Taking place at the The National Motorcycle Museum in Birmingham on 12th-13th September, the Health and Safety Midlands 2012 
event will provide visitors with all the latest information on legislation and an opportunity to meet the industry’s most highly respected organisations
Heading up the conference programme at Health & Safety Midlands will be Neal Stone, director of policy and communications for the British Safety Council (BSC) who will chair the conference on 12th, while Joscelyne Shaw, head of policy and influencing, will take over on the 13th. Visitors will also be able to get further specialist information via the Height Safety Zone and the ISSA backed Cleaning and Hygiene Zone.
Conference programme
Covering the latest news and legislative updates within the industry, the conference programme, put together by the British Safety Council, will feature contributions from Rosi Edwards, regional director, Wales, Midlands and South West, HSE, whose presentation, ‘What HSE is and isn’t looking for from duty holders’, will open the conference.
Edwards commented, “I am looking to explain what the HSE is, and as importantly isn’t, looking for in its interaction with people. Businesses need to concentrate on what is important for them to be successful as a business and hopefully this seminar will help them focus on what matters from a health and safety standpoint.”
Her presentation will refer to the guidance issued by the ‘Institute of Directors’ in relation to the HSE and although the seminar is not just for directors (it will also benefit health and safety professionals who want to communicate with directors) it does discuss why directors need to know what is happening in their business and how to gain this knowledge through honest and open communication with staff.
In addition, Chris Green the lead partner of Weightmans LLP, will deliver the ‘Directors in the Dock – could it be you?’ presentation which is aimed at all employers in the industry as well as health and safety practitioners. It will focus on enforcement and inspection of safety in the coalition era, charging for inspectors, common sense safety and the procedures for appealing enforcement notices.
Green commented, “I’m hoping to give employers a better insight on their duties and responsibilities when it comes to health and safety within the company and give them a heads-up on what to look out for. The perception is that health and safety is being enforced disproportionately judging by some of the recent media headlines. People are now less likely to volunteer to do a health and safety job due to this, and so with this seminar I’m hoping to straighten out any uncertainties an individual may have within their job role.”
Seminars
In addition to the British Safety Council conference, there will also be a range of practical seminars taking place across the two day event. For example, the ‘Are you fit enough? A practical guide to fit testing and competency’ presentation from 3M, and ‘Productivity & Comfort at work – contradictory or complementary?’, from Ansell Occupational Healthcare.
An underlying theme of the event will be that safety should not be restrictive but a positive approach to good business management. And, to reinforce this ideology, there will be a seminar delivered by Ken Smith, divisional director, Consultancy Services, Arc Associates on ‘Safety is a can do business’ which aims to challenge misconceptions and will discuss the benefits of doing things right.
Exhibition zones
The Midlands event will also feature three new exhibition zones. These include the Cleaning & Hygiene Zone, which will provide the latest information for those who, as well as having safety responsibilities, are also responsible for specifying and purchasing cleaning products and services. The Live Demonstration Zone will offer visitors the chance to see up close how new product technologies can dramatically improve the safety of your workforce, improve worker comfort and therefore, reduce costs and enhance productivity. And finally, the Height Safety Zone will provide access to many of the UK’s leading manufacturers of fall arrest and prevention equipment and training services, and will also provide educational seminars and live demonstrations during both days of the event.
Summary
Alongside event partners 3M, Ansell, Arco, NQA and DuPont, Health and Safety Midlands is supported by the British Safety Council and Safety Groups UK and is officially endorsed by the International Institute of Risk & Safety Management (IIRSM). Health and Safety Midlands is free to enter and has free parking but it is highly recommended that visitors register in advance to facilitate speed of entry and to guarantee themselves a place in the popular seminar programme.
Health & Safety Midlands
www.healthandsafetyevents.co.uk
T: 0870 486 6816
