Technology can offer new business opportunities and efficiencies to businesses. However, it can also present new and on-going challenges to the regulation and control of health, safety and environmental issues (and ultimately the potential liability of any business exploiting new technology). One of the ‘key points’ of the Health and Safety Executive Strategy 2016 was that “we all need to horizon scan and ‘design-in’ effective risk management of new or emerging technologies and business models.” More recently, trade press have worked to identify just some of the prominent emerging technologies, including nano-materials and collaborative robots.

To play its part in such horizon scanning and development of effective risk management strategies, we will be hosting in our Birmingham office on Wednesday 14 June 2017, the sixth annual UK Environmental, Safety and Health Conference. We are delighted to welcome a host of expert external speakers to explore these issues and help guide businesses through potential pitfalls. Speakers include:

  • Alistair Protheroe, Seeing Machines (discussing Early Fatigue Detection Systems and Driver Behaviour – a carrot or a stick?)
  • Anthony Bochon, Squire Patton Boggs Brussels office (big risks in a small world: the regulatory challenges of nanotechnology)
  • Chris Ryall, Manufacturing Technology Centre & Gareth Evans, Health and Safety Laboratory (Additive Manufacturing – Opportunities, Risks and Safeguards)
  • Dr Alison Lawson, Forresters (dealing with the Intellectual Property Challenges of New Environmental Technologies)
  • Karl Simons, Thames Water (Eye in the Sky – Technology Influencing Business)
  • Louise Ward, British Safety Council (the Psychological Impact of Technology)
  • Robert Brooks, Omron (Robotics and Mitigation of Risks on the Production Line)
  • Sarah Foster, Comply Direct (Producer Responsibility: Opportunities and Challenges in the Age of the Circular Economy)

There will be no charge for this conference and there is still time to sign up to attend here.