Health & safety smart

The first in the series of Health and Safety events for 2011, Health and Safety '11 South is being held at Sandown Park racecourse on 1-2 March 2011. Visitors to the event will find an educational seminar programme featuring some of the leading professionals in the UK, an extensive exhibition that includes the top providers of the latest products and services in the industry. The conference and seminar programme - which includes sessions organised by the event's official educational partner the British Safety Council - promises to be a valuable source of information for anyone involved with health and safety. The seminar subjects are topical and align with many of the issues that are affecting industry. One example is the seminar by Dr Paul Almond, senior lecturer at University of Reading's school of law, who will discuss Lord Young's health and safety review, published in October 2010. In his presentation, Almond will summarise the key recommendations of Lord Young's report, before going on to critically evaluate the approach taken and the proposals made. He will also assess the likely impact that the proposals will have in future. The organisers promise this will be an unmissable seminar for anyone with a wider interest in the politics and strategy for health and safety in the UK. General health and wellbeing in the workplace have, in recent years, been highlighted as major concerns for business - and musculoskeletal disorders are the second highest cause of working days lost after mental health issues. To address this topic, Samantha Kee from Kee Anatomy Training will deliver her seminar titled 'Good health and wellbeing in the workplace = good business'. Kee's presentation looks at the health and cost benefits of involving the workforce in the prevention and management of musculoskeletal disorders. Three scenarios will be used to illustrate how to design a working environment that allows different individuals to work safely: an 18-year-old apprentice, a 63-year-old man who is about to retire and a woman who is 4ft 11 inches tall. Kee believes strongly that for industry to manage effectively the impact of musculoskeletal disorders, the workforce must play an integral role in the design and development of working practices. Delegates to this seminar will also gain a clearer understanding of the impact that non-work activities can play on worker productivity and quality of working life. Something different is a drama-based presentation entitled 'Safety leadership and culture', delivered by Shaun Curry and Harry Gallagher from Drama Based Learning. The session promises to be interactive, practical, memorable and enjoyable. Curry and Gallagher say their style of drama-based safety programmes effects a long-term change in attitude - not just short-term behavioural change - and helps to build lasting positive cultural change. Elsewhere, Kevin Bridges and Zše Betts from law firm Pinsent Masons will give a legal health and safety update with their presentation entitled 'The significance of setting the right tone at the top'. It will give an insight into potential risks facing businesses as a result of recent developments in health and safety law. They will also discuss corporate manslaughter, new sentencing guidelines, trends in fines, personal liability of directors and senior management, and will give some preventative measures that organisations can take as part of an incident response protocol. As well as the seminar programme, Health and Safety South will feature products and services from top suppliers and safety industry organisations. The organisers say this approach ensures visitors can gain real value from the event in terms of knowledge gained, the opportunity to network with other professionals in health and safety, and ensuring they are up to speed with the latest products and services. Entry to Health and Safety '11, including full access to the seminar programme, is free of charge. Visitors can pre-register online at www.healthandsafetyevents.co.uk or call the event hotline on 0870 486 6816. Along with event partners 3M, Ansell, Arco and Dupont, Health and Safety South is supported by the British Safety Council and endorsed by the International Institute of Risk & Safety Management (IIRSM).