At out May 2026 Meeting

A very informative and engaging session at the Worcestershire Health & Safety Group!

A big thank you to Steven Filkin for stepping in at short notice and delivering an excellent presentation on waste management and environmental topics.

The discussions around waste tracking, environmental compliance, and industry developments highlighted the importance of staying proactive and informed within both Health & Safety and Environmental Management.

Great to see professionals coming together to share knowledge and best practices. Looking forward to the next event.

Please follow our Health & Safety Group on LinkedIn: Worcestershire Health & Safety Group

A very big thank you to Steven Filkin for his well received presentation on waste, it was so appreciated that you stepped in at short notice!!

Contact: solutions@filkin-ehs.co.uk

___________________________________________________________________________________

At Our April 2026 Meeting

This month’s speaker, Tony O’Donovan of Treadstone Safety clearly demonstrated that the care selection of safety gloves is essential

 Selection must depend upon the assessed risk of mechanical and/or chemical protection required and compliance with the relevant standards.

Specific materials must be used to protect from specific different chemicals.

Gloves must be flexible enough to allow dexterity and comfort and yet give the degree of protection for the environment in which they are to be used.

A very interesting and informative presentation – thank you Tony

Tony O’Donovan Contact Details:

Tony O’Donovan

European Sales Manager – Safety Division

Lloyd House, Pandy Business Park, Plas Acton Road, Pandy, Wrexham, LL11 2UD.

Tel: +44 (0) 1978 664667 | Mob: 07591 207324 |Fax: +44 (0) 1978 664634

Web: https://www.treadstoneproducts.com/treadstone-safety/

___________________________________________________________________________________

At Our February 2026 Meeting.

Thank you to the speaker Jamie Searson and organisers for an informative and thought provoking session

.       

Fire safety remains one of the most critical and rapidly evolving areas of workplace risk management and this session reinforced exactly why.
The presentation provided valuable insight into both traditional fire prevention principles and the emerging challenges associated with EV battery and lithium-ion risks. The discussion around practical control measures, emergency planning, and organisational preparedness was particularly relevant in today’s changing risk landscape.
It was encouraging to see strong professional engagement and open discussion around real-world applications, not just theory. As technology evolves, so must our approach to fire safety, risk assessment, and workplace resilience.
Events like this are essential in strengthening safety culture through shared learning, collaboration, and continuous professional development.

___________________________________________________________________________________

At Our January 2026 Meeting

Glen Musgrove of MOHS Ltd gave us a very interesting and sometimes amusing insight into Display Screen Equipment and Ergonomics and the necessity of getting right the ergonomics and set up of our office (and at home!)

It was interesting to see how problems like Carpel Tunnel, Repetitive Strain, Hand Arm Vibration can often be reduced by the careful selection of equipment such as chairs, desks, footrests, the mouse etc and to ensure these are set up and located correctly.

Many thanks to Glen!

__________________________________________________________________________________

November 2025 Meeting

Well, what a way to end our year!! Our final meeting for 2025 was well worth the wait!! 

Chris Hopkins gave a fantastic presentation to the group, explaining the differences between the local authority and HSE lead enforcement and prosecutions, the Environmental Agency being able to impose community sanctions where local environmental charities benefit from the wrongdoings of others, and how the HSE's fees for intervention operate as a civil debt, together with the costs imposed by the Court Service on Health, Safety and Environmental breaches.

Chris also explained about trees and the protection orders etc., and what can go wrong!! it is good to hear how well we protect trees, which really helps the environment.

The committee and members would like to thank Chris for taking time out of his busy legal schedule to deliver his presentation!!

___________________________________________________________________________________

At our October 2025 Meeting

A very big 'Thank You!!' to our fantastic speaker this month. I didn't realise how prevalent diabetes actually is, and that we can so easily become diabetic.

Kate Walker your presentation was so informative, and we appreciate you taking time out of your busy day to share this vital information with us!!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

At Our September 2025 Meeting

A very big 'thank you' goes out to our speaker at our meeting yesterday, Andy Johnson from 3M gave us a great overview of the company and delivered a comprehensive presentation on Noise.

It is so important to protect your hearing as you can really miss out on so much, and ensure that any PPE issued is suitable for purpose so that you don't have to remove an earpiece to hear someone and ensure it is fitted correctly!!

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

At our July 2025 Meeting

Well, I think we were all moved after today's presentation, at one stage I was near to tears, then picked up by the anecdotes, and a great Q & A session after!!

A very big heartfelt thank you to Lisa Ramos and David Garton for sharing how a life changing injury has such wider reaching implications. As safety practitioners we always look to do our level best to ensure people return home safely, and it is truly eye opening when this doesn't happen...

___________________________________________________________________________________

At Our June 2025 Meeting

At our June 2025 meeting, Steve Filkin shared some useful facts and figures with us about Waste. We heard about the new waste recycling rules (The Separation of Waste (England) Regulations 2024) a key piece of legislation that has to be adhered to.

Steve advised us that it was more about segregation than separation and its aims to achieve simpler recycling with DEFRA being on board with this and the Environment Agency as the enforcing agency.

We looked at what waste actually was, with the EU classing it as 'Substance or object which the holder discards, or intends to discard, or is required to discard' as per article 3, Steve gave us some great examples of what would fit into each category, and that re-use is similar to the old milk and pop bottle logic where recycling is undergoing some form of process.

Steve wrapped up his presentation covering waste recovery and disposal, with some items having to be stored down mines as there is currently no other safe form of disposal.

_________________________________________________________________________________