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CEO's desk - April 24

03 April 2024

The British Safety Industry Federation (BSIF) is launching key initiatives to support occupational safety and health in the UK. Alan Murray shares the news.

WE ARE now well into 2024 and I’m really excited to tell you that BSIF is launching significant initiatives to continue to support occupational safety and health in the UK. Firstly, we are launching a membership expansion pilot to embrace employers, duty holders and safety professionals where they will be able to participate in all of the BSIF PPE resources and help to develop PPE practices and protocols directly with the Federation and its’ members. 

Secondly, we are creating and providing PPE education in the form of a course and qualification titled “Sourcing Safety” which will provide specifiers, purchasers and those making decisions on PPE with all the knowledge they require in this safety critical product category.

These programmes will be transformational for our industry bringing together the key stakeholder groups of PPE suppliers and users, sharing knowledge and experience to improve user safety and health.

The pilot programme to include employers, duty holders and safety professionals will be launched with an inaugural event alongside HSM Live on the 27 June at the Coventry Building Society (CBS) Arena. BSIF is currently speaking to potential pilot members, but if anyone reading this column has an interest in participating please don’t hesitate to get in touch by e mailing enquiries@bsif.co.uk and put Member Expansion Pilot in the subject bar.
What will the Membership Expansion pilot deliver? In essence we want to support the market and provide pilot members/participants with ….

  • Access to a manned, independent PPE information help line
  • Independent guidance and information on Standards & PPE Regulations
  • The opportunity to receive PPE and safety industry updates via internal BSIF Bulletins
  • Access to a wide range of informative BSIF white papers, information and knowledge on a password protected website 
  • Access and participation in regional PPE/safety equipment development workshops, forums and user groups
  • The opportunity to develop new campaigns/white papers and update existing campaigns
  • Access and discount on BSIF training courses such as “Sourcing Safety”
  • Access to networking events. Meet with all members from the supply chain and other HSEQ managers/duty holders at multiple events each year
  • The opportunity to be nominated to the British Standards Institute (BSI) national product standards committees.

The 12 months from the June HSM event will be the duration of the pilot and we know that there will be opportunities to learn and adjust our collective plans as we go, creating appropriate agendas, but certainly becoming a member will offer safety professionals, employers, specifiers and individuals sourcing PPE and Safety independent information, guidance and support leading to improving the mitigation of risk through the correct selection of PPE which is safe, legally compliant and fit for purpose, helping to safeguard current safety and future health in the workplace. We will not be charging any membership fees to pilot members, but we believe that the pilot will add significant value in the PPE market and that it will enhance user safety and health into the future.

As I said earlier in the article we are also creating and providing PPE education in the form of a course and qualification titled “Sourcing Safety” which will arm specifiers, purchasers and those making decisions on PPE with all the knowledge they require in this safety critical product category. “Sourcing Safety” builds upon the experience with the “Safe Supply” course and qualification which benefited those on the supply side of PPE. We are now going forward with education for those specifying and purchasing PPE to assist them in making informed decisions when selecting and sourcing PPE. 

Sourcing Safety, with endorsement by NEBOSH and carrying CPD points, aims to improve the mitigation of risk through the correct selection of PPE, that is safe, legally compliant and fit for purpose which will make a difference in user safety and health. 

Sourcing Safety – the course and qualification will be officially launched at the Health and Safety Event at the NEC being held between the 30 April and the 2 May 2024 Welcome | The Health & Safety Event (healthandsafetyevent.com) do visit BSIF’s stand in Hall 4 stand J30 for more information, or please feel free to e mail enquiries@bsif.co.uk putting Sourcing Safety in the subject bar.

Alan Murray is chief executive of BSIF. For more information, visit www.bsif.co.uk

 
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