We are pleased to report that SOHSA was awarded the 2010 Best Programme award at the Safety Groups UK Alan Butler Awards for Excellence.

We also won the Best Communication award with judges commending the group’s range of communication to members, including its’ regularly updated content-rich website.

Along with the above two awards SOHSA were highly commended for the Best Seminar/Workshop category.

The Alan Butler Awards, sponsored by BT, recognise excellence and best practice among local safety groups in the Safety Groups UK (SGUK) network. Around 70 groups comprise SGUK, each one consisting of health and safety professionals from the local areas.

For more information on the awards and to see photographs of the award ceremony visit www.safetygroupsuk.org.uk/awards/2010/index.htm
 

A consultation document on the proposals for enforcement of the REACH Regulation in the UK was published today.

REACH, ( Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals) was agreed by the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers on 18 December 2006. The Regulation will come into force on 1 June this year. It will form the EU's framework legislation for the management, control and use of chemicals, replacing much of the current patchwork of over 40 pieces of legislation.

Health and Safety law applies to all businesses, whatever the size. A new online resource, Health and Safety Made Simple, provides employers with straightforward step-by-step guidance on what they need to do to achieve a basic level of compliance.
Aimed particularly at low risk small and medium-sized enterprises, the guidance has been developed by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in consultation with business organisations.

Health and Safety Made Simple takes businesses through their basic health and safety duties, explaining what to do and how to do it by linking to helpful resources such as online risk assessment tools. It also signposts users to further information and advice where necessary. The new guidance illustrates that health and safety doesn’t have to be difficult and that in many lower risk workplaces it can be adequately managed in-house.

Health and Safety Made Simple was launched in March by Employment Minister Chris Grayling, as part of a package of changes designed to reduce unnecessary bureaucracy and promote a proportionate approach to managing health and safety.

Judith Hackitt, Chair of HSE said:

“Managing health and safety needn’t be complicated or costly for businesses. It’s about taking common-sense measures to minimise risks to your employees and members of the public who might be affected by your activities.

“Health and safety made Simple” explains clearly what the law expects and what businesses need to do to comply with it. It’s a good starting point for any business operating in a low risk working environment.”

>> Visit the Health and safety made simple website now <<

For further information, key facts for businesses, or to discuss these new support materials, please visit the Health and Safety made Simple discussion now.

A new partnership between the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents and leading signage manufacturer Stocksigns aims to enhance the provision of high-quality safety signs in workplaces across the country.

From today (March 1), Redhill-based Stocksigns is RoSPA’s approved safety sign partner, an arrangement which means the firm is uniquely licensed to trade using the safety charity’s name and logo.

The partnership also entitles RoSPA members to a 15 per cent discount on all Stocksigns’ standard safety signs.

Established more than 50 years ago, Stocksigns is committed to supporting RoSPA’s mission to save lives and reduce injuries and it has led the development of signage standards and legislation.

It is a leading supplier of standard and custom-made safety signage, including fire escape, road, hazard and warning signs, and it exports to more than 35 countries. Its product range includes signs written in Braille.

Tom Mullarkey, RoSPA chief executive, said: “Having championed accident prevention for more than 90 years, RoSPA is the UK’s leading safety organisation. Therefore, when it came to finding a safety sign partner - a firm we would allow to use two of our biggest assets: our name and logo - it was only natural that we would look for an organisation with values similar to our own.

“With a 50-year heritage and a deep commitment to safety, Stocksigns was the obvious choice.”

Bern Harrington, sales and marketing director for Stocksigns, said: “We are all very excited to have the opportunity to work with RoSPA.

“Stocksigns has always prided itself on being at the forefront of safety legislation development and with our new partnership with RoSPA, we believe we can further enhance our safety range, helping to promote a safer environment.”

Stocksigns, which employs 78 people, is a member of the Health & Safety Sign Association, Photoluminescent Safety Products Association and the British Safety Industry Federation.

For more information, call Stocksigns on (01737) 774740 or visit www.stocksigns.co.uk or www.rospa.com/joinrospa/benefits.htm

Dear all,

Safety Groups UK Meeting and AGM - 17th June 2008 1.30 pm

The next meeting of Safety Groups UK includes tha AGM and is being hosted by:

Swansea and West Wales Occupational Health & Safety Group
Venue: Village Hotel, Swansea SA1 8QY
Directions: www.village-hotels.co.uk/hotels/swansea/directions.aspx

A buffet is available from 12.30 with the AGM beginning at 1.30 pm.
The speaker for the meeting (to begin at approx 2.30pm) is Claire Rawle, Partner, Margan Cole Solicitors who will be speaking on 'Corporate Manslaughter Act 2007'

Safety Groups UK would like to encourage all Groups to send representatives to the meeting.

Please let me know by Thursday 5th June if you and / or members of your Group will be attending.

Many thanks
Charlotte Henderson

contact(at)safetygroupsuk(dot)org(dot)uk