Press Releases

British Gas, ScottishPower and BP join expert line-up at IOSH annual conference and exhibition to impart health and safety best practice across utilities sector

With accident rates in the energy and utilities sector four times greater than the national average and the number of fatal incidents in the waste management industry a staggering ten times the national average¹, it is critical that professionals have access to the latest advice and health and safety guidance. British Gas, ScottishPower, Sainsbury’s and BP are amongst a plethora of industry heavyweights set to impart best practice at the IOSH annual conference and exhibition (http://www.ioshconference.co.uk) taking place at Manchester Central 06-07 March 2012. This unique event will provide delegates with many of the tools required to remain abreast of the ever evolving occupational health and safety sector while learning about ways to increase cost efficiency and demonstrate best practice.

In 2005 the UK saw its most costly disaster, the now infamous explosion and five-day fire at the Buncefield Oil Storage Depot, which resulted in costs of an estimated £1billion by the Major Incident Investigation Board².  The examination into the Buncefield explosion was a lengthy and complex one which raised many questions within the safety and utilities industries. The IOSH annual conference and exhibition will see Richard Booth, Professor Emeritus at Aston University and Director of HASTAM exploring the conflicting interpretations of the incident by the prosecution and defence and their implications. He will also explore the notion that even best practice audits may be inadequate to reveal fundamental shortcomings in safety management.

With the challenging theme Health and safety: Changing perceptions, the conference programme will feature over 60 expert speakers, more than 30 sessions on hot industry topics, and 15 hours of lively discussions, vital legal updates, in-depth analysis, practical workshops and real-life case studies. Hot topics include the Löfstedt Review, the ongoing impact of Lord Young’s health and safety review, and a session from Richard Peatfield, Occupational Health & Hygiene Manager at Severn Trent Water on Ensuring the health, safety and wellbeing of an ageing workforce which will focus on understanding the ergonomic implications, building a supportive culture and planning for future demographic changes in future business strategies.

Key speakers include Professor Ragnar Löfstedt on the outcomes of the Löfstedt Review which aims to simplify health and safety rules and decrease the burden of red tape (published on 28 November ) and the HSE’s Judith Hackitt CBE who said in a recent speech to National Safety Symposium “there is a good deal of change going on in the world of health and safety, but the focus remains the same. Times are tough and tough decisions have to be made… Cost reduction is a challenge for us all, but it is also an opportunity to look for new and innovative ways of maintaining and where possible improving on outcomes - especially in health and safety.”³

The most frequently reported types of accidents across the energy and utilities industry are manual handling injuries, slips and trips and being struck by objects (e.g. refuse during collection). After it’s successful launch at the 2011 exhibition, CoreSkills+ is back to provide sixteen practical workshops focused on core health and safety skills. This popular programme has doubled in size since its inception last year and offers a choice of one-hour workshops which aim to refresh the knowledge of experienced practitioners and support the skill base of those starting their health and safety careers. 

IOSH Chief Executive Rob Strange OBE said: “IOSH 2012 is a great opportunity for practitioners to network, learn and share best practice. And that’s why it has become such an essential part of our mission to improve the health and safety of people at work.

“We have responded to demand this year by doubling the Core Skills + sessions at conference, for example. People attend IOSH’s annual conference and exhibition because they want to become better practitioners and do their bit to reduce injury and illness in the workplace.” The annual IOSH exhibition runs alongside the conference and is the premier choice for leading companies showcasing their latest products and services, as well as providing face to face advice and guidance on best practice and compliance. This offering will give procurement professionals the opportunity to compare and contrast a whole range of products and services from exhibitors including British Safety Council, Evac + Chair International, Nebosh and Total Access Ltd. With around 2,000 visitors expected to attend and more than 100 exhibitors on show, IOSH 2012 is set to feature the biggest and best exhibition in the history of this peripatetic show.

The IOSH annual conference and exhibition takes place at Manchester Central 06-07 March 2012. Further information on the full programme and exhibitor list is available at www.ioshconference.co.uk. 
 

Notes to editors:

About UBM plc, organisers of IOSH conference & exhibition

UBM plc is a leading global business media company. We inform markets and bring the world’s buyers and sellers together at events, online, in print and provide them with the information they need to do business successfully. We focus on serving professional commercial communities, from doctors to game developers, from journalists to jewellery traders, from farmers to pharmacists around the world. Our 6,000 staff in more than 30 countries are organised into specialist teams that serve these communities, helping them to do business and their markets to work effectively and efficiently.

In addition to the IOSH conference & exhibition, UBM’s safety portfolio includes Safety & Health Expo, OSH Africa, OSH India, OSH Arabia, SHP magazine, SHP online and Training and Career Development Live.

 For more information, go to www.ubm.com

Contact:

Louise Boulden, Group PR & Communications Manager louise.boulden@ubm.com 020 7921 8066

Laura Dagg, PR & Communications Executive laura.dagg@ubm.com 020 7921 8040

 

About IOSH

IOSH is the chartered body for health and safety professionals. With more than 40,000 members in 85 countries, we’re the world’s biggest professional health and safety organisation.

We set standards, and support, develop and connect our members with resources, guidance, events and training. We’re the voice of the profession, and campaign on issues that affect millions of working people.

IOSH was founded in 1945 and is a registered charity with international NGO status.

Contact:

Tim Walsh, Media Manager tim.walsh@iosh.co.uk 0116 2573252

[1] http://www.rospa.com/occupationalsafety/sector/energy-and-utilities.aspx

[2] http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2011/hse-buncefieldreport.htm

[3]http://www.hse.gov.uk/aboutus/speeches/transcripts/hackitt050911.htm