Our Health & Safety Conference was a complete success last week with some excellent feedback received. We were delighted to see so many delegates this year with around 75 in attendance.

Our excellent line-up of speakers delivered some industry hot topics.

The day started with Heather White CEO from smarter networking getting delegates on their feet to go and meet new people in the room. These skills soft skills and networking skills are essential in developing in the Health & Safety profession, engaging with the workforce and advocating at a senior level.

Other topics this year included contractor management, Craig Foyle from Foyle Safety Management did an excellent job of explaining how key elements contractor management could be implemented using the ‘Plan, do, act, check’ model.

We also received a legal update from Simon Macfarlane and Emma Bracewell at DWF Law who explained in detail how the Carlsberg £3 Million fine was applied using the new sentencing guidelines, the bottom line is that the isolation of any refrigeration system should be proportionate to the risk.

To keep up to date with new technology Nick Hall from the HSE discussed robotics, artificial intelligence and advanced automation. Nick explained the transition of changing from segregation of people and machinery towards collaborative safety between people and machinery and the many evolving standards.

This was followed by ASG Services with a session on the latest innovation and integrated warehouse solutions, Chris Hopkirk gave us food for thought on the integration of safety systems in design rather than retrofitting at a later date, he also showed UV line marking for cold stores and projected sign and walkway technology.

As part of our commitment to mental health & wellbeing, Collins McHugh’s Liz Chasteauneuf and Sarah Baker took us on a journey through mental health at work which covered subjects such as stress containers and the ability to identify stigmatising language. Steve Herbert from Partners& then explained the wellbeing triangle and encouraged delegates to check what benefits their companies provide as a way of improving their wellbeing.

The day concluded with a practical view on Manual Handling from Pristine Condition’s Davy Snowdon MBE, Davy demonstrated good and bad manual handling techniques and the need to keep inside your base to prevent injury, he offered delegates a free video on access and egress of vehicles.

BFFF Member Mark Lovett, head of health, safety and environment at apetito spoke very highly of the health & safety conference:

“It was a well worth while day. All the speakers were excellent, and the topics were relevant to current safety issues in the frozen food industry. This year, I brought a couple of colleagues with me and we all got a lot out of the conference”