On 16 November, the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) designated 6,000 of its members as the first ever Chartered Safety and Health Practitioners. To achieve chartered status, practitioners must have reached a high level of qualification and experience.

On the back of this development the IOSH called for insurers to recognise the value of the title and to reduce the premiums of businesses employing such a person and it appears the insurers are taking heed.

The Association of British Insurers has welcomed the chartered status for safety and health practitioners, adding that it is happy to use its influence to raise awareness among its members of this development.

Already Sennet, one of the brokers in the field, has agreed to offer a 7.5 per cent reduction on Professional Indemnity premiums to chartered consultants and sole traders. Their response has a direct effect on small and medium-sized businesses that employ a chartered practitioner.

‘Companies that have a Chartered Safety and Health Practitioner, either in-house or as an adviser, can be certain that the organisation is working consistently and reliably to the highest possible standard,’ explains Lawrence Waterman, president of the IOSH. ‘This means insurers can be certain that health and safety is being administered to a standard that should give rise to a minimum number of accidents.’