NEWS IN BRIEF...
June 1st 2008 Competence check for safety professionals - a good idea The recent report on Health and Safety published by the Work and Pensions Select Committee regretted the fact that Safety Professionals are not regulated. For several years now, the BSIF has been promoting the need for a wider control on the ways in which safety professional operate with specific attention to the adequacy of their competence
The BSIF believes that a self-regulatory scheme would be a good initial step, possibly modelled on the principles embodied within the CORGI scheme and, motivated by the select committee's comments, the BSIF is now seeking a cross-industry consensus to develop a generic competence standard linked to a suitable accreditation scheme.
The fact that companies seeking to engage the services of safety professionals are ultimately responsible for the competence of these consultants, but have no yard-stick to measure that competence, is in nobody's interest.
BSIF expands overseas trading opportunities for the safety industry - Recent discussions with the government departments which support the export activities of safety companies have resulted in the Safety, Security and Fire industries being linked to the Defence industry within a single sector. This will result in companies providing safety products and services receiving significantly increased support funding for their overseas activities, their involvement with visiting buyers through inward missions and their participation in overseas exhibitions and outward missions.
Self-regulatory accreditation for fit-testers - Earlier this year the BSIF announced that it is working with the HSE to develop an accreditation scheme for people who provide fit-testing for respiratory protection. The standards are now being finalised and it is anticipated that the scheme will be rolled-out in the autumn with a public launch early next spring.
There is much evidence that inadequate fit-testing is leading to staff suffering from the inhalation of hazardous chemicals. The BSIF believes that this scheme will significantly reduce the number of people being harmed and focus a closer attention by employers on the need for the correct fitting of respiratory protective equipment. More articles from British Safety Industry Federation: | 
