LEGAL & LITIGATION
David Lummis, CEO of The British Safety Industry Federation (BSIF), discusses the ever evolving world of new and innovative technology within the UK’s safety industry and how this influx of new technology is helping keep employees safe.
S
afety in the workplace is a primary concern across all industries, not
least in rail. David Lummis explains how technological advances can fulfill the legal requirements necessary to protect employees.
Lummis said: “Every employee has a right to work in an environment that poses no risk to their health and safety. In 1974 a key piece of legislation was enforced that would influence the working lives of many - the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. This was introduced to deliver significant improvements in workplace health and safety, including requiring employers to ensure that the correct Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is worn by its workforce where required.
“The legislation brought a heavier empha- sis on the use of PPE. The equipment needs to be comfortable, look good and protect. This combined a more highly skilled and educated workforce which created higher expectations from PPE end users. This demand for better PPE has in turn fuelled PPE product development.”
Above: Recognising success
Industry recognition for these products is important to maintain high standards and set the bar for future development, Lum- mis suggests. The BSIF holds annual Safety Awards to reward innovation and to moti- vate others to achieve the same success.
He said: “The UK’s occupational safety re- gime has an admirable record and the UK has long been viewed as one of the world leaders in workplace health and safety. The innovative use of new solutions and tech- nologies helps contribute to this success. With this innovation comes the need for industry recognition.
“Each year, the BSIF’s Safety Awards high- light and encourage innovative solutions to safety problems. Sperian is this year’s win- ner of the Product Innovation Award for its Howard Leight Quiet Dose Exposure Mon- itor, an in-ear dosimetry that measures the actual noise levels reaching a worker’s
The Howard Leight
Quiet Dose Exposure Monitor by Sperian
eardrums over a working day. Past winners of the product innovation awards have in- cluded products that have incorporated new technologies, simplified complex pro- cesses or just overcome a hazard that has continued to damage workers health up until that point.”
And there’s much more development in the field of technology to promote safety in the workplace. Trying different approaches and making use of alternative resources has produced a variety of helpful products.
“These products are just the tip of the ice- berg. Since then, new innovations include, stable, robust and lightweight helmets, very low resistance respirators, specialist anti-arc clothing using new materials, on- line training and assessments and better ways of displaying safety signs, to name just a few.”
Continual improvement According to Lummis, we need exciting
new ideas from a variety of sources to en- sure that PPE continues to develop.
“The PPE market is heavily dependent on technological innovations and it seems that UK safety equipment manufacturers do not fail to achieve.
“The UK continually delivers new innova- tive ways to spread the word of health and safety with most recently, a Manchester businessman creating an innovative hair- dressing health and safety application for the iPhone.
“With new technol- ogy come new op- portunities. The UK Government need look no further to find a success story of innovation!”
David Lummis
FOR MORE INFORMATION Visit
www.bsif.co.uk
rail technology magazine Aug/Sep 11 | 55
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