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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.
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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!
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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.
At Our May 2025 Meeting:
A very big thank you going out to Graham Higginson for his excellent presentation on PUWER and LOLER, it was very interactive with lots of questions from the attendees, and some very thought provoking questions at the end!! We are looking forward to seeing you next year Graham for another informative presentation.
At our April 2025 Meeting:
We would really like to express our thanks to Nigel Turner of Link Microtek Ltd for a fantastic presentation on EMF Safety, with our visitor Stella adding from her own personal and family experiences. Nigel made the presentation very interactive fielding questions from our members and our visitor to the group.
INTERESTED? Would you like to join?
You will receive a warm welcome at any of our meetings. If you would like to sample our meetings, come along and try with no obligation.
The next scheduled meeting
Our next scheduled meeting is on:
8th April 2026
Tony O'Donovan of Treadstone Safety Hand Protection
Note: This is a change from the original programme
For information on future proposed meetings, please see the "Programme of Meetings" page
Meetings are normally held on a Wednesday afternoon once a month and start with a free buffet lunch before the main meeting. Meetings usually take the form of a guest speaker, discussion, safety videos, etc. Each meeting gives individuals and representatives from member companies or organisations the opportunity to meet other people with health and safety responsibilities to discuss mutual problems and concerns in a non-enforcement situation.
Attendance at these meetings can contribute to members' CPD as required by professional associations. CPD certifcates can be supplied if required.
Times: A free buffet starts from 1.15pm and the Group assembles at 2.00pm.
Venue until further notice:
Periswell Young People's Leisure Club
For directions to the venue please see the 'Directions to Venue' page

