CPI biennial health and safety conference

5 November 2009

The Confederation of Paper Industries (CPI) held its Biennial Health and Safety Conference yesterday (Tuesday 3rd November).

Over 180 delegates attended the conference, which was aimed at Chief Executive Officers, Operational Managers, Health and Safety practitioners and Safety Representatives from within the paper industry.

This year's programme was aimed specifically at helping companies:

· understand the importance of managing process safety, to avoid becoming complacent by relying purely on personal safety;

· understand why people act the way that they do, and why there is a need to design tasks that take human error into account;

· appreciate the value of co-operation and shared vision, and how worker involvement can help deliver sustainable improvements.

The programme included presentations from high-profile speakers, including:

· Leading from the Top

Clive Bowers, Chief Executive Officer, Smurfit Kappa Group

· Managing Process Safety

David Snowball, Health & Safety Executive

· Business Improvement Framework: Securing Change

Martin Gummery and Sarah Stephenson, Newleaf International Ltd

· Process Safety and Corporate Manslaughter

Ron Reid, Shoosmith Solicitors

· Managing Human Factors

Pippa Brockington, HM, Specialist Inspector

· Leading Change in Difficult Times

Prof John Oliver, OBE, Director of Team Enterprise Solutions LLP

The conference also marked the launch of the 'Say No, Say Yes' campaign, a joint initiative between CPI and Unite the Union, to improve health and safety at all levels in the industry. It lays down a set of common goals for managers and employees that involve Saying No to taking risks, but Saying Yes to health and safety.

Speaking after the event, Andrew Braund, CPI, Head of Health and Safety, deemed the Conference a resounding success: "Even during challenging times, the support and commitment for this event by so many companies, illustrates how seriously the paper industry takes health and safety. The programme was designed to be thought-provoking and to challenge the 'status quo'. Through an array of highly qualified speakers we have achieved that.

"The challenge for everyone now, is to return to their business with a "fresh pair of eyes" and, working together, undertake quality task and error analysis risk assessments and use the results to implement change."

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