Speakers at The Storage Equipment Manufacturers’ Association Annual Conference and Exhibition Storage Safety Conference on 31st October at the National Motorcycle Museum Solihull explain why attendance is a must.
“When can you use generic assessments rather than task-specific ones? Should assessments be done by H&S advisers or line managers? What is the point of risk assessment anyway? There are still many questions from companies who struggle with risk assessments. To address these questions, HSE Training has developed the “Inspector’s Guide to Risk Assessment” course to help employers use risk assessments effectively. My presentation will cover the key points for risk assessments, and the common pitfalls to be avoided.”
Chris Taylor, Occupational Health and Safety Training Specialists.
“SEMA’s definitive work is formalised into a set of codes and guides that are certainly not just for technicians and engineers but are of direct relevance to all those involved with the management and safety of warehouse operations. Together with training, these “codes of honour” as we like to call them, provide a framework for the safe design, installation and use of storage equipment manufactured and supplied by our members. We currently have over 75 technical publications to our credit – including the box set of Toolbox Talks for practical use by installers on site.”
Dagan Hyde, Technical Training Manager, Whittan Group.
“Racking collapse is one of the biggest safety concerns in the warehouse, as it can cause fatality or serious injuries to warehouse personnel. Sadly, it is often due to bad practice. As an independent rack safety inspector, I have seen many ‘howlers’ in the warehouse; the scope of which ranges from the seemingly innocuous to the downright dangerous. Using examples and case studies from installations I have visited I will demonstrate how we can all make the best decisions when working with racking systems.”
Area Manager, Storage Equipment Safety Service.
“Designing and installing pallet racking and shelving is undoubtedly a complex topic. In this industry providers and end-users still fall into two categories; those who seek to do it safely and those who don’t. The better suppliers generally use the correct systems, designed and installed properly to ensure end-users comply with SEMA recommendations and legislation. Unfortunately, there are still far too many providers that either don’t know how to achieve the above or choose to ignore it. Inspectors should always support the safe use and maintenance of racking and I will present a number of situations, demonstrating which is right and which is wrong.”
Gary Steed, SEMA Approved Inspector & SARI Working Group Committee Member.
“Despite stringent legislation, annual forklift accidents remain in the thousands, and the resulting damage and disruption continues to come at serious cost to UK businesses. But we want to assure end users that there are simple steps they can take, often at relatively little cost, to substantially reduce risk. To raise awareness of the dangers, I’ll highlight common causes of forklift accidents and provide simple practical tips that can be easily applied on site. There’s a common theme throughout and, if businesses address this, they will be taking a huge step towards making their workplaces safer, compliant and more productive.”
Stuart Taylor, MD, Mentor FLT Training.
“Unfortunately falls from height is still one of the industry’s biggest killers, with annual death rates hovering around 40 per year. The HSE recognises that warehouse racking and mechanical handling has inherent risks and has produced advice and recommendations to assist employers and staff with identifying highest risk areas of the industry. The best way of keeping people safe whilst working at height starts with education and ongoing training to ensure current safe practices and new methods keep staff confident so they can perform their duties safely and to give employers peace of mind. We assist companies, not only with compliance but supply of quality kit and bespoke training”
Gary Wood, Training Manager, Arco.
“Perceptions are key to understanding people, their personalities and the courage of their decisions in the workplace.’ In the 70’s the H&S@Work act focussed on the moral, legal and financial regulations for industries to act upon, until the last decade people were low on the radar. Going forward we need to understand the personalities of people working within organisations and whether decisions are made clearly or acting in a fog. We need to encourage everyone to make the right decisions, they are leaders too and probably know more than most about the organisation and industry they work in.”
Paul Mahoney, Impact Speaker, PJM Ltd.
Investment in storage safety is a sound commercial decision and well within reach when you follow best practice. In 2017, new, tougher Health & Safety legislation was introduced and as a result, there has been a sharp increase in fines paid by UK firms. Fines for corporate manslaughter can now be as high as £20m and directors must accept personal liabilities for safety breaches. Our speakers with wide ranging backgrounds cover important issues such as legislation, risk assessments, and real-life case studies. These examples bring home the diverse responsibilities of safe storage management.”
Jaap Vos, President of SEMA.
SEMA
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