IOSH

16/01/2026

King honours lifetime service to farm safety 🌾

We’re proud to share that Brian Rees, a once long‑standing IOSH member and passionate advocate for agricultural safety, has been awarded an MBE in the King’s New Year Honours List 2026 for his outstanding services to farm safety.

Brian’s dedication to improving safety in agriculture spans more than 40 years. His work has touched every corner of the farming community – from supporting young farmers’ clubs to leading Safety and Health Awareness Days (SHADs) attended by thousands across Great Britain.

As former chair of the Farm Safety Partnership in Wales, Brian played a key role in driving change across the sector, including securing Welsh Government support for essential training initiatives. He also contributed his expertise as part of the IOSH Rural Industries community during the 2010s.

Although he is now retired, Brian’s influence continues to be felt. His previous accolades include the Lantra Wales Lifetime Achievement Award and being named a Farm Safety Hero by Yellow Wellies in 2023.

📖 Read more: https://bit.ly/49oBcf5

15/01/2026

Free training for SMEs: Tackling sickness absence with IOSH

We’re proud to announce that the UK government has chosen IOSH’s Managing Occupational Health and Wellbeing course to help reduce sickness absence in small and medium-sized businesses.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is funding a pilot programme to train 5,000 line managers until the end of March 2026.

Delivered by Reed Learning and International Workplace, this free training will give managers practical skills to:
✅ Spot early signs of ill-health
✅ Have supportive conversations
✅ Make workplace adjustments to keep people in work

With over 2.8 million people signed off long-term sick and the cost of replacing an employee exceeding £11,000, this initiative is a vital step towards healthier, more resilient workplaces.

As Ruth Wilkinson, IOSH Head of Policy and Public Affairs, says: “Work should be a source of health, not harm. Together, we can make work a positive force for life.”

Book your free place today – spaces available until March 2026:
https://bit.ly/4jBlb8U

An IOSH course has been chosen by the UK government to drive its push to tackle the high levels of sickness in businesses.

14/01/2026

That’s a wrap on Intersec Expo 2026 – and what an incredible event it’s been!

Over three action-packed days at the Dubai World Trade Centre, IOSH was proud to connect with professionals from around the world who share our passion for advancing occupational safety and health.

Here’s what happened:
🎤 The Health and Safety Conference – Led by IOSH President Richard Bate, the stage hosted two full days of thought-provoking sessions from AI and Safety 4.0 to global safety culture, mental wellbeing and productivity, and innovative OSH training strategies.

📍 The IOSH Stand (SR-N28) – A hub of activity where delegates explored IOSH membership, qualifications, and CPD opportunities. Trialled our Business Assurance Programme and saw live demos of tools and resources designed to improve safety, health, productivity, and resilience.

🎉 Graduation ceremony and networking Event – A fantastic opportunity to celebrate our vibrant IOSH community and their achievements, share experiences, and strengthen professional networks.

A huge thank you to all speakers, attendees, and partners who made this event such a success. Together, we’re raising the bar for occupational safety and health globally.

Missed us at Intersec? Stay connected for more updates and opportunities to get involved.

What was your biggest takeaway from the Expo? Share your thoughts below!

13/01/2026

Harnessing AI to enhance process safety in high-risk industries

Artificial Intelligence (AI) presents a transformative opportunity to enhance process safety in high-risk sectors such as oil and gas. But as we learned today, AI is not a standalone solution – its success depends on robust business processes, quality data, and a strong safety culture.

Dr. Aissam Bouadjel, Head of Health, Safety, Environment and Quality at Fujairah Oil Industry Zone, delivered this session where he shared the roadmap to success for implementing AI in process safety – planning and preparation, ex*****on, testing and roll-out, and continuous improvement.

13/01/2026

Behavioural science and neuroscience in confined space safety – leading with the mind for safer decisions

Confined spaces are among the most unforgiving work environments, where a single lapse in perception, focus, or judgment can have life-threatening consequences.

This session delivered by Atiq Moghul, Corporate QHSE Manager at Ras Al Khaimah Oil Services & Energy Co. Ltd, explored how behavioural science and neuroscience combine to shape decision-making, situational awareness, and resilience in these high-risk environments.

13/01/2026

Setting the standards for global safety culture

How can organisations lead safety initiatives across borders while respecting regional legal and cultural nuances? This session explored the importance of culturally intelligent leadership and empowering local teams to drive consistent safety outcomes worldwide.

Delivered by Frank Agwe, HSEQ Specialist at Monjasa, he took us through the five pillars of world class safety culture:

-Leadership - visible commitment from the top
-Accountability - clear roles and responsibilities
-Communication - Open, honest dialogue
-Training - continuous skill development
-Measurement - data-drive decision making

13/01/2026

Safety reimagined – Workforce training in OSH

As industries evolve and workforce expectations shift, occupational safety and health (OSH) training must adapt to remain effective and relevant. This session explored how organisations are rethinking delivery methods and engagement strategies with IOSH to meet the needs of diverse, multi-generational, and multi-cultural teams.

Moderated by Greg Bytheway, Business Development Manager at IOSH, the panel featured:
🔹 Loganathan Ramachandran, Senior Instructor - Health and Safety, DryDocks
🔹 John Dunne, Group Head of Health and Safety, Red Sea Global
🔹 Graeme Primrose, Training Network Lead, IOSH

Key takeaways:
- One size doesn’t fit all – training must be tailored to diverse workforces
- World-first IOSH-approved VR training with DryDocks which has 90 per cent retention of information
- Language barrier is out of the equation
- Hands-on and scenario-based training works well for Red Sea Global, and the fact that they could accredit their training provides value and builds engagement for their workers

13/01/2026

Honored to host Eugene Mayne, CEO of Tristar Group, for an insightful session on HSEQ management. Eugene challenged OSH professionals to reconnect workplace safety with the "hearts and minds" of every worker.

He shared Tristar's comprehensive approach, from driver education and family engagement programs to rigorous vehicle management.

Most impressively, he showcased how they leverage technology, such as blink-rate tracking and real-time fatigue monitoring, to keep drivers safe and alert on the road.

13/01/2026

Connect with IOSH live at Intersec 2026

We’re having a busy and exciting day at the IOSH stand - SR-N28 here at Intersec, where delegates are stopping by to learn more about how IOSH can support their professional development and organisational goals.

Our team is on hand to provide clear, practical guidance on:

🔹 joining the IOSH community of 50,000 global safety and health professionals
🔹 how IOSH membership, qualifications, CPD and Chartered status can enhance your career
🔹 the value of our business assurance programme in strengthening safety performance, productivity and resilience, and trial our business assurance tool
🔹 demonstrations of IOSH products, resources and tools
🔹 a chance to meet IOSH President Richard Bate

Whether you're looking to advance your own OSH expertise or explore how IOSH can help elevate your organisation’s approach to safety and health, our team is here throughout the event and ready to support you.

If you’re at Intersec, come and visit us – we’d love to connect.

12/01/2026

🎉 A fantastic evening at our IOSH Member Celebration and Networking Event!

We’ve just concluded a fantastic session at the Health and Safety Conference Theatre at Intersec Dubai, where IOSH President Richard Bate brought together members, students, partners and colleagues from across the region for a memorable celebration of achievement and collaboration.

The event was a brilliant opportunity to:
✨ Celebrate the successes and contributions of IOSH members and students
✨ Recognise key partnerships helping to strengthen occupational safety and health across the Middle East
✨ Highlight how IOSH supports individuals, organisations and the wider profession through membership, qualifications, CPD and our growing suite of resources

Short presentations in the theatre showcased real impact and inspiring stories from OSH professionals driving progress in their fields. This was followed by refreshments and networking at the IOSH stand – a great chance to make new connections and share best practice.

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us. We look forward to meeting more of you throughout the rest of Intersec.

12/01/2026

The new wellbeing: Why mental health is the future of productivity

According to Harvard Business Review, employees who experience genuine mental wellbeing are 31 per cent more productive, six times more engaged, and dramatically more loyal to their organisations. In today’s high-performance culture, success isn’t just about results – it’s about resilience, empathy, and emotional intelligence.

Delivered by Hanan Al Sammak, Founder of HAC, Well-Being Expert, and Author, this powerful session unveiled a new paradigm of organisational excellence: one where mental health and productivity are inseparable.

In her keynote session, Hanan bravely talked about entering depression herself and the beauty of asking for help. She talked about finding your flow and activating positive emotions, and shared the power of rooted routines.

12/01/2026

Care2Lead? Unleash the safety leader within!

This talk, led by Dr. Islam Adra, Vice-President, HSE MENA and SCO at DP World, explored the defining characteristics of effective safety leaders, grounded in insights from original PhD research.

Drawing on real-world case studies, Dr. Adra highlighted how traits such as authentic care and trustworthiness are critical to driving both safety and business performance.