An international tripartite collaboration has created new continuous development opportunities for health and safety professionals in Europe.
IOSH has supported the Bulgarian Foundation Center for Safety and Health at Work (FBCZR) as a partner in a European Knowledge Exchange project, together with the Austrian Workers’ Compensation Board (AUVA), to enhance skills, competencies and access to training and professional development for occupational safety and health (OSH) professionals in Bulgaria.
Earlier this year, Ljupcho Kochovski and Ekaterina Borisova from the FBCZR met with representatives from IOSH’s professional services, in a benchmarking visit focused on learning more about IOSH’s membership and CPD schemes.
The collaboration has resulted in the development of a new Continuing Professional Development system by FBCZR to be introduced in Bulgaria which will increase the knowledge and competence of OSH professionals.
Malcolm McIntyre, Chair of IOSH’s New Accession Countries Working Party and an ambassador for IOSH’s ‘No Time to Lose’ (NTTL) campaign, will be presenting during the event, outlining IOSH’s approach to CPD and support provided to IOSH members looking to develop their professional skills as well as making the business case for investing in OSH.
Malcolm will also be speaking at an event in Sofia on Thursday 25 October, organised by the FBCZR with the Association of Industrial Capital in Bulgaria, supported by the Ministry of Labour in Bulgaria in the framework of the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work’s (EU-OSHA) ‘Healthy Workplaces Manage Dangerous Substances’ campaign.
Malcolm McIntyre said: “The opportunity to present on NTTL Asbestos in Sofia is yet another chance to raise Bulgarian colleagues’ awareness of occupational cancer and importantly, to exchange practical solutions to prevent it. The Foundation has been very supportive at the various stages of the campaign.
