The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) has launched a new expert-led commission to examine the future of occupational safety and health (OSH) skills in the UK, amid growing concerns over workforce shortages and rising pressures on safety professionals.
Convened in partnership with Speedy Hire, the OSH Skills Commission brings together leading figures from across industry, trade unions and professional bodies to develop practical solutions to skills challenges that threaten workplace safety and productivity.
The initiative was formally launched at an event in the House of Lords by head commissioner and RoSPA vice president Baroness Crawley of Edgbaston. It will comprise five expert roundtables, each focused on a critical factor shaping OSH outcomes, with findings feeding into a final report of strategic recommendations for government and industry.
RoSPA said the commission comes at a pivotal moment, as Skills England and the government’s new post-16 skills strategy begin to identify priority areas for workforce development. The organisation aims to influence that agenda by ensuring occupational safety and health skills are recognised as essential to economic resilience and worker protection.
Five focus areas, five expert commissioners
The commission will examine five core themes, each chaired by a recognised leader in the field:
• Recruitment of competent people – Claudia Jaksh, chief executive of Policy Connect
• Retention of competent people – Rick Bate, president of the Institute of Occupational Safety & Health (IOSH)
• Consultation and worker representation – Luke Collins, national health and safety officer at Unite the Union
• Wellbeing, culture and psychological safety – Nick Pahl, chief executive of the Society of Occupational Medicine
• Technology in OSH – Kate Field, global head of people and social sustainability at the British Standards Institution
Each roundtable will explore how widening skills gaps, the loss of experienced professionals and difficulties in attracting and retaining talent are being compounded by changing working patterns, new technologies and increasing regulatory complexity.
Speaking at the launch, Baroness Crawley warned that the UK was facing a mounting shortage of occupational safety and health skills, with real-world consequences.
“This commission is born out of difficult circumstances,” she said. “Our nation faces a growing occupational safety and health skills shortage that is impacting productivity and putting people in danger.
“Our goal is to influence policy through stakeholder engagement and drive informed change, once again positioning the UK as a world leader in health and safety. Together, we have an opportunity to future-proof OSH skills, support national productivity and build a safer, stronger workforce.”
Andy Johnson, group HSSEQ director at Speedy Hire, said the nature of the modern workforce was creating new risks. “We’re seeing a more transient, industry-agnostic workforce moving rapidly between roles,” he said. “While that brings fresh energy, it also creates skills and knowledge gaps that present new challenges for the OSH profession.”
Nick Pahl of the Society of Occupational Medicine said the commission’s focus on empowerment was critical. “By putting skills at the heart of recruitment, retention, wellbeing and technology, the commission can identify solutions that support people and businesses rather than burden them,” he said.
RoSPA said the final report would aim to set out a clear roadmap for strengthening OSH capability across the UK, ensuring safety professionals are equipped to meet evolving risks and helping employers maintain safe, healthy and productive workplaces.
