NEWS BRITISH SAFETY COUNCIL
CELEBRATES ‘BEST OF THE BEST’ British Safety Council held its annual Gala Dinner on 19 June to celebrate the winners of its International Safety Awards 2025, at the Royal Garden Hotel, Kensington, London. This is the 67th year the awards have taken place and the 65th year of a gala dinner.
The prestigious event, which this year was sponsored by HSI Donesafe, was hosted by adventurer James Cracknell OBE, the celebrated former Olympic Rower, and included speeches by British Safety Council CEO, Mike Robinson, its chairman Peter McGettrick, and Dr. Tim Marsh, world-renowned Safety Psychologist and MD of Anker and Marsh.
The event combined a formal presentation ceremony with a dinner and evening of live entertainment.
The International Safety Awards recognise and celebrate organisations from around the world that have demonstrated to the satisfaction of the scheme’s independent judges their commitment to preventing workplace injuries and work-related ill health during the previous calendar year. The awards also acknowledge organisations that have shown commitment to wellbeing and mental health at work.
RECALL OF SAFETY SHOES SOLD ON TIKTOK EXPOSES SUBSTANDARD PPE CRISIS
The British Safety Industry Federation (BSIF) has warned that a recent recall of safety shoes sold via TikTok highlights the alarmingly wide availability
of substandard personal protective equipment (PPE) in the UK market.
The recalled product, listed on TikTok Shop under multiple descriptors including “Men’s Anti-smash and Anti-puncture Shoes, Breathable Non-slip Work Shoes, Comfortable Safety Shoes for Men, Fashionable Shoes for Daily Wear, Boy,” was advertised as offering protection despite failing to meet essential safety requirements.
The recall was issued by the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) following the intervention of Lewis Collantine, a product safety consultant specialising in trading standards who brought the issue to light.
According to the OPSS the product, “presents a serious risk of injuries because although advertised as ‘anti- smash’ and ‘anti-puncture,’ there is no evidence it has undergone conformity assessment as PPE and it is not CE or UKCA marked.”
The OPSS also states: “The product does not meet the requirements of the Regulation (EU) 2016/425 on Personal Protective Equipment or the Personal Protective Equipment (Enforcement) Regulations 2018.”
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While the shoes have now been removed from TikTok following enforcement action by the OPSS, at the time of writing, similar – if not identical – footwear remained for sale on platforms such as Temu.
Commenting on the recall, Alan Murray, BSIF Chief Executive Officer, said: “No surprises here. The BSIF has been aware of a burgeoning volume of substandard footwear available on platforms such as TikTok for some time, but we are pleased to see Trading Standards take action and we must applaud the work of Lewis Collantine, who has been instrumental in bringing this example to light.
“This is exactly why the new Product Safety and Metrology Bill needs to ensure there are real ramifications for online suppliers who fail to provide properly certified products. Employers and users deserve confidence that PPE described as protective genuinely meets standards and offers the protection it claims.”
The BSIF warns that many of these products are purchased by unsuspecting individuals who have been given budgets to buy their own PPE but may not fully understand the rules, regulations, and certification requirements surrounding safety products.
The BSIF reiterates the importance of buying PPE only from BSIF Registered Safety Suppliers, who are committed to supplying certified and compliant products that keep workers safe.
www.registeredsafetysupplierscheme.co.uk WWW.TOMORROWSHS.COM
In 2025, 789 organisations won an International Safety Award. They span all sectors with significant representation from the construction, manufacturing, oil, gas, mining, power and utility sectors. Winners were drawn from 45 countries worldwide. 212 organisations were awarded a Distinction, 371 organisations were awarded a Merit and 206 organisations achieved a Pass.
Speaking at the event, Chief Executive of British Safety Council, Mike Robinson said: “It is our vision at the British Safety Council that no-one should be injured or made ill through their work – anywhere in the world. By sharing the achievements of the winners of these awards, we can inspire other employers everywhere to follow their lead and give workers’ health, safety and wellbeing the priority it rightly deserves.”
www.britsafe.org
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