Diary
This year's National Health and Safety Week, organised by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), is to take place from 25-30 October.
The week, the fourth of its kind, is getting bigger each year with thousands of British businesses expected to turn their efforts to reducing the toll of deaths, injury and illness in the workplace. As this year's event coincides with the 25th anniversary of the formation of the Health and Safety Commission/Executive, and marks 25 years on from the Health and Safety at Work,etc. Act 1974, HSE will be offering 25 ideas for action during the week and 25 winners will be presented with awards.
Among those participating in the week will be the TUC, which is to stage a campaign about musculoskeletal disorders, and the British Safety Council which is planning a series of Good Neighbour Forums with HSE.
The Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission, Frank Davies, urges everyone including employees, managers and trade unions, to become involved:"Whatever the size or sector of your organisation, you can play a vital role in this week, which is becoming an increasingly important fixture on every workplace calendar. If you are from a large business or if you provide health and safety training, you could, for example, offer places on courses to small firms in your neighbourhood.
"Even if your workplace is small with limited resources, it doesn't cost much in money or time to carry out risk assessments, competitions or even to ask a neighbouring large company to share their health and safety expertise with you.
"With the risk of fatal and serious injuries at least 50 per cent higher in small workplaces, it is clear that many firms need to do more to prevent accidents and ill health at work. We hope that this week will help firms recognise that good health and safety is good business and, as such, pays dividends every week of the year."
Last year, more than 2,000 organisations provided feedback to HSE, detailing a wide range of health and safety initiatives. From these, 32 were chosen to receive awards at a prestigious dinner at Claridge's, London. Participants ranged from big businesses including Eurotunnel and British Energy to smaller organisations such as Silvers Marine Ltd, a boat repair yard in Rosneath and a seal sanctuary in Cornwall.
A National Health and Safety Week newsletter will be published by the HSE during the summer which will contain a feedback form for participants to complete and return after the week.
For further information contact HSE's InfoLine, HSE Information Centre, Broad Lane, Sheffield S3 7HQ. Tel: 0541 545500; http://www.open.gov.uk/hse/press.htm
Excitech announce their CAFM Seminar Programme
Excitech Computers Ltd, one of Europe's leading CAFM (computer-aided facility management) specialist is pleased to announce its forthcoming free CAFM Seminar Programme. A very active FM Expo 99, has generated a great deal of interest in the potential business benefits resulting from the implementation of ARCHIBUS/FM (the World's No. 1 CAFM System). Excitech has arranged three seminars for the coming year to provide a detailed insight into how CAFM, based on ARCHIBUS/FM can automate the management of space, assets, help desk and many more of the information-intensive disciplines that are the concern of the facilities manager.
Whether you are actively seeking a CAFM System, researching possibilities or just want to be aware of current technology, the detailed overview provided at Excitech's "CAFM overview" seminars will be helpful in indicating ways to maximise use of facilities information by:
Reducing costs,
Increasing productivity,
Improving communication across all disciplines.
The seminars consist of software scenarios including; use of the Internet;users relaying their CAFM experience and examination of CAFM as part of the life-cycle of building information management.
The seminars will be held at two exciting venues, the Science Museum and Painters' Hall. Spaces are limited, so please call 0181 804 9942 to book your place ASAP.
15 September 1999, CAFM Overview, Painters' Hall, London.2 December 1999, CAFM Overview, Science Museum, London.
The Haworth Seminars
In partnership with OFAS.
The Haworth Seminars entered their fourth series in 1999. Year on year the audience and the appreciation of the seminars have grown. From humble beginnings in the training room of Haworth UK early in 1996, the final event of the 1998 Series took place in November at The Embassy of the USA.
This year three major occasions have been planned. I was privileged to attend the first, a one day Seminar held at Manchester United FC, Old Trafford,Manchester on 20 May which culminated in a tour of the stadium. The theme of"The Future" runs through all of the presentations which are aimed at facilities managers, architect and design professionals, HR personnel and anyone interested in the future of the business world. All three speakers were informative,stimulating and highly entertaining and certainly gave the delegates plenty of food for thought.
The first speaker, Philip Ross, is a consultant, commentator and researcher on technology and workplace futures and director of Cordless Consultants Ltd. He has pioneered research into new technologies and new ways of working. Philip painted a picture of a futuristic, sci-fi world of work all the more realistic for the fact that the cordless and "Bluetooth" chip technology and use of radio frequency, infrared and virtual screens described are already in existence. Just as technology has changed the workplace since the invention of the typewriter,Philip related through various international case studies how he sees technology leading the change in our everyday working environments.
Michael Twiss is Director of Michael Twiss Associates, an independent consultancy specialising in Ergonomics, Safety and Health. His presentation focused on the legal, financial and moral issues of ergonomics in the workplace. Michael highlighted how new technology, along with its many advantages has several unwanted side-effects. Workstations have been linked with various health problems such as upper limb disorders, backache and eyestrain. Choosing the correct furniture and placing of equipment are not something that can be left to chance. The ability to make an informed choice in these matters is paramount in terms of staff welfare, turnover, minimising sickness absence litigation costs and complying with legislation standards.
Fortunately few facilities managers are forced to test their disaster contingency plans in a major emergency situation like the final speaker, David Haworth. Contingency Planning and Business Recovery Consultant with Manchester Council at the time of the Manchester bombing on 15 June 1996, David recounts the events from the time the vehicle containing 3,300lb of explosive was left in the busy shopping precinct. Evacuation plans and co-ordination with the emergency services were tested to the limit after the bomb exploded resulting in a major rebuilding programme and re-evaluation of contingency plans in the face of identified shortcomings. The main message of the presentation was to highlight the importance of having an adequate disaster plan. Not having one could indeed be a disaster. The resulting documentation is available on the Home Office Web site.
Future events
EDINBURGH - Thursday, 30 September 1999, Axis Scotland, King's Stables Yard,Edinburgh
Speakers:
Tom Porter, Oxford Brookes University
Professor Adrian Furnham, University College, London
Colleen Faulkner, Our Virtual Earth Project
London - Tuesday, 2 November 1999, The British Library, Euston Road, London
Speakers:
Jeremy Myerson, Helen Hamlyn, Research Centre, Royal College of Art
James Woudhuysen, Seymour Powell
Jess Reuschel, Ideation Group, Haworth Inc.
Includes a champagne reception and visit to the British Library.
For further information contact: Ofas, The Office Furniture Advisory service,Manhattan House, 140 High Street, Crowthorne, Berkshire TG45 7AY. Tel: +44(0)1344 752 488; Fax: +44 (0)1344 779 143.
