Key developments in the health and safety regulatory framework to be revealed at Bolton Arena event
KEY developments in the health and safety regulatory framework will be brought to light this week at Health & Safety North 2015. The two-day event, taking place at the Bolton Arena from 7–8 October, is centred on an exhibition that includes a free-to-attend conference authored by The British Safety Council.
The event also features the most well recognized trade bodies, manufacturers and distributors, training providers and consultants in the health and safety sector, giving visitors access to new information and experts.
Forming part of the conference programme, Kate Haire, head of the Local Authority Unit at the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), will be presenting a seminar entitled: ‘HSE at 40 and Beyond’ on day one of the event.
As well as providing a brief look back at Health and Safety at Work Act (HSWA) and HSE over the last 40 years, Kate will also give an update on key developments in the health and safety regulatory framework and a look into what might be expected in the future.
In addition, Louise Taggart, a health and safety training and project delivery professional, will present ‘Michael’s Story – The Impact of not Managing Risk Effectively’.
Addressing the presentation to anyone with a responsibility for health and safety at their workplace, Louise will tell the story of how her 26-year-old brother – an experienced electrician – died tragically 10 years ago as a result of an electrical incident that could, and should, have been prevented.
During the presentation Louise will talk through the catalogue of errors in health and safety management that accumulated to prove fatal. She will also discuss the wider consequences of Michael’s death, in the hope that lessons can be learnt and other deaths can be prevented.
On day two of the event the conference hall is set to be transformed into a court room with an interactive session from Pinsent Masons LLP; who will conduct a mock trial entitled: ‘A Construction Industry Accident – who’s Fault? You Decide’.
Split into two one hour sessions, The Evidence at 11:15 followed by The Verdict at 13:15, the mock trial will demonstrate the stages of a health and safety prosecution following a serious incident within the construction industry.
The mock trial will highlight health and safety implications from the injured party’s perspective as well as the management of the company, but perhaps, the most interesting part is that the trial’s outcome will be left in the hands of the visitors to decide.
The event will also benefit from a Safety Dialogue Theatre; a round-table discussion involving a live panel during which experts will discuss the latest issues and open up the floor to questions from the audience.
Topics for discussion will be: Managing Respiratory Hazards – with a focus on construction dusts and asbestos, this session includes information and a discussion on the Breathe Freely campaign recently launched by British Occupational Hygiene Society (BOHS); and Managing Noise Hazards – in this session the panel will discuss noise hazards and the practical aspects of protecting people against them.
The full seminar programme for the event can be viewed online at: www.healthandsafetyevents.co.uk