Health and safety meets sustainability

31/05/2024

IEMA representatives joined thousands of health and safety (H&S) professionals at an event in Birmingham in May to highlight the need to incorporate sustainable practices across the sector. The Health & Safety Event also saw IEMA publish a guide to extreme weather adaptation and the key steps organisations can take, tailored for H&S professionals, explaining how “the responsibilities of both H&S and sustainability are intricately linked and intertwined”. Attendees at the event were invited to take a green skills quiz (see p5) to help increase their awareness of sustainable practices and how to prepare for the impacts of climate change. In a LinkedIn survey carried out during the event, IEMA found that just 22% of organisations felt “very prepared” for the impacts of extreme weather, with 49% “unprepared” and 29% “unsure”. This is despite better preparedness for extreme weather offering cost savings and improved profitability, business continuity, enhanced reputation and new business opportunities. IEMA will continue to forge closer partnerships with H&S professionals and offer training and guidance to help them better understand sustainability issues.