Industry experts meet at Sandown
February 1st 2008

Building on the success of the regional Health and Safety events last year, Health and Safety 08 promises to provide visitors with even more in the way of educational content and a wider variety of exhibitors. With the first of this year's two shows taking place soon at Sandown Park, Esher, Surrey, on 26th and 27th February, Georgina Bisby looks at what visitors to the show can expect to find

With a comprehensive seminar programme and a mix of exhibitors that rivals any national exhibition, Health and Safety 08 at Sandown Park should represent a great use of time for readers of HSM. Not only is the venue easy to get to, but parking is free, making the whole experience relatively stress free and easy to fit into a busy schedule.

In addition, visitors to the event will be given a voucher for a free day of racing at Sandown Park, to be used at their leisure.

The mix of educational and practical seminars is designed to address the most topical and pressing questions of safety and health professionals and anyone else who has a need to meet safety requirements. A wide range of disciplines is covered by the exhibition including everything from materials handling, to first aid, to machinery safety.

This year's show also sees an increase in the number of consultancies exhibiting which will help visitors to find those elusive experts on risk assessment and risk management in specialist areas such as construction and manufacturing. Another area worthy of mention is training with many companies, such as Principal People, able to offer accredited training across a number of different areas.

Regional Driver of the Year competition Health and Safety 08 in February is also hosting the first of Combilift's Regional Driver of the Year competitions with its forklift driver competition taking place on the first day of the event. Providing a good opportunity to get some fresh air between seminars and the exhibition, the competition will be overseen and judged by Mentor Training, the UK's leading provider of operator training. "As the Combilift range of forklifts is well known for its contribution to safer handling practices, this competition and show complement each other very well," says Roy Redman, Combilift's UK Product Director.

The 4-way capability of the Combilift forklifts means that drivers will not only be tested on their skills while operating in forward and reverse modes, but will also need to prove their control and accuracy with the trucks while traveling sideways. "Once you are familiar with the 4-way Combilifts, they are actually very straightforward to operate," says Combilift's Paul Hopkinson, "but we have added an extra challenge by designing a course which involves picking up and carrying large and bulky loads around obstacles, tight corners and, just for fun, backwards and forwards through a figure of eight – all against the clock, with penalties for unsafe operation!" As well as receiving a handsome trophy, the winner of the South East region heat will compete with other regional finalists for the title of overall Combilift Driver of the Year, to be held at Combilift's headquarters in Ireland in the autumn.

Things hot up Also taking place outside, Principal People's fire training consultants will be generating some heat in the Sandown Park paddock during Health and Safety 08. The team will be demonstrating the use of extinguishers and inviting visitors to bring a blaze under control with hand held extinguishers.

Principal People will be promoting the range of fire training services that it offers, from fire marshal training and evacuations to risk assessment and general consultancy.

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