Amanda’s Journey to the Top

Amanda Lawson-Stoner CMIOSH

We are pleased to announce that our Strategic Director, Amanda Lawson-Stoner, has gained Chartered member status with IOSH. Here, in an exclusive interview, Amanda documents her journey.

“Joining the family business back in 2008, I was given the chance to find an area that I wanted to progress in.  I found my niche in health and safety.

I joined IOSH (Institution of Occupational Safety and Health) in 2010 as an Associate Member.  IOSH is the chartered body for health and safety professionals. It is the voice of the profession, the one who sets the standards and supports, develops and connects its members, with resources, guidance, events and training.

In 2011, I upgraded my membership to Technical Member (Tech IOSH).  This category recognises the qualifications, competence and experience needed by professionals working in a range of operational health and safety roles.  In order for me to maintain this status, and keep my skills, knowledge and experience up to date, I was required to join the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Programme

In 2015 I upgraded the membership to Graduate Member (Grad IOSH).  This category recognised the completion of a L5 Occupational Safety and Health qualification and the fact that I had maintained my CPD.  I was then asked by IOSH to start the completion of the Initial Professional Development (IPD).

The IPD process wasn’t an easy one, but is in place to allow us to demonstrate our professionalism.  The process started earlier in 2016 with the completion of two assessments – one being a multiple choice questionnaire the other a set of two reflective answers.

Upon completion of the first part of this process, I was required to attend a peer review assessment.  This involved an hour’s review with a panel of members who are also members of IOSH at Chartered Fellow status.  The interview / assessment involved me giving a ten minute presentation on how I had progressed in health and safety, the issues faced when dealing with health and safety in the workplace and my targets for the next five years.  Following the presentation, I was asked eight core questions based on health and safety and asked how I applied these in my workplace – the answers to these would demonstrate my competence and professionalism.  To complete the assessment, I had to answer key questions based on the IOSH Code of Conduct, which details the four high standards which I must work towards as a professional  – Respect, Integrity, Service and Competence.

The hour soon went!

I have today received news that I have passed the assessment and the IPD as a whole, allowing me to gain Chartered Member Status (CMIOSH)

IOSH is the only organisation in the world which offers Chartered membership to health and safety practitioners.  Employers know that when they work with a Chartered Safety and Health Practitioner, they are dealing with someone who is at the top of their profession.  Chartered Members have the respect of their peers – other professionals know that they have been through a rigorous process to become Chartered and have met the high standards of the world’s most prestigious body for health and safety professionals.

Next?… We will leave that for a few years!”

Congratulations Amanda, from all at Lawsons.