The British Security Industry Association (BSIA) has launched a new Health and Safety Forum, dedicated to providing networking and information sharing opportunities for health and safety professionals working in the private security industry.
Launched at Chelsea Football Club on 19th November, the forum aims to facilitate the sharing of information and best practice, galvanising BSIA members’ commitment to health and safety into positive action while informing them of the latest developments in relevant legislation.
The launch event was sponsored and hosted by VSG and featured brief presentations outlining the aims and objectives of the forum, as well as a networking opportunity and a tour of the club grounds. In addition, the BSIA hosted a lively discussion on health and safety excellence, at which attendees were encouraged to share their own case studies demonstrating best practice or innovation in their business, to help stimulate debate.
Commenting on the success of the launch event, Trevor Elliott, Director of Manpower and Membership Services at the BSIA, said: “We were delighted with the turnout at the launch of our Health and Safety Forum, and pleased with the level of engagement from attendees, who were eager to share their own experiences and learn from each other’s examples of best practice.
Engagement with other industry bodies will be key to the Forum’s activity, with members planning to engage with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the Security Industry Authority (SIA).
Dave Humphries, Director of Partnerships and Interventions at the SIA, comments: “[The event] was extremely helpful in clarifying where the key players in the private security industry are, in terms of this important topic. This is directly relevant to the work I am embarking on within the SIA, which is our violence reduction strategy.
I will welcome being actively engaged with this forum as the SIA’s violence reduction strategy develops and is implemented. Our strategy will only be effective if it is informed by the experts within the sector, so I am hopeful for a positive engagement with others in the forum.”
Commenting on the future work of the forum, Bobby Logue of Interconnective Ltd who initiated the forum, said: “The BSIA Health and Safety Forum launch identified the challenges for health and safety professionals operating in member companies. The real work for the Forum begins now, with how to address these issues including accurate data and industry best practice including creating industry and customer awareness and developing health and safety best practice throughout the BSIA member companies.”
Those in attendance have provided positive feedback from the launch, with 100% of respondents to a post-event survey claiming that the event was of value to their business. Following the event, 100% of attendees plan to become involved in the Health and Safety Forum, with the key benefit cited as being able to work together with the wider industry to influence future legislation. Among the other perceived benefits was the ability for members to provide a better service to their customers, while networking with like-minded peers.
Plans are now taking shape for the inaugural meeting of the BSIA’s Health and Safety Forum, which is due to take place in early 2015.