The year 2015 is a special one for the BSIF as it celebrates 21 years in action. Throughout this time the federation has campaigned valiantly to improve occupational health and safety, working not only through its Product Groups and Associations but with many external organisations as partners in their own programmes and campaigns.

In support of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), the BSIF was called on for input when the review and revision of the guidance document HSG53 – Respiratory protection at work: A practical guide, was taking place, and also when the HSE was developing the campaign support material for its Wearability Project, which produced a pocket guide and toolbox talks to help supervisors and end users address PPE needs and usage within small businesses.

BSIF currently actively participates in the Noise and Vibration Partnership Group which draws members from end user organisations, trades unions, other trade associations and action groups and is driven by the HSE to reduce the incidence of Noise Induced Hearing Loss and Hand-arm Vibration Syndrome. We also work within the Construction Dust Partnership, managed by the HSE with the stated aim; to raise awareness within the construction industry about lung diseases related to dust in the workplace and to promote the appropriate controls to prevent these diseases.

You will probably have read  that BSIF has become part of the UK Trading Standards organisation in order to better promote knowledge and understanding of the issues surrounding fake and illegal PPE products being offered for sale, and at Westminster we participate in the All Party Parliamentary Group on Occupational Safety and Health.

Also within the seat of Government, the BSIF regularly liaises with the Department for Business Innovation and Skills, BIS, which, as the controlling body for UK Notified Bodies who certify PPE, is involved with the BSIF Test and Certification Association. BIS also forms the UK delegation at the European Commission PPE Working Group and at the Commission’s negotiations for the current revision of the PPE Directive, and the BSIF continues to provide support and industry insight to assist BIS in these functions.

The BSIF also actively supports and participates in the work done by Safety Groups UK, and is currently involved in the development of the LOcHER project (Learning Occupational Health through Experiencing Risk), which will take practical examples and demonstrations into higher education and training colleges to raise awareness with young people as they prepare to enter the workforce.