To the rescue!

Taking place at the NEC, Birmingham on 23 and 24 September the free event enables health and safety professionals to see and handle the latest equipment and access the expertise of leading names in emergency response.

Solon Security, International Safety Products and Bennet Safetywear are just some of the new exhibitors that will be showcasing their product ranges this year. Visitors can also talk to specialists such as The Health and Safety Laboratory, which undertakes research on behalf of the Health & Safety Executive. The charity Mind will be offering advice on mental health issues and Emergency Athlete will be sharing ideas on how your staff can stay fit and injury-free for work.

Do you have a rescue plan?

HSE guidance on working from height and in confined spaces state that employers must make suitable arrangements for emergencies and rescue, and not rely on public emergency services. Exhibiting at The Emergency Services Show are companies and organisations that can provide training for such environments as well as suppliers of rescue equipment. On the Crofton Engineering stand, for example, a specialist team of experienced firefighters will demonstrate SWAH and rope rescue techniques. Red One, a wholly owned commercial trading subsidiary of Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Authority, is also exhibiting and can talk to visitors about its training facilities which include a confined space training complex and work at height towers which can also be used for wind turbine training.

Those seeking personal fall protection equipment will have opportunity to preview the 2016 products from Petzl on the Lyon Equipment stand. Visitors to the Drager stand can see the PSS integrated safety belt for use in unstable environments or working at height. Meanwhile Thomas Jacks will showcase for the first time in the UK a full tactical/ballistic vest that offers a quick detach, fully certified climbing/working at height harness, designed with input from a spinal surgeon from the Royal College of Physicians.

A versatile voice communication system designed for confined space rescue (approved Intrinsically Safe for mining and industrial use) will be showcased by Trolex.

Water rescue training

If any of your employees spend time working in or around the water, it is important they are suitably trained and hold relevant qualifications. Around the exhibition visitors can source water rescue equipment and The Royal Life Saving Society will again be running its Throwline Challenge.

Water rescue training can be discussed with the likes of Plas Menai, National Outdoor Centre, an approved provider of Rescue 3 training including the internationally recognised Swiftwater and Flood Rescue Training schemes, which follow DEFRA module guidelines.

Solutions for high hazard sites

Exhibitor CFB Risk Management has joined forces with Angus Fire to set up a dedicated emergency response training programme for tank terminals, petrochemical and other high hazard sites with storage tanks. Other training providers of interest include the Fire Training Group which has a purpose built training centre and extensive fire training ground encompassing various simulators utilising both LPG and class B fuels.

New products on the Scott Safety stand will include a range of portable gas detection products and VersarPPS will be exhibiting the latest decontamination equipment and PPE for high risk Hazchem incidents.

Visitors to the Wolf Safety stand can see the new Wolf Markerlite, a self contained high visibility LED visual warning indicator to clearly highlight personnel and hazards in explosive atmospheres.

PPE developments

Bennett Safetywear will be introducing the latest additions to its Blazemaster range of structural fire fighting gloves and Bollé Safety will be launching the new Backdraft heat resistant goggle. New products on the Bristol Uniforms stand will include a layered PPE solution, LayerFlex, while on show for the first time on the Vimpex stand will be the new F10 MKV and F15 firefighting helmets.

Among the many innovations in footwear, The Boot Repair Company stand will exhibit latest sole technology from Vibram enabling a much improved grip performance in all wet conditions, including tiled or marbled floors.

Warning equipment and lighting

Several companies will be launching lighting solutions at the show including USA torch-maker COAST, LED Lenser and Peli Products. Visual and audible warning equipment can be found on the Woodway Engineering stand and Viewbrite Europe Ltd will be showcasing some revolutionary heavy duty, collapsible traffic cones.

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