The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), in partnership with Speedy Hire, is bringing together experts and industry leaders to strengthen skills critical to occupational safety and health (OSH) in the UK.
The initiative is designed to provide insight and solutions to help OSH professionals tackle a range of challenges threatening workplace safety, including widening skills gaps, the loss of experienced professionals, and mounting pressures on remaining staff. These issues are being further compounded by difficulties attracting and retaining talent combined with demands associated with changing working conditions and technology.
Launched at a prestigious event at the House of Lords by Head Commissioner and RoSPA Vice President Baroness Crawley of Edgbaston, the OSH Skills Commission will consist of five roundtables of experts addressing a key topic for OSH outcomes, all chaired by distinguished leaders in their field.
These discussions and findings will then be compiled into a report containing strategic recommendations for government and industry to support future-proof skills development and workforce resilience
The five topics and commissioners:
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Recruitment of competent people - Claudia Jaksh, CEO, Policy Connect
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Retention of competent people – Rick Bate, President, Institute of Occupational Safety & Health (IOSH)
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Consultation and worker representation – Luke Collins, National Health & Safety Officer, Unite the Union
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Wellbeing, culture & psychological safety - Nick Pahl, CEO, Society of Occupational Medicine (SOM)
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Technology in OSH – Kate Field, Global Head of People and Social Sustainability, British Standards Institute (BSI)
Please contact pressoffice@rospa.com for full biographies and images of each commissioner.
The OSH Skills Commission comes at a pivotal moment, as Skills England and a new post-16 skills strategy are identifying priority work areas. These developments present a timely opportunity for RoSPA to lead the national conversation and help shape the future of skills development, ensuring professionals are competent and can meet evolving safety needs across sectors.
Speaking at the launch event, Baroness Crawley said: "This Commission is born out of difficult circumstances. Our nation faces a growing occupational safety and health skills shortage that is impacting productivity and putting people in danger.
"Our goal is to influence policy through stakeholder engagement and drive informed change to improve skills and competencies in this country, once more positioning the UK as a world leader in health and safety. Together, we have an opportunity to future-proof OSH skills, support national productivity, and build a safer, stronger workforce."
Explaining Speedy Hire’s support for the OSH Skills Commission, Andy Johnson, Group HSSEQ Director, Speedy Hire, said: "As a time served Safety professional, I’ve witnessed both the best and the worst across a wide range of sectors and industries. In recent years, however, a new challenge has emerged: a transient, industry agnostic workforce that moves rapidly between roles to advance their careers. While this brings fresh energy, it also creates skills and knowledge gaps that present new concerns - and new risks - for the OSH profession."
Nick Pahl, CEO, Society of Occupational Medicine (SOM) and OSH Skills Commissioner for wellbeing, culture and psychological safety said: "The Commission is putting skills at the heart of the key issues of recruitment, retention, wellbeing and the impact of technology on workplaces. I also look forward to the Commission identifying solutions that will empower people and businesses rather than burdening them. The Commissions’ focus on strengthening the worker voice and identifying the most innovative and promising skill areas will improve health outcomes across the UK."
Find out more about the RoSPA OSH Skills Commission.
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