Now the Official Educational Partner of the Health and Safety 09 series of regional events sponsored by DuPont, the British Safety Council has unveiled new ideas and seminar topics that will be included in the educational programme at the first event of 2009. Health and Safety 09 - South takes place on the 24 and 25 February at Sandown Park in Esher, Surrey.

On the first day of the event, new presenters and topics include Constructing Best Practice by Michelle Aldous of Constructing Better Health. Constructing Better Health is the 'not for profit' organisation set up by the construction industry to implement a national scheme for the management of occupational health across all sectors. Michelle's presentation will give an update of the progress made to date in the implementation of this important national scheme and outline future developments.


Also taking place on the first day is Getting Workers Actively Involved in Managing Risks to Health and Safety by Nigel Bryson of Bryson Consulting. This presentation will identify the business benefits that effective workforce involvement brings as according to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), 60% of employers in the UK do not consult their workforce about health and safety. Nigel will be examining the legalities of such information and the fact that businesses are missing out on all the benefits that such involvement would bring.

On the second day a new presenter, David Thomas of William Hare, the structural engineering company, will cover a subject which continues to be responsible for a high number of deaths, Working at Height. David's seminar will cover all aspects of safety when working at height, setting out the simple hierarchy for managing and selecting equipment for work at height and outlining some of the fundamental measures required for a safe system of work as required by The Work at Height Regulations 2005.

Also taking place on the second day is a seminar entitled Shattered Lives: A STEP in the right direction from Mark Thomas of the HSE. Mark's presentation will demonstrate the new, innovative Slips and Trips eLearning Package (STEP), the latest addition to the HSE's extensive range of guidance and materials available under the 'Shattered Lives' Campaign. Mark will also talk about the second phase of the campaign which is about promoting action in the workplace to address the risks of slips, trips and falls from height.

(CD/JM)