Industry experts talk at Sandown
January 1st 2008

The Health and Safety 08 event takes place in February at Sandown Park in Surrey. Here Industrial Plant & Equipment highlights just some of the content which might be of particular interest to its readers

Having proved to be very popular in 2007 the first Health and Safety 08 event of the year will be held at Sandown Park, Esher, Surrey, on 26th and 27th February 2008. The regional series of events, sponsored by DuPont, offers a mix of free seminar content and a diverse product and service exhibition.

Potentially the most interesting element of the event for readers of Industrial Plant & Equipment is the free seminar programme delivered by industry experts and by IOSH (Institution of Occupational Safety and Health) members representing the London Metropolitan Branch. These will include a whole host of practical seminars that discuss the continuing problems that those working in the sector face in their day to day working lives such as HAV Risk Management; Manual Handling; Hearing Protection and PPE selection.

Among these practical topics is a presentation on day two about Manual Handling from Martin Kirk, of IOSH. This seminar will provide attendees with information about an employer's responsibilities in relation to manual handling and will look at the 2002 update of the Manual Handling Operations Regulations (MHOR). Guideline manual handling limits will also be discussed including the use of the Manual Handling Assessment Chart (MAC) tool to help with risk assessments of handling situations.

Also, delivered on both days of the event, is a presentation from Mike Denton entitled, Hearing Protection – Just Legal or Just Right? With all the confusion of Exposure Limits, Action Values, Real World Attenuation and Correction Factors, Mike asks and answers the question, What are we trying to achieve in a hearing conservation programme? Again dealing with practical issues, Elaina Harvey addresses Protection against burn injury from electric arc in day one and day two of the event. Elaina will look at how the imminent introduction of an IEC standard for garments, updated test methods for types of arcs and the introduction of a revised European Standard to protect against heat and flame could affect many organisations whose employees are at risk of burn injury from electric arc. Elaina will discuss: what the changes in legislation will mean for endusers and protective garment manufacturers; the hazards in electric arc; risk assessment; the importance of why employees need to be protected by FR clothing and the selection of PPE.

A great aspect of the seminar content available at the Health and Safety 08 event is the breadth of information available. A major change to the Sandown event's seminar programme for 2008 is the introduction of some new elements that reflect the latest thinking in regard to occupational health.

Forward thinking safety organisations believe that while it is true that more employers are becoming aware of the need to promote a healthy lifestyle by offering 'stop smoking' or lunchtime exercise classes to employees, if they really want to improve the health of their workforce, they should address problems like stress and poor office design that are really making their staff ill. On the 26th February, Liz Skelton representing IOSH's London Metropolitan Branch delivers a seminar entitled Stress Management. The presentation addresses the practical application of the HSE's stress management standards and looks at making the link between good health and good business.

Other topics which may be of interest include the lead seminar on the first day, a paper entitled, Corporate Manslaughter/ Homicide – The Impact. Delivered by Kevin Bridges this seminar discusses The Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act that comes into force in April 2008 with the stated aim of making it easier to convict companies and other large organisations where serious management failures result in death.

Convicted organisations could then face fines up to 10% of their annual turnover.

The seminar will introduce the Act and the new statutory offence of corporate manslaughter/homicide and its anticipated impact on corporate and personal liability.

Another contentious and interesting seminar, this time delivered on the second day (27th February 2008) looks at the relationship between insurance and health and safety regimes. Presented by Mike Flannery, Insurance – Friend or Foe?, makes the point that for years, insurance and health and safety seem to have been somewhat at odds and only in the largest organisations do you find arrangements where both are viewed as equal and mutually beneficial partners in the management of risk. Mike's presentation examines practical, tried and tested ways of leveraging your health and safety program to achieve significant impact on your insurances and how to use your insurers to assist in progressing health and safety programs.

The full seminar programme is available to view at www.healthandsafetyevents.co.uk.

Exhibition delights The exhibition element of Health and Safety 08 is also impressive with a great many of the well known names in the health and safety industry exhibiting their products and services. PPE providers such as Ansell and Aearo have a strong presence, as of course do sponsors DuPont, while Principal People represent the diversity of the event with their training courses and their recruitment division.

Other interesting PPE providers include safety glove manufacturer BM Polyco and workwear and underwear specialist Praybourne.

Respiratory protection is an area which is well catered for also, both in terms of physical protection equipment and consultancy services. BW Technologies, Shawcity and Industrial Scientific are all major players in the gas detection industry while ACAD and ACS (Asbestos Consultancy Services) can offer advice and training regarding environmental concerns.

Demonstrating the continuing trend for those with health and safety responsibilities to get involved in wider areas there are many exhibitors whose solutions deal with the environment generally, the presence of The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health being a great example. Fosse Liquitrol and Safety Unlimited provide a large range of drum handling and spill control equipment while Praxis42 offer environmental management software.

In fact the range of health and safety areas addressed by the exhibition has been increased for 2008 as Tim Else, exhibition director explains saying, "While we will of course have many exhibitors covering PPE, noise and vibration, respiratory protection, first aid and so on, as we did in 2007, we have listened to our visitors and are providing more in the way of consultancies this year. Experts that are able to provide assistance in areas of risk assessment and risk management in specialist areas are difficult to source and so we aim to help in this area." Their success in 2007 proved that these Health and Safety events (the second event of the year takes place at The Reebok Stadium, Bolton in October) are a valuable addition to the safety calendar.

With the breadth of information available a visit represents a positive use of time for visitors from virtually any industry. The little extras, such as free seminars and free parking all really do help to provide a worthwhile experience for the timepressured visitor.

For more information and registration visit: www.healthandsafetyevents.co.uk

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