KEEP IT SAFE
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2025
Foreword
Simon Brentnall CMIOSH PIEMA AIFSM
We are now busy designing our 2025 Health & Safety Conference Programme, the event this year will take place at the British Motor Museum in Warwick, as always we aim to provide a wide range of speakers on the topics you need to know more about, tickets are already on sale.
We remind our members that BFFF can answer any of your Safety, Health and Fire Queries using our own in-house experience or by asking our Health & Safety Expert Group. If this fails we have the back up of our Primary Authority partnerships to provide absolute advice on topics relating to Health & Safety, Fire, Food Safety, Food Hygiene, Allergens and Trading Standards. Should the above fail to deliver we set about writing industry level guidance.
Queries answered for BFFF members in Jan/Feb include the following topics:
• Provision and use of work equipment risk assessments
• Machinery Maintenance
• Fumes from cooking oils
• Storage of retail freezers
• Racking Inspections
• Hand Injury Campaign
• Wet/Dry Sprinklers
• Accident frequency rate formulae
• Passenger Lift Statutory Requirements
• Health Questionnaires
• Ammonia Leak
• RIDDOR
To raise a query simply e-mail me at: simonbrentnall@BFFF.co.uk
BFFF INITITIVES
BFFF CHAIR FOOD AND DRINK MANUFACTURE (FDMF)
LEADERSHIP AND WORKFORCE ENGAGEMENT GROUP
BFFF recently chaired the FDMF Leadership and Workforce Engagement (LWE) focus group. This was attended well by Morrisons, Nomad Foods, UK Flour Millers and Gordon & Macphail.
Strategy
The strategic objective was discussed, this being how food and drink manufacturing companies can exhibit evidence of effective leadership from their senior leaders on key health and safety issues’ and agree initial areas of focus and potential initiatives’.
Initiatives Ideas Discussed
Leadership Charter – We discussed briefly how executives could sign up to the leadership objectives/goals in a charter,
Standalone Conference – We discussed holding a standalone Leadership conference aimed at senior managers and directors,
We discussed how leadership decisions impact the workforce and where each member of the group could potentially share a story/case study to help advocate good leadership/culture at a senior level.
The group’s aim is to drive Leadership and Workforce Engagement in the food industry as part of the FDMF common strategy.
If you would like to get involved and attend the first meeting, please contact simonbrentnall@BFFF.co.uk
Please don’t forget there are a number of leadership and worker engagement tools hosted on the BFFF website, these can be used to measure of how effective your organisations leadership and workforce engagement are currently. See below link:
Guidance — British Frozen Food Federation (BFFF)
THE BFFF HEALTH & SAFETY PLEDGE
The BFFF Health & Safety Pledge aligns itself to the above strategy and our members can play their part by requesting a certificate which indicates the company are committed to these values.
To register your commitment to these values and receive a certificate to display in your premises, please contact: simonbrentnall@BFFF.co.uk
THE BFFF ANNUAL HEALTH & SAFETY CONFERENCE 2025
We are pleased to announce that our annual Health & Safety conference is taking place on 13th May 2025. This is a fantastic opportunity to brush up on your knowledge, update your CPD and connect with colleagues and our industry specialists. We have again this year chosen the British Motor Museum, Banbury Road, Gaydon, Warwick CV35 0BJ which makes for the perfect venue and also includes free entrance to the museum time willing!
From your previous feedback we have been busy designing a programme to tackle the following OSH topics:
• Lone Working
• Machinery
• Fire Safety Update
• Health & Safety Leadership
• Workplace Transport
• Legal Update
• Health & Safety – Let’s get back to basics!
• Diphoterine ‘A Game Changer’
• Hidden in Plain Sight: Modern Slavery in the food sector
*Programme may be subject to change
To secure your place we have member and nonmember rates, please see link below: Health & Safety and Technical Conference — British Frozen Food Federation (BFFF)
BFFF MEMBERSHIP
We are delighted to share our membership accident statistics with you for 2023. The data is gained from a selection of BFFF members who employ 25,598 people. Each year, we request that our members submit their accident statistics from the previous year. Once this data is collated it provides an excellent management tool which enables companies to benchmark their current OSH performance against that of the BFFF members in the same sector. In 2023, Manual Handling and Slips & Trips were in the top 3 for ‘All Accidents’ across all 3 sectors of membership (Producers, Wholesalers and Logistic Service Providers).
Manual Handling and Slips &Trips were also in the top 3 for Reportable Accidents for Producers and Wholesalers.
Please click on the below to see full report
Should you wish to compare your company accident statistics to similar companies within BFFF membership we can request this by mutual consent.
OUR MEMBERS CAN NOW SUBMIT THEIR 2024 DATA ON OUR WEBSITE, SEE LINK BELOW:
Page Statistics — British Frozen Food Federation (BFFF)
For this or any other information relating to the accident statistics collation, please contact: simonbrentnall@BFFF.co.uk
FIRE SAFETY
THE HIDDEN DANGER: FIRE
WATER RUN-OFF DURING AN INCIDENT
The Unseen Consequences of Firefighting Efforts
Introduction
At an incident, the highest priority for Fire and Rescue Services will always be the safety of the public and firefighters. Consideration must also be given to the potential damage to the environment caused by the incident itself or Fire and Rescue Service actions, both of which can affect air, land and water.
Fire incidents, whether they occur in urban settings, industrial complexes, or rural areas, command immediate and robust responses. Firefighting efforts are often heroic, combining speed, skill, and an array of equipment to extinguish the flames and save lives. However, an often overlooked consequence of these efforts is fire water run-off, a hazardous byproduct that poses significant environmental and public health risks.
Understanding Fire Water Run-Off
Fire water run-off refers to the water used to combat fires that subsequently flows off the site, often carrying with it a cocktail of pollutants. This water is typically mixed with substances such as combustion byproducts, chemicals from burned materials, firefighting foam, and debris.
During a fire, numerous materials are subjected to extreme heat, breaking down and releasing potentially hazardous substances. Structures may contain plastics, metals, and other materials that release toxins when burned. Industrial sites may harbour a variety of chemicals used in manufacturing processes, many of which can be highly toxic. When fire water mixes with these substances, the resulting run-off becomes a significant pollutant.
Once the fire is under control contaminated fire water can affect the environment through direct run-off into a body of water by soaking away into the ground, or by entering drainage systems. These systems may transport pollutants and/or heated fire water (which can cause deoxygenation) into rivers, lakes, estuaries and the sea.
Types of Pollutants
The contaminants in fire water run-off can vary widely, including:
• Heavy Metals: Elements like lead, mercury, and cadmium can leach into the water from burned structures and materials.
• Organic Compounds: These can include hydrocarbons, solvents, and other complex chemicals that are harmful to both human health and the environment.
• Combustion By-Products: These include toxic chemicals like polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and dioxins.
• Firefighting Foams: Foams often contain perand polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), known for their persistence in the environment and potential health risks.
BFFF INITITIVES
Environmental Impact
The environmental consequences of fire water run-off can be severe and far-reaching. When contaminated water enters natural water bodies, it can lead to the poisoning of aquatic life, disruption of ecosystems, and contamination of drinking water sources. Soil contamination can lead to longterm damage to agriculture and natural habitats, while groundwater contamination poses risks to human health and can be challenging and costly to remediate.
Aquatic Ecosystems
Aquatic ecosystems are particularly vulnerable to fire water run-off. Pollutants can directly poison fish and other aquatic organisms, leading to dieoffs and disruptions in the food chain. Sediments can become contaminated, affecting organisms that rely on clean sediment for habitat and food. The introduction of toxic substances can also lead to algal blooms, which deplete oxygen in the water and create dead zones where aquatic life cannot survive.
Soil and Groundwater
Soil contamination from fire water run-off can impair plant growth, reduce agricultural productivity, and harm wildlife. Heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants can remain in the soil for extended periods, posing long-term risks. Groundwater contamination is particularly concerning because it can spread pollutants over large areas and provide a pathway for human exposure through drinking water supplies.
Public Health Concerns
The human health implications of fire water run-off are significant. Exposure to the various pollutants in
run-off can occur through direct contact, ingestion of contaminated water or food, and inhalation of volatilized chemicals. Health effects can range from acute symptoms like skin irritation and respiratory issues to chronic conditions such as cancer, neurological disorders, and reproductive problems.
Community Impact
Communities affected by fire water run-off face numerous challenges. Contaminated water supplies can undermine public health and necessitate costly and complex clean-up efforts. The loss of property value, agricultural productivity, and biodiversity can have economic and social repercussions. Public awareness and preparedness are crucial in mitigating these impacts and protecting community health and well-being.
Mitigation and Management
Effective management of fire water run-off requires a multi-faceted approach involving prevention, containment, and remediation strategies. Fire Services, environmental agencies, and industry stakeholders must collaborate to develop and implement best practices for minimizing run-off contamination.
Prevention
Preventive measures include using less toxic firefighting foams, implementing fire-resistant building materials, and conducting thorough risk assessments at industrial sites. Training firefighters in pollution prevention and equipping them with tools to manage run-off can also reduce environmental impacts.
Containment
Containment strategies aim to prevent contaminated water from leaving the site. This can involve the use of barriers, berms, and retention ponds to capture run-off. Temporary storage tanks and water treatment systems can be deployed to treat contaminated water before release.
Remediation
Remediation efforts focus on cleaning up contaminated sites and restoring environmental quality. Techniques include soil excavation, phytoremediation, and the use of advanced water treatment technologies. Monitoring and assessment are essential to ensure the effectiveness of these measures and to protect human health and the environment.
BFFF INITITIVES
Conclusion
Fire water run-off is a hidden danger that accompanies firefighting efforts, posing significant risks to the environment and public health. By understanding the sources and impacts of this contamination, and by implementing effective mitigation and management strategies, we can reduce the harmful consequences of fire incidents. As we continue to advance our knowledge and technologies, it is crucial to prioritise the protection of our natural resources and communities from the insidious effects of fire water run-off. Efforts in fire prevention plays an important role in the overall mitigation of this risk.
Good fire safety practices including education of staff and reducing risk are part of this mitigation. Training staff to respond quickly and effectively to fires in the workplace can also prevent fires from getting out of control. Ensure that risk assessments are up to date and that there is information prepared on any specific risks which could impact firefighting efforts or result in contamination of the environment such as the location and quantities of chemical used in the manufacturing and freezing processes.
For further information, or to arrange a visit from the local Fire and Rescue operational response teams contact your local Service.
Jonathan Dixson – Essex Fire and Rescue Service –Primary Authority Partnership
Jonathan.dixson@essex-fire.gov.uk
“Fire water run-off is a hidden danger that accompanies firefighting efforts”
SAFETY FOCUS
THE IMPORTANCE OF PROTECTING LONE
WORKERS IN THE FOOD AND DRINK INDUSTRY
Lone, remote, and high-risk workers in the food and drink industry face unique challenges that require dedicated attention. Whether they are operating machinery in a factory, managing stock in a distribution centre, or working shifts on a shop floor, these individuals often find themselves isolated or in high-risk environments without immediate support.
According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), 46,000 manufacturing workers sustained injuries between 2020 and 2023, highlighting the scale of risk in the sector.
Key concerns include:
• Accidents and Medical Emergencies: Employees working alone are more vulnerable to injury or sudden illness, as they have no colleagues nearby to assist or call for help.
• Workplace Violence and Aggression: Lone workers, particularly those in retail settings, may face aggression from customers or the public, increasing their risk of physical or verbal abuse. According to the British Retail Consortium (2024), an estimated 1,300 incidents of abuse occur in retail every day.
• Fatigue and Mental Wellbeing: Working in isolation can contribute to stress and fatigue, impacting productivity and overall wellbeing.
• Manual Handling and Machinery Risks: Factory and warehouse workers often operate heavy equipment or perform physically demanding tasks that, without proper oversight, can lead to serious injury.
How SoloProtect Supports Lone Workers in the Food and Drink Industry
At SoloProtect, we understand the challenges businesses face in ensuring the safety of their lone, remote and high-risk workers. That’s why we provide cutting-edge workplace safety technology to mitigate risk and provide realtime support. Our range of discreet, user-friendly safety devices and mobile app solutions enable organisations to protect their employees wherever they are, ensuring a quick response in an emergency.
Key Benefits of SoloProtect Safety Solutions:
• Emergency Response at the Touch of a Button: Our devices offer a discreet panic alarm, connecting workers with a 24/7 Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC), ensuring help is always at hand.
• Man Down Detection: If a worker suffers a fall or sudden incapacitation, the device automatically triggers an alert, enabling swift intervention.
• Enhanced Communication and GPS Location Tracking: Real-time location sharing allows the ARC to help monitor worker safety and dispatch assistance to the right location when needed.
• Compliance and Reporting: Food industry safety compliance is enhanced through detailed safety reporting, ensuring businesses meet their health and safety obligations while protecting employees.
Simon Brentnall, Head of Health and Safety at BFFF, adds: “We see this workplace safety technology becoming more widely used within the food and drink industry to support lone workers and those with particularly high-risk, remote or hybrid roles.”
BFFF INITITIVES
Strengthening Safety Culture in the Food and Drink Industry
Implementing robust lone worker protection isn’t just about compliance—it’s about fostering a culture where employees feel valued, supported, and confident in their safety. By integrating SoloProtect’s lone worker safety solutions, food and drink organisations can reduce risk and enhance operational efficiency and workforce engagement.
SoloProtect is proud to be part of this conversation, with Managing Director Steve Hough set to speak on the topic of lone worker safety. With a deeprooted passion for safety and a wealth of industry experience, Steve will explore why lone workers require distinct consideration from other employees and how organisations can implement effective strategies to protect them.
Steve Hough states: “Lone workers play a vital role in the food and drink industry, from factory production to retail environments, yet their safety can be overlooked. We believe no worker should feel vulnerable or unprotected while doing their job and everyone should be able to return home safely at the end of the working day. At SoloProtect, we are committed to providing innovative lone worker safety solutions that give employees confidence and employers peace of mind.”
We look forward to discussing these critical health and safety concerns at the British Frozen Food Federation Health and Safety Conference on 13th May and sharing how businesses can create safer working environments for their lone workers. If you’d like to learn more before the event, we’d be delighted to connect and explore how SoloProtect can support your organisation.
Learn more at www.soloprotect.com/uk | Contact us
ENFORCEMENT
DRINKS GIANT FINED AFTER WORKER SUSTAINS
SERIOUS
BURNS
An international drinks manufacturer has been fined half a million pounds after an employee sustained burns to over 30% of his body.
The mechanical engineer had been repairing a defective pump at Diageo’s Glenlossie Distillery Complex in Elgin on 24 March 2021 when he was burned by pot ale. The liquid, which had a temperature of 104 degrees Celsius, came out suddenly and unexpectedly from a pipe.
The worker sustained burns to his arms, hands, shoulders, back, chest, lower legs and ankles, before spending two weeks in intensive care where he was placed in an induced coma.
The HSE’s investigation found Diageo failed to do all that was reasonably practicable to ensure maintenance operations could be carried out without a worker being put at risk of injury.
Diageo Scotland Limited, of Lochside Place, Edinburgh, pleaded guilty to breaching Sections 2(1), 2(2)(a), 2(2) (c), 33(1)(a) and 33(1)(c) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. The company was fined £500,000 at Inverness Sheriff Court on 16 December 2024.
HSE inspector Isabelle Martin said: “This incident could so easily have been avoided by ensuring that procedures were in place to ensure that changes to work equipment installed in the plant were safe. However, more importantly Diageo should have had procedures in place to ensure that plant could be isolated safely and prevent the release of hazardous and dangerous substances.
“Companies should be aware that HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those that fall below the required standards.”
Northampton Restaurant Owner Fined For Fire Safety Breaches
A Northampton restaurant has been fined for putting lives at risk by breaching fire safety regulations.
The Protection team at Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service acted on intelligence that the Mewar
Haveli restaurant, based on Wellingborough Road, was using the loft space at the premises to house several of its employees.
A Fire Protection Officer inspected the premises and found evidence of that practice, as well as other deficiencies. This included no fire detection system having been installed and inadequate escape and access routes (a loft hatch and vertical ladder for access and egress) – raising the risk that occupants would not be warned if a fire started and could end up trapped in the building.
The restaurant was served with a prohibition notice by the Fire Service in April 2023 which prohibited people from sleeping on the premises. The Service also took the decision that the breaches of fire safety legislation offences were so severe that they warranted prosecution.
The owner, Suraj Pathak, was charged with breaching the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and pleaded guilty to the charge.
At the sentencing of Mr Pathak, a community order was issued for 200 hours of unpaid work to be completed within 12 months, and he was ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £114 and costs of £750.
Following the hearing, Scott Richards, Head of Protection at Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: “Our Fire Protection Officers acted quickly when they received information that safety was being compromised at these premises.
“Our primary aim is to protect people, and where possible we will work with restaurants and other businesses to make sure they meet the standards required to keep both their staff and customers safe.
“On this occasion however, the breaches were so severe that we were left with no option but to prosecute and send a strong message to the owner that it is unacceptable to put lives at risk.
“We are happy that the Magistrates’ Court recognised that risk and sentenced the owner accordingly, and it serves as a reminder to all businesses that fire safety is incredibly important and that there will be consequences for not complying with it.”
£300k Fine For Company Producing Electricity From Food Waste
A company which produces electricity from food waste by anaerobic digestion, has been fined more than £300,000 after an explosion caused two employees to suffer life changing injuries.
BFFF INITITIVES
The metal tank the two men were working on was projected high into the air before crashing to the ground nine seconds later.
On 20 September 2017, two employees of Bio Dynamic (UK) Limited were using a grinder to cut and replace pipework at the top of an 11-metre high metal tank containing waste slurry. They were not using harnesses. Sparks from the grinder ignited flammable gasses causing the tank to explode.
Tomasz Patek was flung out of the mobile elevating work platform (MEWP) into the air and landed on the ground in the slurry around the tank. He suffered serious injuries to his back, head and torso and was in hospital for two months. His injuries were so severe that he was not able to work for more than two years.
Tomasz suffers from pre and post-traumatic amnesia and has no specific recollection of the events. In a statement, he reveals the psychological scars from the incident: “After the accident, I was unable to recover emotionally. I did not realise what had happened and was in deep shock. I could not cope with the pain. I could not accept an accident had happened to me.”
Robert Tyrko was thrown into the air and landed back in the basket of the MEWP. Following the incident, Robert’s leg was amputated and he remains wheelchair bound as treatment is still ongoing to receive a prosthesis. Also, he sustained a fractured skull and a piece of metal in his elbow that continues to affect his daily life.
In his statement, Robert explains how the explosion has affected his day-to-day life: “This whole situation is having a huge impact on my relationship. I can’t help my wife in anything like I used to be able to. Magda is both wife and husband because all my responsibilities fell on her; along with the kids.
“Also my personality is explosive. I lose my patience very quickly. I attended appointments with a psychologist because I had nightmares that I was still having this accident.”
A joint investigation by the HSE and the Environment Agency found that the company had failed to ensure the health and safety of its employees and others nearby. The company had kept and treated waste in a manner likely to cause pollution to the environment. The explosion was caused by multiple failures in the company’s management system and exacerbated by multiple breaches of the company’s environmental permit.
Dynamic (UK) Limited, of Colwick Industrial Estate, Nottingham:
• Pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) and Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.
• Pleaded guilty to breaching regulation 38(2) of the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016 (EPR), and s.33(1)(c) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 (EPA).
• Were fined a total of £304,500 and ordered to pay £229,988 in costs.
After the hearing, HSE inspector Richenda Dixon said: “It’s remarkable that Robert and Tomasz weren’t killed.
“This incident resulted from fundamental and multiple failings by the company to properly manage its health and safety risks.
“These included failing to ensure that the design, installation and use of the tanks were safe; failing to carry out risk assessments; failing to put in place a safe system of work; and failing to train and supervise employees.”
Senior Environmental Crime Officer Iain Regan said: “This was a lengthy and technically complex investigation by the Environment Agency and the HSE during which we found that the company’s attitude towards environmental compliance was largely cosmetic. Although the site had an environmental permit, the company was not complying with the conditions of the permit or with their own management system and procedures.
“The site had unauthorised gaseous emissions points and undertook modifications to their process which were not risk assessed or notified to the Environment Agency. The company did not recognise or understand the impact that these changes had on the safety of the plant and failed to take action, when warned, which could have prevented the incident. These factors, and a failure to implement permit to work procedures, including appropriate risk assessment, created all the necessary conditions on 20 September 2017 for the explosion which occurred.
“Sites which receive, treat or dispose of waste must be permitted to ensure that they minimise the risk to the environment or human health. Incidents such as the explosion at Bio Dynamic show why it is essential that such sites strictly comply with all the conditions of their environmental permit and take their environmental responsibilities seriously. The consequences of the company’s failure to comply with its environmental permit could have been fatal. As it is, two employees have been left with life changing physical and mental injuries which continue to devastate their lives seven years on from this incident.”
GUIDANCE
ELECTRICAL SAFETY: A FREE GUIDE TO MANAGING
ELECTRICAL RISKS AT WORK
This British Safety Council guide provides some basic, introductory advice on some of the key precautions for working with, on or near electricity to reduce the risk of death and injury.
If electrical equipment, appliances and installations become faulty or are used in an unsafe way; or work on or near electrical equipment and supplies is carried out unsafely, the consequences can be devastating. For instance, if workers are exposed to live electrical wiring –for example, because the cable of a hand tool has become damaged, exposing the live wires – they can suffer fatal and serious electric shocks and burns. Also, faulty electrical appliances and installations – such as unsafe wiring in a machine or building – can also cause fires, which may lead to loss of life, injury and severe damage to equipment and premises.
As a result, under UK health and safety law, employers have a duty to assess the health and safety hazards and risks that electricity poses to their workers and others. This includes people who could be affected if the employer’s workers create an electrical hazard or risk, such as causing an electrical explosion by striking or cutting into live underground cables.
Employers must also do everything reasonably practicable to ensure that all electrical systems, installations and
equipment are designed, built, operated and maintained to prevent people from being injured or put in danger. The guidance provided includes coverage of electrical safety legislation, safe installations, portable electrical equipment, maintenance and underground cables. See below link:
Neurodiversity At Work
Neurodiversity describes the natural differences in how people’s brains behave and process information. Neurodiversity refers to the fact that we all:
• Think, learn and act differently.
• Have different strengths and things we find challenging.
Some well-known types of neurodivergence are:
• ADHD
• autism
• dyslexia
• dyspraxia.
Other types of neurodivergence include:
• Dyscalculia – a specific and persistent difficulty in understanding numbers.
• Tourette’s syndrome.
The guidance points out that there is disagreement about whether mental health problems are types of neurodivergence. However, neurodivergent people can often experience mental ill health, it says.
It’s common for someone to have more than one type of neurodivergence. This is sometimes called ‘co-occurring conditions’.
People can often experience their neurodivergence differently. The strengths and challenges that come with a condition will not be the same for everyone.
The guidance describes each of the above types of neurodivergence. It also addresses the following:
• Whether neurodivergence is a disability.
• Disability discrimination.
• Talking about neurodiversity.
• Using appropriate language around neurodiversity.
• Performance, conduct and capability.
• Making sure employees have support.
• Carrying out a formal procedure.
• If an employee thinks they’re being treated unfairly.
• Making your organisation neuroinclusive.
• Reviewing your recruitment process.
• Training and supporting managers.
• Raising awareness.
See link to guidance:
TERRORISM BILL CONCLUDES LORDS COMMITTEE STAGE – PROPOSED CAPACITY FOR QUALIFYING PREMISES
INCLUDING FOOD RETAILERS TO 300
Members of the House of Lords concluded their detailed examination of the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill, during committee stage last Wednesday (12 February). One of the amendments could take some retail premises out of scope with proposed capacity of qualifying premises to 300.
The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill aims to improve protective security and preparation across the UK by requiring those responsible for certain public buildings and venues to implement measures to mitigate the risk of physical harm and, in the case of larger premises, to reduce vulnerability to terrorist attacks.
Committee stage is a thorough examination of the individual parts (clauses) of the Bill. Starting from the front of the Bill, members work through the clauses in order, considering changes (amendments) to the wording or proposals for new clauses.
Committee stage took place over four days:
• Monday 3 February.
• Wednesday 5 February.
• Monday 10 February.
• Wednesday 12 February.
Proposed Changes
Members speaking on the fourth and final day of committee stage (12 February) put forward amendments (PDF) to the Bill on subjects including:
• Human Rights Act 1998 compatibility in regard to protesting.
• Tax relief incentives for increased security.
• Responsibilities of local authorities.
• On 10 February, members put forward amendments to the Bill on subjects including:
• Power of ministers to alter public protection procedures.
• Waiving of protection procedures for venues if the costs are unreasonable.
• Developing and implementing training on public protection.
• On 5 February, amendments on subjects including the following were put forward:
• Preventing individuals entering or leaving events.
• Exemptions to new rules due to unreasonable costs.
• Security procedures for rural and outdoor events.
• Deadlines for organisations’ submissions of security plans.
Members speaking on day one of committee stage put forward amendments to the Bill on subjects including:
• Raising capacity of ‘qualifying premises’ to 300.
• Capacity of railway stations excluding rail vehicles.
• Exclusion of small capacity sports grounds.
What’s Next?
Report stage, a further chance to closely scrutinise elements of the Bill and make changes, is scheduled for Tuesday 4 March.
TRANSPORT HUB
AI CAMERAS CATCH DRIVERS USING MOBILE PHONES
Thousands of drivers were caught by new artificial intelligence (AI) cameras using their phone behind the wheel or not wearing a seat belt. The trial, which took place over a five-week period in Greater Manchester, used a combination of AI and human reviewers to detect offences.
More than 3,200 people were captured by the ‘Heads Up’ camera system, which has been developed by Acusensus, showing drivers using a mobile phone while behind the wheel, sometimes with passengers – including children –next to them.
In several cases the cameras also found drivers, adult and child passengers not being securely fastened in their seats or not wearing seat belts at all.
The findings, which were released during Brake’s Road Safety Week and in support of Greater Manchester’s Vision Zero Strategy to eliminate road deaths and life-changing injury by 2040, will be used to inform campaigns and to raise awareness of the consequences of not complying with the law.
Kate Green, Greater Manchester’s deputy mayor for safer and stronger communities, said: “Distractions such as using mobile phones while driving and not wearing seat belts are key factors in a number of road traffic collisions on our roads which have resulted in people being killed or suffering life-changing injuries.
“This trial was launched so we could better understand the scale of this problem in Greater Manchester, and the images speak for themselves. They show drivers who are needlessly putting themselves and others – including young children – at risk, and sadly we know that being distracted for just a second, or not wearing a seat belt properly, can have devastating consequences.”
The ‘Heads Up’ cameras capture images of passing vehicles which are initially processed using AI to detect drivers who
are potentially breaking the law and putting themselves, their passengers and other road users at risk.
The use of AI as the first filter aims to ensure privacy for law-abiding motorists.
The system checked hundreds of thousands of vehicles over an intermittent period between 3 September and 24 October, something which would likely take a human reviewer several months to complete. Images that contain evidence of an offence go through a two-stage human check to confirm that an offence has taken place.
Any offences detected as part of the trial have been passed to the police for them to consider further action. However, if no offence has been committed, the image is immediately deleted by the software and no further action will be taken.
As it stands, no offenders have yet been prosecuted from this trial.
During the deployment, the Heads Up system recorded 812 drivers distracted by using mobile phones behind the wheel, and 2,393 incidents of seat belt non-compliance by drivers or passengers.
The trial, carried out by AECOM and Acusensus on behalf of Safer Roads Greater Manchester, was held across the city-region throughout September and October to gather data to understand the scale of the issue to inform future education campaigns and enforcement.
Green said: “I hope these images serve as a wake-up call for drivers and passengers on the importance of not driving distracted and seat belt compliance.”
In the past 10 years, almost 10,000 people who live in, work in or visit Greater Manchester have been killed or seriously injured on the city’s roads. Between 2018 and 2022, pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists accounted for nearly two thirds of those killed or seriously injured, while drivers and passengers made up 34% of casualties. In 2022, there were 71 traffic fatalities or serious injuries every month in Greater Manchester.
In total, 64 people were killed over the course of the year –25 of them pedestrians.
Dame Sarah Storey, active travel commissioner for Greater Manchester, said: “The results of the trial show the horrifying truth behind the number of drivers who still don’t consider how their behaviour behind the wheel of their vehicle can affect themselves, their passengers and other people using the roads.
“Statistics show you are four times more likely to be involved in a collision if you use your phone while driving and twice as likely to die if you don’t wear a seatbelt.
“Alongside drink and drug driving and speeding, mobile phone usage and not wearing a seat belt make up the fatal four, the leading causes of serious injury and death on UK roads, which affects the lives around 1,000 people a year in Greater Manchester.
HGVS GIVEN STAR RATINGS
Star ratings for safety are being awarded to lorries for the first time, with the best and worst heavy goods vehicles due to be announced.
The scores, with five stars as the safest and one representing the least safe, have been driving up standards in cars since 1997. Sales of cars such as the Rover Metro (one star) and Fiat Panda (one of only two cars to receive no stars) collapsed after they scored very badly.
Now EuroNCAP is extending the scheme to heavy goods vehicles, which are often not fitted with safety features that are becoming commonplace on cars. They include autonomous emergency braking, which can stop a vehicle even if the driver fails to notice an obstruction ahead.
Assisted lane keeping on motorways, and collision avoidance for cyclists and pedestrians when a lorry turns at a junction, exist but are not widely fitted.
Matthew Avery, director of strategy at EuroNCAP, said: “Lorries represent only 3% of vehicles on the road. Yet they are involved in 15% of fatal crashes. So this is not just about driving up the safety of lorries; it’s about protecting all the other road users as well, whether they are car drivers or passengers, cyclists or pedestrians.”
He said half of all lorry drivers killed in crashes were not wearing seat belts, and many lorries do not have the seat belt warnings that are standard in all new cars.
Six brands of heavy goods vehicles have been tested.
BFFF INITITIVES
CALL TO ACTION FOR BFFF MEMBERS TO HAVE
THEIR SAY ON NET ZERO FLEET
Last week the Road Haulage Association (RHA) launched an industry wide Net Zero survey asking operators for their views on decarbonising their HGV, coach, and van fleets. The survey is a crucial opportunity for businesses to have a say on key industry challenges, and the insights from it will help us best define what our sectors need on the road to net zero.
These insights will help, better understand how firms are to bring alternatively fuelled vehicles (battery electric, hydrogen fuel cell, or low carbon fuel) into their fleets.
RHA will use this information to inform Government and other stakeholders involved in delivering HGV, coach, and van decarbonisation.
They would be very grateful if our industry members could also help to collate this information. The survey can be completed via the below link:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/RHA-NetZeroSurvey2025-TradeAssociations
It will close at 5pm on Tuesday 15 April.
RHA
