Around 150 invited senior figures from across the waste and recycling industry assembled in Solihull on Thursday 7 February 2013 for a summit aimed at improving its poor health and safety record.
The event organised by the Health and Safety Executive and the Waste Industry Safety and Health (WISH) Forum[1] sought commitment and ideas for actions that would help bring about change.
Event agenda and associated presentations
- Welcome and Introductions – David Palmer-Jones, Chair of Environmental Services Association and CEO of SITA UK
- Keynote address – Judith Hackitt (CBE) Chair of Health and Safety Executive
- Learning from London 2012 (PDF) [2] – Lawrence Waterman (OBE), Head of Health and Safety at the Olympic Delivery Authority
- Trade Unions and employers: working together (PDF) [3] – Mike Short, Senior National Officer for Health and Safety, UNISON
- WISHful thinking (PDF) [4] – Christopher Jones, Chair of Waste Industry Safety and Health (WISH) Forum and Compliance Director, Cory Environmental
- Introduction to strategy workshops – John Skidmore, President Chartered Institution of Wastes Management and Director of Environment, East Riding Council
- Workshops
- Leadership – Ian Goodfellow, Managing Director of Shanks plc
- Competence – Simon Catford, Board member of EU Skills and Corporate Responsibility Director for Viridor
- Worker Involvement – Steve Sumner (OBE), Chair of IOSH Public Services Group and Director of Steve Sumner Associates
- Creating healthier, safer workplaces – Richard Murray, Safety, Health and Environment Manager of May Gurney
- Customising support for SMEs – Susan Relf, Compliance Director Agrivert Ltd
- Feedback from workshops and open panel discussion
- Concluding remarks and close – Heather Bryant, Director of HSE Southern Division and Waste Management & Recycling Industry Strategy lead
After the event
A Blueprint (PDF) [5] for addressing the challenges and incorporating actions identified in the workshops has been produced by the WISH Forum.