Doha, Qatar, 27 April 2017: A global vision to tackle inequalities in safeguarding the world’s workforce is being unveiled by the leading chartered professional health and safety body.

While health and safety is at the heart of some of the world’s most successful organisations, over 2.3 million people die every year from work-related accidents or illness – more than the death toll from malaria.

The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health’s (IOSH) 2017-2022 strategy calls for a collective effort to ensure that employees can return home fit and well after every working day, no matter where in the world they are.

‘WORK 2022 – shaping the future of safety and health’ is being launched at IOSH’s Middle East Conference in Doha, Qatar, a country pursuing ambitious growth and preparing to host football’s World Cup in five years’ time. 

The IOSH branch in Qatar has seen a five-fold membership increase in the past five years. Its members are working across industries to ensure health and safety standards keep pace with the country’s rapid development.

To protect workers and improve workplaces, IOSH will seek to enhance the occupational safety and health profession, build strategic collaborative partnerships across industry and strengthen its influence globally through impactful research and development.

IOSH’s strategy includes:

• Working in partnership with professionals in countries facing local challenges related injury and illness caused by work
• Rolling out the first comprehensive competency framework for safety and health to allow professionals to map their career path
• A programme to boost the image of safety and health as a first career and help ambitious young people become the leaders of the future 
• Introducing an entry-level qualification to develop a clear route into the profession

WORK 2022 is being launched by Dr Bill Gunnyeon, Chair of IOSH’s Board of Trustees and former Chief Medical Adviser for the UK government’s Department of Work and Pensions.

Ahead of the launch, he said: “We know organisations across the world are striving to increase the protection of their workforces through improvements in health and safety. 

“At IOSH we want to work with organisations to help ensure that, irrespective of where in the world they are, the protection and promotion of the health and wellbeing of their workforces will ultimately achieve the standard of the best. 

“This will ensure that, over time, we see a significant reduction in the avoidable human and financial costs of work-related injury and ill health.”   
IOSH Chief Executive Bev Messinger said: “Our new strategy focuses priorities for IOSH and sets its direction for the next five years, helping enhance the profession, making improvements for members, increasing our influence and impact around the world. It will guide the work we do to achieve our mission and charitable aims in partnership with others.”