Chance to look, listen and learn

The two-day Health & Safety North event kicks off at The Reebok Stadium, Bolton, on the 10th October 2012. The last in this year's series of regional events it comprises free seminars, a conference programme put together by the British Safety Council, and an exhibition featuring many of the best known companies in the sector

The comprehensive conference programme, chaired on the 10th October by Joscelyne Shaw, head of policy and influencing and on the 11th by Neal Stone, director of policy and communications, is put together by the British Safety Council.

One of the most eagerly awaited seminars will be 'The Greatest Show on Earth - Preparing for London 2012', delivered by Lawrence Waterman, head of Health and Safety, Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA).

During his presentation, Waterman will touch on a number of themes that have brought the ODA a great amount of success.

One such theme will be worker engagement and the successful way in which this has been used during the construction of the Olympic venues. "By just taking a few minutes before the start of every shift or project to talk to the workforce about the job they are undertaking, the equipment they will use, the hazards that are present and, vitally, listening to them as they feedback on related issues has had an enormous effect. This is the kind of information that we can now share with people and which are relevant to all workplaces." adds Waterman.

Explaining why he is looking forward to the event, he said, "There is a very clear reason why I would take the chance to present at Bolton. The ODA is a publicly funded organisation very much focused on legacy. That legacy doesn't necessarily need to be bricks and mortar. When Seb Coe was over in Singapore seven years ago bidding for the Olympics, part of his message was that the legacy of the games was that they would be used to inspire people. Part of that is through the health and safety success we have had, we can inspire people to even greater heights when working on large projects. They can learn from our mistakes and successes." Other hot topics are addressed in the educational programme. On day one, for example, on of the presentations will be 'Climate change and Business Resilience' , presented by Dr Keith Whitehead, senior environmental advisor, British Safety Council.

The presentation will provide an overview of business responses to the actual and potential impacts of climate change.

Dr Whitehead says: "Proactive companies need to be looking at and predicting how climate change and severe weather patterns will affect their business in the long term. Just this year we have had: drought, record rain fall, high spring temperatures, high winds and snow.

Businesses should be starting to think about what can be done now to adapt to and mitigate these impacts so that any business is aware of what to do when climate change does affect their business." As well as the British Safety Council educational programme, there are other, more practical, seminars taking place. For example visitors will be able to listen to NQA, with its presentation 'Using Auditor Training to Achieve Certification to OHSAS 18001'.

Delivered by Andrew Burns Warren, health & safety auditor and Jonathan Wilson, health & safety sector manager, the presentation will cover the process that an auditor goes through to become firstly an internal auditor and then a lead auditor.

It will also briefly cover the background of OHSAS 18001 and look at why companies implement a health and safety management system, looking at some of the potential pitfalls and structures.

The event also has a substantial exhibition area where some of the leading product and service providers in the health and safety industry are exhibiting, and will be available to offer advice on the latest technology and business practices.