Three days that changed lives

‘Three days to save a life’ was the overall theme for The Health and Safety Event, which took Birmingham’s NEC by storm from 22 to 24 March. Now in its third year, and having drawn on visitor feedback to build on previous years, the 2016 event was another resounding success.

While the 2015 event offered a mix of educational content and exhibitors, this year’s show was greatly expanded to provide an even greater wealth of educational content, interactive forums and product and service providers. Taking on board visitor feedback, the event saw a number of major new features, including an Education Pavilion, which was partnered with the National Examination Board in Occupational Safety & Health (NEBOSH), as well as additions to the event’s layout and a greater range of visitor amenities.

Curated by the British Safety Council (BSC) and the International Institute of Risk and Safety Management (IIRSM), this year’s educational programme was primed to reflect significant developments in the industry, most notably recent, landmark legislative changes. Those visitors looking for help to overcome the safety challenges in warehousing and logistics found a wealth of expert guidance and advice from leading industry bodies in the Safer Logistics Theatre.

Elsewhere, audience participation in the debates was a key feature. In the Safety Dialogue Theatre recognition of the growing ‘health’ agenda was reflected with experts focusing on topical issues like hearing conservation and respiratory protection. Exhibitors had their own opportunity to shine with the very first Lions’ Lair, which saw 16 finalists pitching their ideas in front of a live audience and battling their wits against a panel of probing experts.

Event director Tim Else summed up this year’s event: “Having listened to feedback from our visitors for the past two years, we’ve made significant additions to the content and layout of the NEC show, which continues to go from strength to strength. The positive feedback we’ve received post-show underlines the importance that visitors place on a national health and safety event held at the NEC. The fact that nearly 85% of respondents said that they will not attend another health and safety event this year emphasises the Health and Safety Event’s standing at the NEC and the unrivalled educational content and exhibitor experience that it offers.” 

The British Safety Council (BSC) has been the event’s official educational partner since 2009 and Neal Stone, policy and standards director, considered the 2016 NEC show a great success on a number of fronts. Neal, who chaired a team of expert panellists on the second day to debate topical issues in construction, said: “The breadth of exhibitors was impressive as was the comprehensive programme of events and seminars. The show had so much to offer all those involved in managing the risk of workplace injury and ill health. The BSC was proud once again to be the education partner and play its part in helping to build knowledge and competence. We look forward to participating again in 2017.”

As co-curator of the educational content, IIRSM was also pleased to support the event again this year. Clare Fleming, head of marketing and communications, said: “IIRSM was delighted to have the opportunity to provide some fantastic speakers for this year’s extensive educational programme. The show is going from strength to strength and is clearly focused on quality outputs at every level. It provides a valuable opportunity for us to meet with IIRSM members, visitors and exhibitors and we look forward to our continued involvement.”

Independent international examining board NEBOSH added its weight to this year’s event by sponsoring the new Education Pavilion. Designed to give visitors access to the latest and best in training, education and competence, chief executive Teresa Budworth felt that the pavilion, which was added as a direct consequence of the feedback received at last year’s show, provided a real asset to visitors.

She said: “NEBOSH were there to provide information to safety professionals on the different qualifications they can take to further their career, or to develop their colleagues. It was really helpful to have a number of our course providers within the pavilion who offer different training options so potential students can chat to them directly to help in making their choice, whether that be face-to-face, distance or a blended learning approach. There was something to suit everyone.”

Indeed, the ‘Ask the Expert’ facility in the Education Pavilion was such a resounding success that NEBOSH has announced that it will sponsor the service for the next three events – Health & Safety North in October 2016, the Health and Safety Event in March 2017 and Health and Safety Scotland in May 2017.

With 170 exhibitors on show, visitors had even greater access to the latest product and services innovations. Joanna Smith, marketing executive at Southalls, was impressed with the feedback it received from the show. “We made some good new contacts and picked up some quality leads,” she said. “Attending the event was a really useful way of understanding how the industry is developing holistically, seeing what new products and services are out there and getting a better understanding of the key players. The planning and lead up to the show was well organised and found the types of visitors to be the decision makers we were keen to talk to. We’re looking forward to coming back next year.”

Making its debut at this year’s show, the Lions’ Lair proved to be a popular new feature, with SoNQ being crowned the winners, along with highly commended trophies for TSI Instruments, Semmco and Fortress Distribution. Full details are in the News & Analysis section of this issue.

In another tightly fought competition, Evac + Chair won best stand prize. Steve Lucas, head of creative and marketing, who designed the stand, explained the thinking behind the layout. “Our exhibition stand has always aimed to engage the public in exactly what our products are capable of but this year we wanted to take it one step further and make the stand completely interactive by staging emergency evacuation scenarios so that people understood not just what the product does but in what situations they are used in. We feel really proud to have achieved our objectives.”

The conference programme provided visitors with a choice of four venues: the conference seminar, the Safety Dialogue and Safer Logistics theatres, as well as the option to attend three pre-show breakfast briefings, which featured three superlative presentations covering evacuation and fire safety competence.
In the main conference seminar, managing director of Acting Up Emma Currie used her acting skills to take visitors on a creative journey using fiction to change safety culture. Her thought-provoking, interactive session, which required participants to create a film pitch with a difference, went down a storm with the audience.

“We received a warm and supportive welcome – it was great working with the headsets, like a radio play and a live performance blended into one,” she commented. “It felt intimate and the performance and interactive talk was well received. Audience members took time to congratulate me on a stimulating presentation, so I came away feeling very positive.”

The Safer Logistics Seminar built on the success of last year’s inaugural event and Simon Duddy, chairman of the Safer Logistics Campaign, was impressed with the quality of speakers. “Our aim is to encourage managers in the supply chain sector to take a proactive approach to safety,” he said. “The broad range of presentations offered a first class educational experience. We were delighted to welcome CILT talking about HGV driver safety, the FLTA tackling forklift safety and the UKWA presenting a panel on warehouse safety, among many other highlights.”

Health & Safety North, which takes place at the Bolton Arena on 12th and 13th October, is the next Western Business Exhibition event. For more information on seminar content and to register in advance visit www.healthandsafetyevents.co.uk