Next stop Scotland

The 2013 Health & Safety regional events continue with Health & Safety Scotland, which will offer Scottish industries direct access to the highest quality of independent safety information right on their doorstep

Health & Safety Scotland takes place at the SECC, Glasgow on the 17-18 April 2013. The second in this year's series of regional events, it provides visitors with a free conference programme, organised in conjunction with the British Safety Council, live panel debates, an exhibition with many of the best known companies in the sector participating, and a host of networking opportunities.

The conference programme covers a wide range of the most relevant topics affecting Scottish industries today and is delivered by some of the most respected experts.

Opening the conference is Neal Stone, director of policy and communications at the British Safety Council, who will address the topic of 'The Löfstedt Reforms of Health and Safety: So Far so Good?'. As the reforms to implement the Löfstedt report's findings gather pace, concerns have been voiced about the capacity of organisations to stay abreast of the mass of changes which will require a fundamental review of company health and safety policies, strategies and systems.

Neal Stone will give an overview of the changes implemented to date and survey what's up and coming following the Löfstedt report.

"We've been listening to our members and what we hear is that in order for employers to play their part in the planned reforms, time and space is needed to make the changes to their own health and safety strategies, policies and systems," Stone said. "People responsible for managing health and safety need to get their heads around the reforms and be able to understand what they need to do or what is expected of them in order to implement these changes." Another focus which will be highlighted in the presentation will be the HSE Fee for Intervention Scheme (FFI) and looking at how it's being implemented since its launch on the 1st October last year. "The first invoices for the scheme were due in the second week of January, so it will be of great value to speak to the visitors at the Health & Safety Scotland event and see how this major change has impacted on them," Stone added.

Summary of legal updates Looking at the latest legal updates will be Laura Cameron, partner and head of the regulatory group at Pinsent Masons. Her seminar is aimed at all health and safety professionals including senior managers and directors, and will look at the legal developments which have affected the health and safety industry in Scotland over the past 12 months. The presentation will focus on topics such as corporate manslaughter, and what we have learned from the recent cases; the HSE Fee for Intervention Scheme and finally, the prosecution of individuals for health and safety offences.

Insight into offshore challenges Discussing the offshore sector and how the lifestyle of an individual can have an impact on their safety performance will be Susan Elston, vice president operations excellence, global offshore & marine, at Sodexo Remote Services. This presentation is aimed at all health and safety and HR professionals and will give an overview of how an offshore worker's lifestyle (at home and at work) can impact their safety performance and what can be done to address and overcome these key challenges.

The seminar will also discuss the problems that living and working in a remote location can cause and how employers can make significant improvements by recognising the challenges and initiating actions. Elston said: "Quality of life plays an important role in the progress of individuals and the performance of organisations. For example, offshore workers spend a lot of time away from home, this can sometimes put a strain on them, and as well as this, their level of activity and diet also changes which can have an impact on their performance. So with this seminar I'm hoping to provide some suggestions on different ways a worker can overcome these challenges and how best to deal with them."

Health & safety in electricity Doug Wilson, UK director of general services and health and safety at Scottish Power, will focus on the electricity sector's health and safety strategy, in his presentation 'Powering Improvement'.

Aimed at business leaders, industry leaders, senior managers and directors, the talk will explain the electricity industry's approach to developing its health and safety strategy and how it has worked with the HSE, unions and employees to make this happen.

"I'm looking to outline the advantages of the electricity sector's strategy, as well as to focus on the themes picked out, why we and also to distinguish what we have achieved with the strategy so far," Wilson said. "Considering that this is a five year plan it will be interesting to explore how it has been adopted and see the results it has achieved and what we will look to achieve in the remaining time period."

Practical learning & live panels As well as the British Safety Council conference programme there are other, more practical, seminars taking place across the two days. Visitors will be able to see vendors and event partners such as 3M host practical seminars. 3M has two seminars, the first focuses on 'PPE Compatibility' and the challenges faced when multiple items of PPE are worn.

The second addresses 'The Science of Fit': evaluating the interaction between people and PPE products and ways to improve design, fit, comfort and productivity.

Something new and exciting for this year's Health & Safety Scotland is the "Safety Dialogue' live panel which will be held on both days of the event. The panel offers visitors the opportunity to engage with live debates surrounding the most significant issues of the day, and this year the panel of experts will focus on the issues surrounding Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE) and specifically, face fit testing for masks.

At the event there will also be a substantial exhibition where the leading product and service providers in the health and safety sector are exhibiting and will be available to offer advice on the latest technology and business practices.

Health & Safety Scotland is supported by the British Safety Council and Safety Groups UK. 3M Safety Solutions is the lead sponsor for Health & Safety Scotland in 2013, and the event is also officially endorsed by the International Institute of Risk & Safety Management (IIRSM).

Health & Safety Scotland is free to enter, but it is strongly recommended that visitors register in advance to facilitate speed of entry and for guaranteed seminar places as these are extremely popular.

To register online visit: www.healthandsafetyevents.co.uk or call the event hotline on the telephone number below.