BSIF In action

In support of the Health and Safety Executive the BSIF were
called on for their input when the review and revision of their guidance
document HSG53 – Respiratory protection at work: A practical guide, was taking
place, and also when the HSE were developing the campaign support material for
their Wearability Project, which produced a pocket guide and toolbox talks to
help supervisors and end users address PPE needs and usage within small
businesses.

BSIF currently actively participate in the Noise and Vibration
Partnership Group which draws members from end user organisations, trades
unions, other trade associations and action groups and is driven by the HSE to
reduce the incidence of Noise Induced Hearing Loss and Hand-arm Vibration
Syndrome. We also work within the Construction Dust Partnership, managed by the
HSE with the stated aim; to raise awareness within the construction industry
about lung diseases related to dust in the workplace and to promote the
appropriate controls to prevent these diseases.

You will recently have read here that BSIF have become part
of the UK Trading Standards organisation in order to better promote knowledge
and understanding of the issues surrounding fake and illegal PPE products being
offered for sale, and at Westminster we also participate in the All Party
Parliamentary Group on Occupational Safety and Health.

Also within the seat of Government the BSIF regularly liaises
with the Department for Business Innovation and Skills, BIS, who, as the
controlling body for UK Notified Bodies who certify PPE, are involved with the
BSIF Test and Certification Association. BIS also forms the UK delegation at
the European Commission PPE Working Group and at the Commission’s negotiations
for the current revision of the PPE Directive, and the BSIF continue to provide
support and industry insight to assist BIS in these functions.

The BSIF also actively supports and participates in the work
done by Safety Groups UK, and is currently involved in the development of their
LOcHER project (Learning Occupational Health through Experiencing Risk), which will
take practical examples and demonstrations into higher education and training
colleges to raise awareness with young people as they prepare to enter the
workforce.

So you can see, the BSIF is outward facing just as much as
it works inwardly in its aims to raise awareness and improve occupational
safety and health.