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Respiratory Protective Equipment Guidance

This British Safety Council guide sets out general advice on the correct selection and use of respiratory protective equipment (RPE).

RPE, such as face masks, can be a vital tool in preventing workers from breathing in harmful substances that can seriously damage their health or even kill them, such as dusts, fumes, vapours and gases.

However, RPE must only be used as last line of protection once all other reasonable methods of preventing exposure have been attempted. It must also be properly selected, used and maintained so that it adequately protects the health and safety of the user.

UK employers are required under laws such as the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH) to take all reasonably practicable measures to prevent – or adequately control – exposure to hazardous substances to protect the health of their employees.

Under COSHH, employers must first try to prevent exposure to the hazardous substance or process altogether if it is reasonably practicable to do so – for example, by using water-based rather than solvent-based products. However, if it is not reasonably practicable to prevent exposure, employers must adequately control it, following a hierarchy of measures.

The guide looks at:

  • the RPE selection process
  • fit testing RPE
  • training for RPE users
  • maintaining RPE.

The guide reiterates that, although RPE is widely used throughout UK workplaces, it must only be used as a last resort measure.

British Safety Council
September 2021

Respiratory Protective Equipment Guidance

Repeated Failures Mean Fine for Food Manufacturing Company

Coldconnection Limited has been sentenced after repeated failures to maintain safety devices on its food processing machinery.

On three separate occasions between July 2008 and March 2016, HSE inspectors visiting the premises of Coldconnection Limited found multiple food processing machines that had non-functional or defeated interlock safety devices. Notices were served on each occasion, requiring the company to remedy the defects, but on a fourth visit in August 2019, the same issues were found again.

The HSE prosecuted the firm due to the repeated contraventions relating to these safety devices and the failure to maintain improvements.

Coldconnection Limited of Bladen Street Ind Est, Jarrow, Tyne And Wear pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 11 (3)(c) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998. The company has been fined £14,000 and ordered to pay £928 costs.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Stephen Garner said: “While HSE would prefer to engage with businesses proactively through alternative enforcement tools, we can and will bring action through the courts where businesses are found to put their employees at unnecessary risk through repeated contraventions of health and safety law.”

 

 

PLANTING THE FUTURE

On 2nd September, Lexington published a report entitled ‘Planting the future: a moment of change for UK food’. The report examined the opportunities and challenges ahead for the ever-growing plant-based food sector.

The Plant-based food sector has seen an explosion in popularity in the UK, with growth looking set to continue. At this pivotal juncture, the report examines the opportunities and challenges ahead.

The report looks at the overall picture and the contributing factors to the growth of the plant-based sector, which include sustainability, health and animal welfare. It also covers the challenges the industry face, such as popularity, nutrition and health credentials and the pushback from the food and farming sector, finally it looks at the policy environment, including the post Brexit reality and the wider UK political conversation.

To read the full report, click here.

NEW OPERATIONS DIRECTOR APPOINTED AT MARSHALL FLEET SOLUTIONS

Leading commercial vehicle company Marshall Fleet Solutions has announced that, with immediate effect, Mark Sutcliffe has joined the business as its new Operations Director. Reporting to MD Mark Howell, Mark Sutcliffe joins a seven-person Board of Directors at Marshall Fleet Solutions, working closely alongside the other executive directors.

Announcing details of Mark’s appointment, Mark Howell, Managing Director at Marshall Fleet Solutions said, ”Mark is joining the business at an exciting time as we continue along our programme of business growth across all sectors and our renewables and sustainability programs.  Applying his operators experience to evolve our new and existing fleet management business channels, Mark will play a major role in strengthening our expertise in this area and be integral in leading the operations team to future success.”

Prior to joining MFS, Mark Sutcliffe gained a wealth of experience within the food logistics industry, most recently as Head of Transport for The Co-Op. Prior to The Co-Op, Mark worked in several other senior operations roles, including Group Transport Manager for Warburtons Limited and key roles at The Big Food Group, Brake Brothers and Cearns & Brown.

Mark Howell continues, “Mark brings over 30 years management and operational experience to MFS, specifically within large commercial fleet management, complemented by effective strategic leadership and delivering innovation excellence to customers. Mark will no doubt flourish within the MFS environment and help drive our business forward together with delivering continued excellent service levels to our customers.”

Speaking on his new role, Mark Sutcliffe said, “I am delighted to have joined Marshall Fleet Solutions. Over the past 18 months I, like many others, have seen evidence of the significant positive changes that have taken place at MFS, resulting in the business once again being a leading contender in the industry and am very much looking forward to being part of the continued success and growth.

CHILDREN’S CHARITY GOLF DAY RAISES OVER £26,000

A golf day organised in aide of national children’s charity Molly Olly’s Wishes, which supports children with terminal or life-threatening illnesses, has raised an incredible £26,252.

Jointly organised and sponsored by total supply chain solutions provider Oakland International and Avanti Print and Packaging, 17-teams from across England, Scotland and Wales took part despite the challenging weather to compete for golf titles including Beat the Pro, Longest Drive and Nearest the Pin, before an evening auction and grand raffle of items donated by suppliers and supporters of the charity.

Oakland’s Chief Operating Officer Lee Whiting commented: “Molly Olly’s Wishes is an amazing charity which supports so many poorly children throughout the UK.

“We would like to thank everyone who joined us and supported this, our first ever joint event of this nature, which we are now going to make into an annual event, setting our fundraising target even higher next year!”

Joint sponsor Avanti Print and Packing’s Paul Elliot added: “Molly Olly’s Wishes is an incredible charity supporting children with life-threatening illnesses all over the UK.

“We are overwhelmed with the support and generosity received from the attendees of the event and I would like to personally thank each and every one of them. The Avanti and Oakland Teams will be back again next year to help raise even more money for Molly Olly’s Wishes. Bring on 2022!!”

Molly Olly’s Wishes grants individual wishes and donating therapeutic toys and books to children directly and through hospitals across the UK and grants some 40 wishes per month, an increase of 100% during lockdown, and at a time when funding has significantly reduced.

Charity co-founder Rachel Ollerenshaw said: “The golf day and auction were a huge success. We are extremely grateful to Jane, Lee, Paul and Holly at Oakland and Avanti for organising such a great day and helping to widen the reach of the charity with introductions to a new audience. All the golfers were very generous and big thanks to all the sponsors. Molly Olly’s has seen a sharp rise in the number of requests for support and the funds raised are much needed to enable us to fulfil those wishes which help to put a smile on poorly children’s faces.”

Like so many other charities Molly Olly’s Wishes has found it difficult to fundraise over the last year due to the pandemic. An average wish costs around £500 and can range from a family day trip to a computer game to supermarket food vouchers.

Craig Lilly from the Perfect Personnel team said: “Well done to Rachel, Avanti Print and everyone at Oakland International for organising such an amazing day. It was a privilege and an honour to be a part of the fundraising for Molly Olly’s.

“Rachel and her family are an inspiration, the work they are doing is making a huge difference to these young children’s lives. They have captured our hearts and we will continue to support Molly Olly’s in any way we can in the future.”

OUTBREAK OF HIGHLY PATHOGENIC AVIAN INFLUENZA (HPAI) IN BOTSWANA

The BFFF recently received communication from Defra advising us of an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Botswana.

Botswana is approved to export certain commodities susceptible to HPAI to Great Britain, as outlined in Retained Regulation 798/2008 and Retained Regulations 1069/2009 and 142/2011.

On 6th September 2021, Botswana notified OIE of an outbreak of HPAI of subtype H5N1 in a poultry farm close to Gaborone. Therefore, the territory of Botswana cannot be considered free of HPAI and as such Botswana can no longer certify consignments of susceptible commodities for export to Great Britain.

Imports of the following commodities are suspended until further notice:

Retained EU Regulation 798/2008:

  • Breeding ratites and productive ratites (model BPR)
  • Day old chicks of ratites (model DOR)
  • Hatching eggs of ratites (model HER)
  • Meat of ratites (model RAT), including meat preparations made from meat of ratites as per Retained Commission Decision 2000/572 (Annex II model HC)

Retained EU Decision 2007/777:

  • Meat products of ratites not subject to treatments B or C or D as laid down in Annex II of the Decision

Retained Commission Decision 2007/275:

  • composite products containing meat products of ratites not subject to treatments B or C or D as laid down in Annex II of Decision 2007/777

Retained EU Regulations 1069/2009 and 142/2011

  • Unprocessed animal by-products referred to in Regulation 1069/2009 and its implementing Regulation 142/2011 consisting of, or containing material from ratites

Defra along with the Scottish and Welsh Governments have introduced safeguarding measures to provide appropriate enforcement powers to deal with any consignments that present a risk.

Please note that there are no HPAI related restrictions on imports of:

  • Specified Pathogen Free (SPF) eggs;
  • eggs (E); and
  • egg products (EP).

We will keep you informed of developments as we receive them.

Member Benefits

Exclusive Partnership deals on key products and services:

  • BFFF energy deals and rates
  • Vypr member deals and introduction
  • Defib Plus deals
  • Company Shop – membership
  • Mentor – MHE training health check

Exclusive access to networking opportunities and events:

  • Meet the Buyer events (retail & foodservice)
  • Annual Business Conference with networking dinner
  • Specialist H&S and Technical Conferences
  • Special interest groups (packaging, frozen food temperatures)
  • Annual Lunch
  • Awards Night
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We offer a range of sponsorship opportunities to BFFF members across our events throughout the year, with flexible packages that can be tailored to suit your business objectives.

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