There have been tremendous developments since the last company news letter.  The principle developments have been:

• The on-line Health and Safety resource has grown greatly with new versions of 72 work activity risk assessments; 25 new procedures; many new training presentations and tool-box talks; new signs, posters and a new newsletter section.  With over 50 NHS Estates and Facilities Departments along with HEFMA WM taking up the resource, feedback has been excellent.

• The new compliance tracker Health and safety audit is proving popular and gives a score out of 100 for the level of health and safety management compliance.  The audit identifies top level actions and provides a spreadsheet of recommendations.  This system can be used to chart progress, and many clients are now using it.

• We are developing a new on-line version of the compliance tracker audit which we hope to go live during 2011 – watch this space.

• Alan Hambidge has completed the 3 year cycle of IOSH CPD successfully, and is listed on the new OSHCR consultants register;

• I am thrilled to confirm that Empathy Environmental Consultants Ltd will continue to manage the HEFMA on-line Health and Safety Resource (http://www.safetyprocedures.co.uk).  We also supply a news letter for HEFMA on a monthly basis.  If you wish to find out more or subscribe to this resource contact Keely at HEFMA West Midlands at sales@safetyprocedures.co.uk;

• As you will recall Alan is one of the three Directors of “Wickerman Oxford” a charity support community interest company. The “Wicker Man Oxford Project” is run by a dedicated team of enthusiastic volunteers, and its purpose is to identify and support a small local charity. Our mission is then to raise awareness of the charity and funds for it by running a competition for local children to design a giant metal and wicker sculpture.  Our team then build the winning design as a 40 feet tall Wooden / Wicker Sculpture on a metal frame. The sculpture finally went up in flames at the Oxford Southpark firework display on 6th November 2010 in front of 25,000 spectators, raising thousands of pounds for charity.

• This year Wickerman Oxford is supporting Maggie’s Cancer Caring Charities, and we plan to build an even bigger sculpture (we hope to get this one into the Guinness Book of World Records!).

• Alan had developed the 2010 IHEEM Water Management and Risk Management Technical Seminars.  These proved to be very successful and well received.

• Empathy Environmental Consultants Ltd have been supporting Kingston Colts Youth Football Club.  The club is going from strength to strength with now eight teams, including a “mini-kickers” team run by Alan’s wife Sally Hambidge (an ex Southern England Hockey player).  It’s a family activity for the Hambidge’s with Oliver (aged 5) playing in the mini kickers and Tom (aged 10) playing in the A league where he is joint top goal scorrer for the Colts in his age group this year.