John Campion chairs NISO conference
This year's ESB- sponsored NISO conference in Killarney in early October, attended by over 300 delegates, had the appropriate theme - 'Is Your Business at Risk? Protecting Your People and Your Assets'. It provided a good business setting to the Gala NISO Annual Safety Awards ceremony that followed that evening attended by 600 Award winners, guests and delegates.
According to conference chairman, John Campion, this year's speakers were chosen for the strategic insights they brought to the effective management of safety health and welfare across their respective industry sectors. "I was very impressed at the way speakers took a practical approach to getting a culture of good health and safety started within the company or small business," he said.
The day saw speakers like Martin O'Halloran, CEO of the Health and Safety Authority outline his strategy for preventing occupational injuries and ill-health alongside tough measures and soon to be introduced on-the-spot fines to get compliance.
It also heard Pierce Martin, CEO of the National Irish Safety Organisation, describe the benefits of the new NISO Good Standard in health and safety practice developed in association with the Irish Insurance Federation and the National standards authority of Ireland. Delegates were also given powerful presentations on practical aspects of health and safety leadership by Ger Buckley ESB, Daniel O'Connell, Laing O'Rourke and Paul Ablitt, Sierra.
The conference aptly concluded with a keynote address on safety leadership given by Professor Peter McKie Chairman, Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland and former Managing Director of DuPont UK.
Chairing lively and fast-paced question and answer sessions, John Campion, ESB Executive Director HR and Corporate Affairs, was able to share with conference delegates the importance of senior management visibly demonstrating their commitment to health and safety. From his own experience, Campion instanced the fact that "all Directors and senior managers from the Chief Executive down in ESB carry out regular safety audits and safety management reviews".
"It's now an important part of our people culture right across our organisation, both in Ireland and in our international activities," he added. A frequent message to conference reinforced by John Campion throughout the day was the need for Company Directors and owner managers to integrate how health and safety management is carried out daily and the need for it to be part of the way they do their business.
Campion also sees changes made to the NISO Safety Awards as significant. He sees strong synergy between the new Awards format and the Safe Business Management process invested in heavily by ESB over the past five years. Adding, "every business needs good information and advice and I believe the new awards criteria, when acted upon, assists business managers in achieving healthier and safer workplaces and work sites, that is the goal we all work towards".
