global head of
be to combine game-changing levels of IOSH president health, safety
performance, productivity and skills and head of and wellbeing
for the future with continued protection health and safety, at the British
of and improvements to workers’ safety Mercedes-AMG Petronas Standards Institute
and wellbeing. Making predictions can be a fool’s I’m really excited for the profession as we
The emerging focus on the way errand, so I’ve reframed this in terms begin 2024. Four years ago, we picked up
businesses operate as much as the profi ts of intentions and hopes. From an IOSH the way we worked and dumped it on our
they return will become sharper still. perspective, I intend to use my term as kitchen table.
Stakeholder demand for non-fi nancial president to focus on recognising the The gear change for corporate culture as a
reporting, with evidence and measures fantastic work our volunteers undertake result of the pandemic provided recognition

of social sustainability, action on climate for the benefit of all our members, to push that we really do need to look after our
and protecting workers’ health, as well as IOSH back to the forefront of research, people, we need to be authentic about it, and
establishing responsible supply chains, will to provide our profession with helpful we need to think differently. The world has

be key to trade and investment decisions. instruments of practice and enhance the changed, and technology is supporting that.
When it comes to occupational ill health, value of our profession for both business Organisations will go through a process of
the emphasis will remain on prevention and society. really starting to rethink the way they work
rather than cure. Added to the clear From a professional standpoint, it’s and operate.
impact of disease on mortality, morbidity about hope. I’m hopeful we will see an For me, the next 12 months and beyond
and disability, organisations operating in increased focus on health, as it’s the will continue to focus on psychological
increasingly competitive environments will foundation of every other element of health and safety, a thread that runs through
become even more aware of its infl uence life. Technology will continue to march all aspects of work. We’ve still got a huge
on workers’ quality of life and the return on forward at pace and I’m hopeful that, as a journey ahead of us – we've turned a corner
investment that prevention can bring for profession, we will emphasise the ethical but we’ve got a long way to go.
workers, business and society. implementation of new technologies to The focus on society and people in the
The International Labour Organization’s benefit worker protection. 2024 marks ESG [environmental, social and governance]

2022 adoption of a safe and healthy work 50 years of both the GB Health and Safety agenda will continue its momentum
environment as a fundamental principle and Executive and the Health and Safety in terms of a real focus on people and
right will continue to embed OSH as a vital at Work Act, so I’m hopeful that these occupational health and safety and
aspect of our lives and not just an optional milestones will bring focused attention psychological health and safety.
extra. Its momentum will further drive us to to the need to provide workers with a I think 2024 will be the year of the ‘S’
achieve a more inclusive workforce. healthy and safe working environment. in ESG.’
It will challenge the profession to reduce
further the numbers of people who suff er
debilitating ill health, life-changing
injuries or ultimately lose their life.

30 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024 | IOSHMAGAZINE.COM

28-30 Predictions for 2024_Jan-Feb 2024_IOSH.indd 30 12/12/2023 09:53