Representatives from all over the world arrived in Leicester on 05 February for two days of meetings hosted by IOSH in its role leading the Education and Training Section of the International Social Security Agency (ISSA).
ISSA, which is based in Geneva, Switzerland, has more than 330 member organizations in 158 countries. Its sections span business and industry sectors as well as social security, pensions and ministries.
As the an international organisation for social security institutions, government departments and agencies, it enables members to develop dynamic social security systems and policy worldwide.
ISSA also runs the Vision Zero campaign, which IOSH supports, based on the premise that all work-related accidents, diseases and harm are preventable. This important programme aims to motivate and support businesses to develop a workplace prevention culture.
Secretary General of ISSA Dr Marcelo Abi-Ramia Caetano joined the meeting, which was led by Martina Hesse-Spotter, Chair of the ISSA Special Commission. Other delegates came from agriculture, chemistry, construction, education, information, machine, metal, mining, prevention culture, trade, and transportation.
Professor Gerard Zwetsloot from the Netherlands, leader of ISSA’s project on Leading Indicators for Vision Zero, also took part. All delegates were welcomed by IOSH Chief Executive Bev Messinger, who looked ahead to World Congress in Toronto in October and further evolution of Vision Zero.
IOSH Head of Strategic Engagement Alan Stevens said: “We were privileged to host this important meeting, which addressed all pillars of our WORK 2022 strategy.
“It was an excellent example of how we’re collaborating with international organisations to achieve healthier, safer workplaces for everyone, making impacts and improvements to working lives, better and aligning the role of safety and health professionals to improving business performance.
“Prevention is the jewel within the ISSA and IOSH, as the only OSH professional body with truly global reach, is best-positioned to drive forward the prevention agenda.”
