1. Ralph Weaver (Branch Chair) welcomed people to the third Branch meeting of 2010. The meeting was well attended with around 50 members present.

2. New members were welcomed to the Branch –eight in total.

3. Events – a reminder of District Events was given.

North District is running a seminar on Workplace Transport on 14^th April. This will cover all aspects of work place transport and has presentations from HSE, ROSPA, construction and logistics firms, and a solicitor. The event will take place at Wedgewood Visitor Centre. See North District website for details.

4. AGMs; Notice was given that AGM's are to be held at May meetings.

The AGM is the process by which the Branch Committee is selected. Nomination Papers will be available through the web site and nominations are welcomed from those wanting to make changes.

Members wishing to vote will need to attend May meeting.  Anyone who may like to join the committee and would like more information was invited to contact existing Committee members.

5. The Branch Website is slowly being developed. Anyone with a desire to contribute articles etc.  should forward these to a member of the Committee or to Branches@IOSH with a request that they be forwarded to Midland Branch.

6. Programme;  May -         AGM and Legal Update

7. Andy Mackiewicz gave a presentation on DSEAR.

Andy's presentation made simple issues that can seem complex including how the judgement is made that DSEAR is relevant to a given process, practice or environment.

DSEAR is based in trade protection legislation and specifically in EX marking of Explosive substances and of machinery and equipment for use in such environments. It is a zone based system requiring areas to be classified and appropriate equipment protections to be established.

Andy explained how DSEAR is about context and proportionality using straightforward examples.  He outlined the process for DSEAR risk assessment and the need for consideration of potential consequences and establishment of a basis of safety.  The basis of safety must establish controls that are independently effective and do not rely on people for safe implementation.

Andy also stressed the importance of adequate training for those operating in a hazardous environment or using hazardous substances to ensure that they understand the nature of the hazards they face and how to mitigate or control any risk.

He suggested that emergency plans should be kept simple and away from eth process area.

He recommended those interested to use the EU ACOP as opposed to the UK one, as it is easier to apply and gives good practical examples.

There was discussion after the presentation.

8. Tony  Vozniac gave feedback from IOSH 2010 conference and exhibition. He had found the opportunity to attend useful for networking and he encouraged people to make time to attend 2011 event, even if they can only go the  exhibition.  He pointed out that the exhibition hosted many free seminars covering similar topics and materials to the conference itself.

9. Ralph Weaver thanked members for attending, reminded them of the AGM and call for involvement, and closed the meeting.  

To return to the Midland Branch main page click here

To view the DSEAR presentation click here

Midland Branch

Executive Committee - Elections 2010 nomination form

If you want to stand or propose someone for election to the MIDLAND BRANCH Executive at the AGM on Thursday 6th May 2010 at Hollyfields Centre, Erdington, Birmingham B24 0JT -  please fill in this form and send it to the Midland Branch Secretary at the address below (please use capital letters).

Please return this form to the Branch Secretary by Friday 30th April 2010 to:-

IOSH Midland Branch c/o 23 Wallescote Drive , Solihull B91 3YN.

If you'd like to discuss what's involved or need more information, please contact

Ralph Weaver, IOSH Midland Branch Chair, Tel: 0781 736 6148        Email r.weaver@netmatters.co.uk

Or contact through branches@IOSH.co.uk

And Election of the Midland Branch Executive Committee

at

2pm Thursday 6th may 2010

Hollyfields Centre, Erdington, Birmingham B24 0JT

Agenda

1. Welcome by the Branch Chair, Ralph Weaver

2. Apologies for absence

3. Minutes of AGM, held May 2009

4. Treasurer’s report for year 2008-2009

5. Branch Chairperson’s report for May 2009 - 2010

6. Election of members to the Branch Committee for 2010 - 2011

7. Election of Branch Officer bearers for 2010 - 2011

8. Address delivered

9. A.O.C.B.

10. Close of Elections

11. Presentation by Andrew Lichfield on a Legal Update

1.       Ralph Weaver (Branch Chair) welcomed people to the second Branch meeting of 2010. As last month the meeting was well attended with about 90 members present.

2.       New members were welcomed to the Branch –nine in total.

3.       Events – a reminder was given of the Occupational Health and Wellbeing event being held at NEC on the 9^th and 10^th March. Entry is free .On line registration is available through the intranet.  

4.       North District is running a seminar on Workplace Transport on 14^th April. This will cover all aspects of work place transport and has presentations from HSE, ROSPA, construction and logistics firms, and a solicitor. The event will take place at Wedgewood Visitor Centre. See North District website for details.

5.       AGMs; Notice was given that AGM’s are to be held at May meetings.

The AGM is the process by which the Branch Committee is selected. Nomination Papers will be available through the web site and nominations are welcomed from those wanting to make changes.

Members wishing to vote will need to attend May meeting.  Anyone who may like to join the committee and would like more information was invited to contact existing Committee members.

6.       The Branch Website is slowly being developed. Anyone with a desire to contribute articles etc.  should forward these to a member of the Committee or to Branches@IOSH with a request that they be forwarded to Midland Branch.

7.       Programme; There have been a number of recent errors in programme information on the Web  and Connect Diary pages as communication routes are being developed. R Weaver apologised for these errors. He clarified the programme for April and May 2010.

April –   International Group (short presentation)

                DSEAR (main presentation)

May -    AGM

Legal Update

8.       Chrissy Doherty (CMIOSH) gave a presentation on Working at Heights.

Chrissy’s presentation was a “back to basics” look at the requirements of the Working at Height legislation, based primarily from her background in construction.

Chrissy was keen to expel some myths about working at height and to reinforce the message that control  should be based on risk assessments specific to the job in hand.

She highlighted that the legal requirements are not black and white and require professional or informed interpretation and judgement. Practitioners need to ensure that they have considered (and addressed) all foreseeable risk.

Chrissy advised that practitioners should be able to demonstrate that they have considered all the foreseeable risks and have eliminated those they can eliminate, and controlled the rest. She recommended that control must include instruction and training, and that these should be evidenced by the records in the management system. Demonstrating that control is implemented in practice is usually through audit (and if necessary corrective action).  Supervision is one of the most frequent failure points of control.

Chrissy covered a number of topics including; Ladders- their appropriate use, the myth of the 2 metre rule, access methods, and work below ground, unloading vehicles, fragile roofs, maintenance and general roof work.

In “organisational factors” she re- emphasised the importance of clear responsibility, clear standard setting, competence and supervision. Stressing that even as an H&S professional if you do not know the answer – ASK. Someone else usually does.

She reminded attendees not just to plan the work, but also to plan for foreseeable emergency.

To make it clear that if the job is not what was thought during planning, it is safe practice to abort and re think.

Finally Chrissie reminded us that work at heights is rarely considered in a stand alone context and often there is a need to consider other legislative requirements as well e.g.

Management Regulations – Control of Contractors

PUWER – equipment used may need inspections

CDM – maintenance and refurbishment

There was some general comment and discussion with some interesting points made.

Discussion reiterated the importance of supervision.

The achievements of the Olympic Build programme with only one RIDDOR were also discussed.

It was also mentioned that Statements of Contractor expectations are being used at contracting stages. Apparently there is one such statement on the Olympic Build web site - if any one has a copy, forwarding it to Branches@IOSH.co.uk  for attention of the Midland Branch could bring it to the visibility of interested members. 

Discussion regarding behavioural safety, and the continuous nature of risk assessment and control, was rounded up by the observation that the easiest place to find grounds for prosecution is in looking at monitoring arrangements.

Members thanked Chrissie for her contribution.

9. Roger Smith thanked members for attending, reminded them of the AGM and call for involvement, reminded them of the forthcoming programme (see above) and closed the meeting.  

1.       Ralph Weaver (Branch Chair) welcomed people to the first Branch meeting in 2010.

2.        He reminded members that IOSH have recently launched a new website on which members can find details of all Branch and Group meetings and through which members can access their CPD.

3.       New members were welcomed to the Branch – six in total.

4.       Members were reminded that completion of their CPD is a requirement of membership. Any members with problems accessing their CPD or with queries related to IPD should contact IOSH.

5.        A raffle was held for IOSH conference tickets (incl travel and accommodation)  with proceeds raised going to MacMillan Cancer Nurses. A Total of £82.21 was raised. Craig Barker and Tony Vozniak were the lucky winners.

6.       Steve Savage  (CMIOSH) gave a presentation on Introducing Management Systems.

Steve explained the relevance of H&S management systems in creation of a defence  against corporate manslaughter, and in reducing risks pertaining to prosecution (generally), compensation claims and client confidence. In addition he explained their value in systematic accident prevention.

Steve explained how standards such as ISO 18001, or HSG 65 can assist in system design, but that accreditation is a choice and not a requirement.

He outlined a practical approach to implementing a system, from its introduction to delivery and maintenance , and highlighted that even initial design and implementation will take about two years, whilst Maintaining the system is a continuous role.  He stressed the need for participation of many areas of the business, as consultation and communication are key to ensuring the system is effective and adequate.

His advice was that those wanting to develop a system take on as much as they can “in house” in terms of identifying what controls they currently have and mapping these against the requirements of a standard to identify a “gap” to be filled. It is only after this is done he suggested that third parties could be asked to get involved. The reason for this being that the organisation internally needs to know what control it has and what it needs to do and needs to focus its resource carefully on its own identified priority areas.

He advised that care is required in selecting measurement criteria to ensure that those selected are of value to the business and its objectives e.g. accident data, claims data, workplace or document inspections, risk assessment reviews and audits.

Although introducing a management system is a lot of work, Steve outlined a variety of benefits, from reducing accident and ill health, through reducing potential fro legal action, to improving organisational performance  and demonstrating management control.

There was quite a lot of interest demonstrated and Steve fielded a number of questions.

7. Ralph Weaver thanked members for attending and closed the meeting.

22 January 2010

Workplace transport includes any vehicle that is used in a work setting, such as forklift trucks, compact dumpers, tractors or mobile cranes. It also includes cars, vans and large goods vehicles when these are operating on or off the public highway.

In many instances, companies think that ensuring their vehicles are kept in a reasonable condition, are insured, that the drivers have received relevant training and are in possession of the correct licences for the vehicles they drive then everything is fine.

 However, health and safety law applies to all workplace transport activities as it does to all other work activities, and the risks should be effectively managed within a health and safety management framework. In fact, the HSE recommends that the same or higher standards be applied to workplace drivers as are applied to those allowed to drive on public roads.

So what happens regarding on-site traffic plans, loading and unloading of vehicles, moving goods in a warehouse using FLT’s or reach trucks, driving on construction sites, or journey planning for fleet drivers and sales staff etc?

The IOSH Midland Branch, North District, are organising a seminar that should be of value to anyone who is involved in managing workplace transport of any type. This includes health and safety professionals, transport/fleet managers, warehouse managers, Principal Contractors and everyone else who has an involvement with this subject.

The seminar takes place at the Wedgwood Visitors Centre, Barlaston, Stoke on Trent on Wednesday, April 14 2010 and if the previous North District seminars are anything to go by, it will be well supported.

Speakers in attendance will be from the HSE as well as leading industry professionals. The North District Chairman, Mr Graham Kilford says, “This will be a first-class event with high calibre speakers which should appeal to everyone who deals with the management of workplace transport. Early bookings are strongly recommended”.

And what’s more, there will be an opportunity to take a look around the visitors centre and the award winning museum at this world famous pottery manufacturer.

Further information from Kajal Samat at IOSH or visit the event page.