BSIF : BRITISH SAFETY INDUSTRY FEDERATION
BSIF BEYOND BREXIT
Despite the publicity surrounding the new President of The United States , one cannot turn on the radio without hearing the latest wrangling about the UK ’ s future beyond the European Union . Regardless of this , the British Safety Industry Federation ( BSIF ) is very pleased to bring HSE International readers up to date with our developments in the Middle East .
The BSIF supports all those businesses in the UK whose role it is to keep people safe and healthy while they are at work . While we are dedicated to this task , the Federation is further dedicated to what could be considered a higher purpose - that the value and reputation of safety and health in this country is appreciated .
The UK has an enviable status and record on Occupational Safety and Health but there are many areas of the world where worker safety has historically been far less to the fore . One area that has experienced significant problems in recent years has been the Middle East . While we have become familiar with reports of accidents and fatalities on the Qatar World Cup construction project , I am pleased to tell you that the authorities in the region are now making worker safety and health a much
ALAN MURRAY , BSIF CEO higher priority . The BSIF is taking the opportunity to help improve safety and health provisions in this part of the world .
In January 2017 , the annual Intersec Exhibition was held at the World Trade Centre in Dubai . Intersec is the largest Security and Safety exhibition in the area . The BSIF managed and hosted the UK Pavilion , which enabled UK safety and health professionals and Personal Protective Equipment manufactures to demonstrate the latest in UK safety innovation to this market ; providing users with the opportunity to specify compliant and fit for purpose products .
This region has been plagued with substandard , poor quality products for years – products that often , quite frankly , are not fit for purpose . Through the support of The Department for International Trade and as a Trade Challenge Partner , the BSIF was able to administer and channel grants for exporters who realise the value and importance of first class Personal Protective Equipment , and who wish to take these products to market .
The exhibition was a great success with many first time exporters participating this year . The UK Pavilion covered approximately 140m 2 - double the floor space that we filled at the 2016 event .
With the changing perception of the importance of safety in this region , the exhibition was also the ideal opportunity for a new safety industry body to be launched .
The Middle East Safety Association ( MESA ), an affiliate of the British Safety Industry Federation , announced itself to the United Arab Emirate market . This new trade body came together to address the issues of safety in the UAE and like the BSIF , is dedicated to keeping people safe at work .
MESA is the industry voice and local government advisory organisation for the manufacture , supply , training and usage of PPE products in the Middle East . MESA will champion the key message , already understood in other areas , that good safety and health has a positive impact on businesses as well as individual workers . MESA aims to provide quality technical advice , education and guidance to Government organisations for inclusion in their legislation . MESA will champion good practice through its networks to end users , thereby reducing accidents and making occupational workspaces safer and more productive .
In affiliation with the British Industry Federation , MESA will be able to immediately provide the UAE market with key BSIF initiatives such as the Registered Safety Supplier Scheme ( RSSS ), Clean Air ? - Take Care ! and the Fit2Fit respiratory face fitting competence programme .
MESA and BSIF are now taking UK safety success to the Middle East .
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