Membership Bodies’ Agreement Set to Benefit NZ Health

12th September 2014

Membership Bodies’ Agreement Set to Benefit New Zealand Health And Safety Professionals

Two membership organisations today announced an agreement to work together to support health and safety professionals in New Zealand.

The New Zealand Institute of Safety Management (NZISM) and The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) signed a memorandum of understanding that will give members of both bodies the opportunity for ‘mutual recognition’.

This means:

- Respective categories of membership, so a Graduate of NZISM can become a Graduate of IOSH, for example

- The organisations will share a continuing professional development (CPD) recording platform for members to record and plan their CPD activities

- Both organisations will work together for the benefit of health and safety, supporting each other in discussions with government and industry and sharing a commitment to developing the professions

NZISM is very pleased with this new development in our working relationship with our colleagues in IOSH and sees this as key to supporting health and safety professionals in New Zealand.

Tony Rigg, NZISM National Manager, said: “These are exciting times for health and safety in New Zealand. This agreement will enable us to facilitate a real step change for our organisation. It will allow our members here clear pathways for professional development along with dual recognition leading to international acceptance of their skills and expertise.

The setup of our own platform for those in the accreditation pathway will be of great benefit to us and with the excellent support provided by IOSH we will be able to further develop this pathway to allow increased recognition of those in the industry in New Zealand.

In doing this we will support the improvement of New Zealand’s health and safety record by providing a means to ensure businesses have access to competent health and safety practitioners.

Simon Bowen, IOSH Executive Director (Membership) said: “I am delighted that our long-standing relationship with colleagues in New Zealand has been strengthened by the signing of this agreement.

“In providing financial and technological support to NZISM, we have been able to create a basis for mutual recognition and aligned profession development measurement for health and safety specialists across international borders.”

Simon said IOSH members working in New Zealand would find “a familiar and comfortable home with NZISM” for networking and development, if they chose to seek dual recognition. At the same time, NZISM members seeking international recognition would be able to take advantage of this agreement to achieve the IOSH status their NZISM membership provides.

ENDS

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