Items of news submitted by members are listed here, together with job vacancies and details of those seeking opportunities. The most recent item can be found at the top of the page. Please use the specific contact details provided with each entry as appropriate. To submit or update an item, please use the link to your right.

Job Opportunity - Flagship Training
The following details have been recieved from Kevin McAleer:
A vacancy has arisen for a Safety, Health, Environment, Fire Advisor (SHEF) at BRNC Dartmouth. Job/application details can be found at Flagship Training's website, by clicking on "Join Us", then "Current Vacancies".
Added: 9.12.07

Job Opportunities - Plymouth City Council
The following details have been recieved from Jane Morgan of Plymouth City Council:
"We currently have 2 job opportunities for Health and Safety Advisers at Plymouth City Council:

Added: 18.9.07

After Barrow - Legionella for Local Authorities and Other Public Sector Bodies - 10.10.07
A learning event has been organised for the 10th of October 2007 at Somerset Cricket Club focusing on the control of legionella following the Barrow incident. The programme can be seen by clicking here, and the booking form can be downloaded here.
Added: 17.9.07

Specialist Group Bulletin - September 2007
September's Specialist Group Bulletin published by IOSH can be viewed by clicking this link (pdf document).
Added: 17.9.07

Specialist Group Bulletin - August 2007
August's Specialist Group Bulletin published by IOSH can be viewed by clicking this link (pdf document).
Added: 22.8.07

Bonkers Conkers!
Visitors to the site may be aware of the IOSH "Bonkers Conkers" campaign where IOSH is asking members to submit to them articles from publications that portray health and safety either positively (which IOSH are terming "bonzer conkers") or negatively ("bonkers conkers"). IOSH is intending to compile the submissions and present awards to publications that acheive the highest number of "bonzer conker" and "bonkers conkers" listings. Full details can be found on the IOSH website here, or alternatively you can e-mail your articles directly to Paul Marston at IOSH by clicking here.
Added: 11.7.07

RCES Recruitment Notice
A Registered Charity with extensive property interests in Cornwall, Devon and Dorset seeks to engage Health and Safety Practitioners to assist/advise local managers in the discharge of all duties associated with premises management. Regular monitoring of compliance together with liaison with other Building Professionals would be involved. If you are interested and would like to learn more about the positions please reply with full personal/practice details to Gordon Fuller.
Added: 3.7.07

Specialist Group Bulletin - July 2007
July's Specialist Group Bulletin published by IOSH can be viewed by clicking this link (pdf document).
Added: 3.7.07

Further/Higher Education "Watch Your Step" Campaign
The "Watch Your Step" campaign in education is running a series of free one day events across the UK between March 2007 and March 2008. Primarily intended for further and higher education, they are also suitable for local authority health and safety advisors for schools. Upcoming dates are:

Further information about the campaign can be found by clicking here.
Added: 3.7.07

Branch News
As announced at our AGM yesterday, the South West Branch has been voted top in a poll conducted by IOSH canvassing Member's satisfaction levels with their Branches. Many thanks to all who participated. With regards to any general enquiries, suggestions for improvements we can make, or any other ideas you may have (such as topics for meetings, venues, speakers, etc.), please contact any of the Committee Members direct who will be pleased to deal with your enquiry.
Added: 27.4.07

Environmental Update by Jeremy Jackson
Jeremy Jackson has kindly produced a further environmental update for March, which can be downloaded in MS Word format by clicking here.
Added: 15.3.07

Environmental Update by Jeremy Jackson
Jeremy Jackson has provided another informative update on local environmental issues which can be downloaded in MS Word format by clicking here.
Added: 2.3.07

Education SG Networking Event 18.4.07 - Finalised Details **NOW FULLY BOOKED**
The Education SG committee have organised a networking event to be held on Wednesday the 18th of April 2007 at the prestigious venue of Millfield School, set in the beautiful rural countryside of Somerset. The speakers are:

This will be a good opportunity to meet some members of the Education SG committee and other health and safety professionals from the education sector. For the full Programme and a booking form please click here. The cost is £40 including VAT for EdSG members and £50 including VAT for non EdSG members. A buffet lunch will be provided. Places are limited and will be allocated on a first come first served basis.
Added: 2.3.07, updated 3.4.07

Introduction to Crowd & Public Safety Management Course, 17-18.4.07, Exeter
This two day course brings together event organisers, venue operators, safety and security professionals, the emergency services, local authorities and voluntary and commercial organisations who have a role to play in planning for and managing crowd safety at events. With an emphasis of risk management, planning, communication, crowd dynamics and crowd behaviour, the course will give you the opportunity to learn from previous incidents and enable you to evaluate your own organisation and others involved in crowd safety. For the full event details, please click here (Adobe Reader required).
Added: 25.2.07

Meeting at The Eden Project, 15.3.07
At our next Branch meeting on the 15th of March, Mr. Martin Lee, H.M. Inspector of Health and Safety, will be discussing the revised CDM Regulations. Martin has asked that should any members have any questions or particular aspects of the revised regulations that they would like included in the presentation, that they e-mail them direct to him at martin.lee@hse.gsi.gov.uk.
Added: 14.2.07

South West Branch AGM - Revised Date
As announced at todays branch meeting, please note that the upcoming AGM will be held on Thursday the 26th of April instead of Friday the 27th. The time and venue remain unchanged (Boringdon Hall Hotel, lunch at 13.00 followed by the AGM at 14.00).
Added: 14.2.07

Environmental Update by Jeremy Jackson
Jeremy Jackson has provided another of his informative updates on local environmental issues which can be downloaded in MS Word format by clicking here.
Added: 12.2.07

Education SG Networking Event 18.4.07 **NOW FULLY BOOKED**
An early notification date for your diary - the Education Specialist Group networking event "Sensible Risk Assessment" will be held on Wednesday the 18th of April at Millfield School, Street, Somerset, starting at 9.30am and finishing at 3.30pm. Costs will include lunch, and speakers will include Jenny McWhirter (ROSPA), Kevin Bridges (Pincent and Mason), and Steve Brown (Outdoor Education Advisers Panel). Full details to follow.
Added: 12.2.07, updated 3.4.07

Healthcare Specialist Group Networking Meeting
The Healthcare Specialist Group will be holding their first networking meeting of 2007 at Wesley College, College Park Drive, Henbury Road, Bristol, BS10 7QD, on the afternoon of 21 February 2007 (registration 12:30pm). The meeting is free of charge, includes a light lunch, and is open to members and non-members. Presentations include:

The full programme can be found by clicking here, and the Booking Form can be found here.
Added: 16.1.07

Website News
The website has been updated to reflect the arrival of the New Year - many sections of the website now have sub-menus on the right of each page to take you to previous years' content, and items of news that are still currrent for 2007 have been reposted below. The Committee would like to wish all of our site visitors a happy and safe New Year.
Added: 8.1.07

IOSH Safety Sciences Group - Student Research Competition/Research & Development fund.
The IOSH 07 Conference organising committee and SSG are running a competition for the best academic research project in the field of occupational safety and health by BSc and MSc students. IOSH is asking students to submit a one-page abstract of their research work, and will then ask the 10 best entrants to create a poster for display in the exhibition area of the IOSH Conference in Telford on 27–28 March 2007. The 10 entrants IOSH select to present a poster will be invited to attend the conference exhibition and spotlight theatre presentations. The two best entrants will receive complimentary passes for the full conference programme and their certificates will be presented by the IOSH president. They’ll also be asked to give a presentation supporting their submission at a date and venue to be arranged. For full information, including submission criteria, please click here. Please also note that timescales are tight - abstracts need to be submitted to IOSH by the 24th of November 2006.

The above document also provides details of IOSH's research and development fund, giving an overview of the application process together with contact details should you wish to discuss research and development ideas with IOSH.
Added: 8.11.06 (reposted 8.1.07)

Personal Development Award Launched!
Replacing the previous Student of the Year Competition, the Branch is pleased to launch the Personal Development Award. Entries are invited from anyone who successfully completes a full-time, part-time or distance learning course, gaining a qualification leading to membership of IOSH or upgrade of membership category, or can demonstrate that their new qualification has been applied practically to strengthen their knowledge of the management of occupational safety and health in their workplace or their own business during 2006. Full details, including an application form, can be found by clicking here. The closing date for applications is Friday the 10th of February 2007.
Added: 19.9.06 (reposted 8.1.07)