What is our purpose?

The mission of the Branch is to assist IOSH in the promotion and continual improvement of work related safety, health and environmental sustainability. We aim to achieve this primarily through supporting members of the East Anglia Branch and creating opportunities for them to network and develop their competence.

How are we financed?

We are funded by a per capita grant from IOSH based on membership within the region. (NB: When you joined IOSH you were asked to indicate what Branch you wished to belong to). These funds, along with extra funds we raise from events such as the annual seminar, are used to help us communicate and organise activities for our members.

How are we run?

An executive committee of up to twenty members, who are all safety practitioners, have volunteered their services to help run the Branch. Elections are held annually and any member can stand, although the Chairman, Vice Chairman and a majority of the executive committee (EC) must be corporate members. Please note that we carry out our activities in addition to our normal work. We are not employed by IOSH, or the Branch. Executive committee meetings are held prior to each Branch meeting, where we resolve strategies for providing added value to our branch membership. Please contact the Branch Secretary or Chairman, if you wish to have any issues raised.

What do we do?

The EC organise a programme of events and activities to help you network with other safety professionals and maintain, or increase your professional competence. We issue a programme every summer and keep you updated through our newsletter and this current website.

Our activities include:

Branch Meetings: We hold five or six Branch meetings a year and always invite a guest speaker to give a presentation on a current health and safety issue. The meetings usually take place on a Friday afternoon and usually last for around 2 hours. We vary the location, to ensure that the maximum number of members can be reached over the wide area the Branch covers.

The Branch meetings are free of charge and you don't have to book. Just turn up on the day. Light refreshments are provided.

Workshops: These are particularly designed with members who may be new to safety, or developing their professional competence, in mind. They aim to give practical guidance on common health and safety subjects. Workshops are generally held in the evenings and their venue varied to be accessible to members across the Branch. Keep an eye on the newsletter for details of the next one. They are usually free, though you may have to reserve a space.

Seminars: We normally hold an annual one-day seminar every year, but others may also be organised. The seminars include presentations by quality speakers, covering topical subjects, usually suggested by our members. There is a charge for seminars, although members of the East Anglia Branch receive a discount.

Training and Development: We have a Branch Education Development Adviser (BEDA) who, assisted by the training and development committee, provides information, support and assistance to the members on gaining health and safety qualifications and professional development. The Branch has actively assisted members wishing to attain Tech SP through the portfolio route, by organising workshops and assessing portfolios.

IOSH Groups: We currently have representatives of the three largest groups, construction, public services and offshore, on the executive committee.

The Buddy List is a list of members willing to "lend an ear" to a fellow member who may be experiencing difficulty in a particular area of practice. They may require guidance on a specialist topic or provide guidance to a new aspiring member.

How can you find out more?

Check out our website or refer to our newsletter for up to date information on our activities. You are also welcome to contact members of the executive committee (you will find contact details on the annual programme, website or newsletter). We are happy to hear from our members, but please bear in mind that we are volunteers and are working for the Branch in addition to our normal work. For general questions about IOSH, membership etc (e.g. changes of address or Branch), please contact IOSH head office directly.

How can you get involved?

Please contact a committee member if you would like to help the Branch by assisting with activities, by becoming a Buddy or offering a work placement. We are also always keen to welcome "new blood" onto the committee. The Branch elections take place in May. Keep an eye open for the nomination forms in the March newsletter.