Work accident news
24/06/2008

Prevention of accidents at work wins OBE for CEO

The Chief Executive of the Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) was rewarded last week for his services to the prevention of work accidents with an OBE.

His citation stated that the honour was given for "Services to Health and Safety", and comes after the man, 56, has overseen seven years of membership growth, the reshaping of the organisation's governance, and the introduction of a system of Chartered Membership.

The newly-honoured CEO said, "Receiving the OBE is a tremendous honour and something that I did not expect, but I'm very proud to receive it. This award is not about me, it's about the effort and determination of every single member of staff at IOSH. . It's an award that I really feel has been given to me on behalf of the health and safety community as a whole.

"But our work is not complete. 241 people died in workplace accidents last year and more than 300,000 were hurt. There's a long way to go before I, and the thousands of health and safety professionals out there, will be satisfied with the UK's health and safety record. We might be statistically one of the best in Europe, but we're nowhere near good enough for the families and friends of those who lose their lives at work."

While a no win, no fee solicitor may be able to make a successful personal injury claim on behalf of the victim of an accident at work, this may never be full compensation for the suffering that a death or accidental injury may cause.