Using sponsorship to smash IOSH's conkers killjoy image
 

Health and safety professionals are hitting back at the killjoy image of their profession by both taking part in, and sponsoring, this year's World Conker Championships, at Ashton in Northamptonshire on 12th October. Regularly associated with banning fun activities like games in the school playground, sweets being thrown into the audience at theatres, and balloon models by clowns, the alleged 'killjoys' have said enough is enough.

"We do not, and never have, required children to wear goggles to play conkers", says Ray Hurst, the president of the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), the organisation sponsoring this year's championships. "Real health and safety is not about the nonsensical reports of petty bans and infringements on fun you see in the media. "These decisions are being taken by people who have limited knowledge of health and safety and who haven't sought the advice of a health and safety expert, or are simply scared senseless by the perceived compensation culture. Health and safety doesn't require goggles at conker matches, and it doesn't ban goggles from swimming pools!" Authoritative IOSH is Europe's leading body for health and safety professionals, with nearly 33,000 members worldwide, including 13,000 Chartered Safety and Health Practitioners. The Institution was founded in 1945 and is an independent, not-for-profit organisation that sets professional standards, supports and develops members and provides authoritative advice and guidance on health and safety issues. IOSH is formally recognised by the ILO as an international non-governmental organisation.     Hurst added: "I'm looking forward to captaining my team to glory at the championships to show that health and safety people are not spoilsports. "We like to have fun like anyone else. You just have to manage the risks, not ban them into oblivion." The World Conker Championships, organised by Ashton Conker Club, has been running since 1965 and is held each October at the picturesque village of Ashton in Northamptonshire. It attracts about 500 entrants from across the world and about 5,000 spectators each year. The event comprises men's, ladies' and three junior age championships. Crowned The cost of running the Championships is paid for by sponsorship but all money raised from the event itself is donated to charities for the blind and partially sighted. This is usually split between the RNIB and groups working in the area where the event is held. Around 500 other entrants from as far afield as Jamaica, the USA, Brazil, the Phillippines, Benin and countries across mainland Europe will be taking part on the day, each hoping to be crowned Conker Champion.