fig leaves

The newsletter of the Fire Information Group UK (FIG UK)

www.figuk.org.uk

No. 52
March 2016

Edited by Sheila Pantry, OBE
Sheila Pantry Associates Ltd
www.sheilapantry.com

This Newsletter contains:

• News from around the World
• Diary of Events
• Summary of the FIG UK Meeting held on 4 February 2016
• Dates of Next Meetings

FIG UK website www.figuk.org.uk ... please help to promote FIG UK whenever you can ... Make a link from your website!

News items from around the world

Did you know?

Looking forward – the theme for The Worshipful Company of Firefighters Annual Fire lecture in Spring 2016 will be the 350th Anniversary of the Great Fire of London, 1666.

New Book: Computer Aided Seismic and Fire Retrofitting Analysis of Existing High Rise Reinforced Concrete Buildings

Authors: Hussain, Raja Rizwan; Wasim, Muhammad; Hasan, Saeed; Springer, Netherlands, 2016, 119 pages, ISBN 9789401772969

This book details the analysis and design of high rise buildings for gravity and seismic analysis. It provides the knowledge structural engineers need to retrofit existing structures in order to meet safety requirements and better prevent potential damage from such disasters as earthquakes and fires. Coverage includes actual case studies of existing buildings, reviews of current knowledge for damages and their mitigation, protective design technologies, and analytical and computational techniques. This monograph also provides an experimental investigation on the properties of fibre reinforced concrete that consists of natural fibres like coconut coir and also steel fibres that are used for comparison in both Normal Strength Concrete (NSC) and High Strength Concrete (HSC). In addition, the authors examine the use of various repair techniques for damaged high rise buildings. The book will help upcoming structural design engineers learn the computer aided analysis and design of real existing high rise buildings by using ACI code for application of the gravity loads, UBC- 97 for seismic analysis and retrofitting analysis by computer models. It will be of immense use to the student community, academicians, consultants and practicing professional engineers and scientists involved in the planning, design, execution, inspection and supervision for the proper retrofitting of buildings.

Further information and ordering: www.springer.com/gb/book/9789401772969

Book: Evacuation Modeling Trends

Edited by Arturo Cuesta and others, Springer International Publishing, 2016, 133 pages, ISBN 9783319207070

This book presents an overview of modelling definitions and concepts, theory on human behaviour and human performance data, available tools and simulation approaches, model development, and application and validation methods. It considers the data and research efforts needed to develop and incorporate functions for the different parameters into comprehensive escape and evacuation simulations, with a number of examples illustrating different aspects and approaches. After an overview of basic modelling approaches, the book discusses benefits and challenges of current techniques. The representation of evacuees is a central issue, including human behaviour and the proper implementation of representational tools. Key topics include the nature and importance of the different parameters involved in ASET and RSET and the interactions between them. A review of the current literature on verification and validation methods is provided, with a set of recommended verification tests and examples of validation tests. The book concludes with future challenges: new scenarios and factors for future model developments, addresses the problem of using deterministic and/or stochastic approaches and proposes, and discusses the use of evacuation models for supporting timely decisions in real-time. Written by international experts, Evacuation Modeling Trends is designed for those involved in safety, from emergency and intervention personnel to students, engineers and researchers.

Further information and ordering: www.springer.com/gb/book/9783319207070

Event: Process & Fire Incidents

23-24 February 2016, Health and Safety Laboratory, Harpur Hill, Buxton, Derbyshire, SK17 9JN

This two-day course is designed to introduce delegates to lessons learned from a number of significant or high profile incidents involving fires or chemical processes.

Drawing on the wealth of investigation experience within HSL to provide detailed histories of incidents, key outcomes of the investigations and examples of how investigation and follow up research has led to improvements in safety.

There will be significant practical demonstration content in the course where you will witness live experiments.

What will the course cover?

• Chemical reaction hazards and incidents
• Fire & explosion incidents – history & principles
• Risk reduction strategies
• A practical demonstration programme

Who should attend?

Senior managers, safety professionals, health and safety managers, insurers, trade union representatives.

Information and booking

A full programme and online booking form can be found on the Process & Fire Incidents course page. Alternatively, you can email HSL Training or call 01298 218806.

Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) – Notification of New Headquarters

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) new national headquarters will be located at the National Training College site in Cambuslang and all corporate business will be run from this site from Monday 1 February 2016.

This outstanding new headquarters site symbolises our ambitions to deliver a world class fire and rescue service to the people of Scotland. It gives SFRS the facilities to support the development of the Service as well as the skills and talent of our people who will continue to ensure the safety of communities across the country.

In financially challenging times, co-locating at the Cambuslang site was the best value option but much more than that, this location also stands the test of time in terms of its size and flexibility, allowing us to grow and adapt to meet our future needs and the needs of our communities.

A G Hay, Chief Officer, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS), Westburn Drive, Cambusland, G72 7NA

Event: FIRETOX 2016 at UCLAN

21 to 23 March 2016

Fire Toxicity Conference 2016 to gather international leaders in fire and hazard science.

Organisers have announced the launch of Fire Toxicity Conference 2016, a three day event held at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLAN), which is an important international forum for experts from across the world to highlight research and open discussion on a variety of fire and hazard related topics.

Topics up for discussion at the 2016 gathering include lessons learned from major fire disasters, smoke toxicity and the effect of combustion conditions, clinical care of fire smoke injuries, forensic investigations of fire toxicity, the physiological effect of fire toxicants, and more.

Offering their insights into those topics are some of the fire prevention leaders in Europe, including Juergen Troitszch, Fire and Environment Protection Service, Germany, Mr Peter Holland, UK Chief Fire & Rescue Advisor, and Mr Tommy Kiaer, Vice President, European Fire Fighters Unions Alliance.

To emphasise the international nature of this conference, in addition to speakers listed above, experts from the University of Leuven, Netherlands, Effectis, France, University of Waterloo, Canada, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, USA, SP Technical Research Institute, Sweden and the European Commission will also deliver their latest fire hazard research findings, hypotheses and advice.

The event takes place from 21 to 23 March 2016 in Preston, United Kingdom. FIRE Magazine is pleased to support this event with an exclusive subscription offer for delegates.

For more information, including the full conference programme, visit: www.eventbrite.com/e/firetox2016-tickets-20778598347

Event: Floodfighters – Flood SAR Lifesaving Conference, Spring meeting ‘16, Supported by Surf Lifesaving GB and Professional Rescue

23 March 2016, Venue: North Terminal, New Harbour Road. Poole, Dorset, UK, BH15 4AJ.

We are once again, due to many requests for an update, arranging another “Floodfighters – Flood SAR Lifesaving Conference”.

Details on the website (www.flood-fighters.com). You can also register etc. through the site.

We have assembled a cast list of outstanding international speakers: including former Deputy Chief Jeff Dulin, now Assistant Director, International Association of Fire Chiefs, Washington, USA; Deputy Chief John Esposito from ‘New York Fire Department’ to attend with other unique SAR and Lifesaving experts – Prof. Michael J. Tipton – University of Portsmouth, North Yorks. Police Gold and Silver Commanders, Fire and Rescue Service speaker(s), Mr Paul Savage OBE BSc SRP – Lecturer in Paramedic Science, Bournemouth University, UKSAR Medical Group Chairman and Clinical Governance Consultant; Mr George Rawlinson – Operations Director RNLI, and National Water Safety Forum, UK and colleague pre-eminent experts in their fields of SAR and flood rescue colleagues to hold the Conference on the UK’s South Coast, date: 23 March 2016.

Also we are holding a special event in support of “Floodfighters 2016” – a ‘Tactical Response and Advice Training Day’ a one day event, available on a choice of either 24 or 25 March 2016. (Please ask for more details.)

To cover “Principles of Water and Flood Incident management and the management of resources for incidents requiring National assets and assistance – for threat driven responses.”

Aims: to train delegates in the Principles of Water and Flood Incident management and the management of resources for incidents requiring National assets and assistance for threat driven responses – this will be through technical information input and table top exercises.

Our team of international facilitators led by Mr Jeff Dulin – Assistant Director, International Association of Fire Chiefs, Washington, USA (& Ret’d Deputy Fire Chief Charlotte Fire Department, NC, USA.), and Deputy Chief John Esposito from New York Fire Department will host this unique training day on the UK’s South Coast.

Numbers are strictly limited for this highly valued unique event and on a first come first booked basis – delegates can also book through the web site.

NB FIG UK Members – there’s a discount available.

Contact: David Lane, MIFireE, AssocRINA, FRIN, Lane Jefferies & Associates Ltd, c/o 44 Broadwater Avenue, Poole, Dorset, BH14 8QJ | Tel: UK +44 (0) 1202 731566 | Mob: 07710 229082

Event: Countdown to the 2016-2017 Healthy Workplaces Campaign

14 April 2016

EU-OSHA’s next Healthy Workplaces for All Ages campaign will be launched on 14 April 2016. And the countdown clock is ticking.

This campaign will focus on sustainable working lives, drawing attention to the importance of good safety and health management at any age and providing practical tools and guidance in this area.

Check out the brand-new campaign guide

Diary of Events

25-26 February 2016 – Hazardex 2016
Holiday Inn, Runcorn, UK
Contact: www.hazardexonthenet.net

8-9 March 2016 – COMAH: Safety Report Requirements with Emphasis on Technical Aspects of COMAH Safety Reports
Health and Safety Laboratory (HSL), Harpur Hill, Buxton, Derbyshire, SK17 9JN, UK
Contact: HSL | Tel: +44 (0)1298 218806 | Email: training@hsl.gsi.gov.uk | www.hsl.gov.uk/health-and-safety-training-courses

14-18 March 2016 – Safety Promotion – from theory to best practical solutions
Krapihovi, Tuusula (Helsinki region), Finland
Contract: Siv Jansson, Course coordinator / Communications officer, NIVA, Ärilsvägen 3 A, FI-00370 Helsingfors, Finland | Mobile: +358 43 8241 696 | Email: siv.jansson@niva.org | https://niva.org/courses/

21-24 March 2016 – 4th International Strategy Conference on Health and Safety at Work
Dresden, Germany
Contact: DGUV, Germany | Tel: +49 351 457 1517 | www.dguv.de/isc/index.jsp

10-13 April 2016 – 12th Global Congress on Process Safety
Hilton Americas – Houston, George R. Brown Convention Center, Houston, Texas, USA
Contact: www.aiche.org/ccps/conferences/global-congress-on-process-safety/2016

11-15 April 2016 – Health Effects of Hazardous Substances (OHTA Module W507)
Jakarta, Indonesia
Contact: http://www.ghtechnical.com/training/occupational-hygiene/ohta-modules/w507-health-effects-of-hazardous-substances

25-27 April 2016 – Occupational Safety and Health Risks on board ships
Radisson BLU Saga Hotel, Hagatorg, 107, Reykjavik, Iceland
Contact: Katja Pekkarinen, NIVA | katja.pekkarinen@niva.org | https://niva.org/courses

23-25 May 2016 – BCC 27th Annual Conference: Recent Advances in Flame Retardancy of Polymeric Materials
Stamford, CT, USA
Contact: www.bccresearch.com/conference/flame

24-26 May 2016 – Hazards 26 Conference
Edinburgh, UK
Contact: ICHEME, UK | https://www.icheme.org/career/events

1-3 June 2016 – 4th CCPS China Conference on Process Safety
Qingdao China
Contact: Center for Chemical Process Safety (CCPS) and China University of Petroleum | www.aiche.org/ccps/conferences/ccps-china-conference-on-process-safety/2016

5-8 June 2016 – 15th International Symposium on Loss Prevention and Safety Promotion in the Process Industries
Freiburg, Germany
Contract: DECHEMA | http://events.dechema.de/lossprevention2016.html

8-10 June 2016 – SiF’16 Structures in Fire
Princeton, USA
Contact: Phosphorus, Inorganic & Nitrogen Flame Retardants Association (PINFA) | http://pinfa.org/index.php/media-events/events/274-sif-16-structures-in-fire

13-16 June 2016 – NFPA Conference & Expo
Las Vegas, USA
Contact: https://www.nfpa.org/conference

FRSUG website

FIG UK Members may be interested in the various presentations, statistics and other sources of statistics which are available in website www.frsug.org

Abbreviated FIG UK Meeting minutes held on Thursday 4 February 2016

at Bureau Veritas, 18 Rushworth Court, London

Present:

Sheila Pantry OBE	Sheila Pantry Associates Ltd
Nigel Herring	Bureau Veritas UK Ltd
Sally Walsh	Burgoyne Management Ltd
Nick Fry	International Fire Consultants (IFC)
Paula McCrudden	Hawkins
Alyson Warner	DCLG
Penny Morgan
Davide Washer	Boat Safety Scheme (BSS)

Apologies:

Dr Roger Berrett
David Lane	Lane, Jefferies & Associates Ltd
Peter Mansi	Fire Investigations (UK) LLP
Marian Bodian	Building Research Establishment (BRE)
Julie Farrugia	West Midlands Fire and Rescue Service
Caroline Windle	Fire Protection Association (FPA)
Tiffany Beech	LFEPA
Steve Skarratt	FPA
Ian Jerome	Kings College London

1. Welcome

Sheila welcomed everyone and thanked Nigel and Bureau Veritas for hosting the meeting.

2. Introductions

Sheila invited everyone to introduce themselves to new member David Washer – Boat Safety Scheme (BSS).

3. Apologies

See above list.

4. Minutes of the last meeting

Minutes of the last meeting held on Wednesday, 2 September 2015 at Burgoyne Management Ltd London and also the Abbreviated Minutes with the Newsletter were accepted.

5. Matters arising

Matters arising before the Accounts and Membership Fees for 2016 were discussed.

1) FIG UK Seminar held in September 2015

Discussed the outcomes of the 17 September 2015 Mind the Gap Update Seminar on Fake chargers other fake goods that are fire hazards and concluded that it was very informative event and that the speaker Andrew Vaughan-Davies, London Fire Brigade Fire Investigation Team talk was excellent.

Regretted that there were last minute no-shows and the attendance could have been higher in numbers.

6. Accounts and Membership Fee for 2016

FIG UK Accounts at 12 January 2016 were circulated to Members by Sally Walsh – FIG UK Treasurer and Membership officer at the meeting.

Thanks to Sally for this updated Accounts work.

Sally will shortly be sending out 2016 Membership invoices to all FIG UK members. It was agreed that the membership fee should remain at £20.00 per member.

7. Membership – new recruits

ACTIONS: Agreed that all Members would continue to endeavour to encourage others to join FIG UK. Details of aims and objectives are list on www.figuk.org.uk

Sally had set up a FIG UK Facebook and also a FIG UK LinkedIn and reported back to the meeting.

(All FIG UK members were notified by Sally on 31 March 2015)

8. FIG UK Seminar to be held in October 2016

Sheila proposed and it was agreed that a seminar should be offered by FIG UK in October 2016. A check to be made so that the chosen date does not clash with any other major fire related event.

A discussion took place and the following agreed:

1. Would be held at the Imperial Hotel, Russell Square because of its central location with easy access to main stations etc. Hotel also offers various type of refreshment should delegates wish to have something to eat before the seminar.

2. There would be at least 4 speakers and time for discussion followed by the usual “Networking party”.

3. Discussion took place and Sheila agreed to put together a list of possible speakers on very current topics for members to look at and possibly make any other suggestions. Speakers and topics to appeal to a widest possible audience.

9. FIG UK Members’ Directory

All members are asked to check that their entry in the FIG UK Directory is up to date and send any alterations to Sheila please. See www.figuk.org.uk/directory.html

Sheila reminds all FIG UK Members to send in news to her at any time.

10. Round Table Discussion (Includes emailed comments/news)

Paula McCrudden, Hawkins reported that she is currently checking over 100 boxes of documents to see if any treasures emerge. She is also still looking for any recalls such as Creda/Hotpoint and especially interested in any fire related cases.

Alyson Warner, Department for Communities and Local Government confirmed that the enews dated 5 January 2016 that Sheila had sent out was still current:

Fire and rescue policy to move to the Home Office 5 January 2016

Responsibility for fire and rescue policy will move from the Department for Communities and Local Government to the Home Office with immediate effect.

The Prime Minister on 5 January 2016 confirmed that ministerial responsibility for fire and rescue policy will transfer to the Home Office from the Department for Communities and Local Government, in order to support a radical transformation of how the police and fire and rescue services work together. Mike Penning will assume responsibility for the portfolio becoming Minister for Policing, Fire, Criminal Justice and Victims.

The move will deliver the government’s manifesto commitment to deliver greater joint working between the police and fire service. It will pave the way for improvement in local fire and policing by providing clear leadership, supporting greater collaboration and delivering value for money for taxpayers. It will also allow the government to share good practice more effectively on areas such as procurement and prevention. The government recently consulted on proposals to enable Police and Crime Commissioners to take on greater responsibility for fire services at local level.

The response across the country to recent flooding shows how well the police and fire service already work together to protect the public and support local communities. The 2 services cooperate closely operationally in times of crisis, but also more routinely.

Dave Washer, Boat Safety Scheme – FIG UK new member reported the following:

The Boat Safety Scheme is similar to the car MOT scheme, where our 230 examiners complete a tick box check list to confirm a boat meets the navigation authority’s current requirements. My role at the Boat Safety Scheme can be divided into three main roles;

The first is to provide technical support for boat owner who are in the process of having a Boat Safety Scheme examination completed and to guide boat owners through the 300 or so checks which are found in the Examination Checking Procedures these can be viewed on our website at www.boatsafetyscheme.org

Secondly our 230 registered examiners also require support for technical issues that they encounter during an examination, this may be a quick in-house review of the issue or a report being sent to our Technical Committee for further comments. Training is also an important part of being a BSS examiner and we usually provide a yearly training seminar our most recent course being Electrical Awareness which included part e-learning and a one day seminar. We also provide a two week training course for our new intake of examiners twice a year.

And finally in 2005 we introduced ‘risk-based’ general requirements for privately owned/managed vessels. We must now take account of information, including accident and incident data, to help inform our activities, such as, helping us react in a timely way to new or potential risks including, by promoting safety advice, by issuing media releases and by recommendations to the navigation authorities concerning the adequacy of construction and equipment requirements.

By a way of an annual accident and incident report, we publish the breakdown of the data we have collected. We indicate current and future BSS activity associated with the key risk areas. It is published in a very broad form and no personal or detailed information is included.

I would also like to appeal for any boat related incidents, as you may not be aware we do not have a central incident data collection pot and rely entirely on the collection of information from news reports, colleagues and other fire related organisations and any support would be much appreciated. Information may be sent to Dave.w@boatsafetyscheme.com or I can be contacted on 0333 202 1000.

NB See also Boat Safety Scheme entry in the FIG Members’ Directory www.figuk.org.uk/directory.html

Nick Fry, IFC reported that:

He is working part time. IFC is expanding in size and also the specialisms, e.g. recently IFC had taken on a structural engineer. IFC offers Fire Risk Assessor training and also IFC has produced guidance on non-compliance. FIA and a number of other bodies continue to produce guidance.

Vested Interest

Nick also raised a growing concern in certain cases, some Building Control bodies and Fire and Rescue Services are conducting themselves in ways that could present a conflict of interests i.e. between their provision of certain commercial services and their roles as enforcers or independent 3rd party checkers.

This concern is important because the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 places a duty on enforcers, regarding fire safety matters, to carry out their enforcement work diligently working in accordance with the spirit of the law.

There may be questions about whether a Fire and Rescue Authority would carry out a prosecutions if the breach were caused by a failure of an “arms-length” company that was owned by that Fire and Rescue Authority (e.g. if the fire extinguishers in the building were found not to be functional in a situation where the contract for maintaining those extinguishers were held by that arms-length body).

Concern is likely to grow because of the current trend of cutting public finances to many of these bodies, this encouraging their commercial drive to grow their services so that they may remain solvent/maintain their services, i.e. where profit from commercial activities is sought in order to pay for the enforcement activities that the same organisations carry out. If those commercial activities – do not conflict with the enforcement activities, then that is no problem, but if the commercial activities risk compromising the independence of the enforcement activities, then that is a problem.

International Fire Consultants (IFC), although not alone, are driving for improved industry guidance and policies to be provided throughout these enforcing sectors to address this issue as a gradual deterioration of the independence of enforcement, regarding non-compliance, within these sectors, is likely to benefit no one. IFC have raised our concern as part of our membership of the Fire Industry Association (FIA), who is currently liaising with a number of industry bodies regarding this issue.
The Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG) have expressed a keenness to see the production of suitable guidance to support fire safety enforcing bodies, in their avoidance of getting into the position where vested interest/s may occur.

IFC are working with a group of industry bodies to help produce guidance on how the independence of Building Control bodies can be maintained. Once complete, that guidance may be equally applicable to other enforcing bodies such as Fire and Rescue Authorities.

Nigel Herring, Bureau Veritas (BV) informed that BV is moving to a new location near Millwall Football Ground in Bermondsey. He also informed that he will be retiring at the end of 2016.

Penny Morgan informed that she and two other people are engaged at looking a small collection of Historical Data from the Fire Research Station from 1947. This job has just started and she will report on any findings.

Sally Walsh, Burgoynes reported that:

Margaret Brian at the Burgoyne Management Ltd Ilkley office had retired and was the new librarian is Sarah Hammond who will also be receiving any FIG UK emails as well as other staff members Katherine Scott and Elizabeth Peagram at the London Office.

Sally also reported that she and her colleagues are looking at the work tasks that they undertake and are prioritising them for their Continuous Professional Development assessment.

Sheila Pantry reported the following items:

1. The website History of Occupational Safety and Health www.historyofosh.org.uk which she and her company has developed with RoSPA’s National Occupational Safety and Health Committee (NOSHC) was launched last year. The website does included fire and fire related information sources and covers reviews/legislation/links to full texts/standard specifications/memorial sites and the developments from the 1802 Factory Act. It lists many full text books, reports, legislation – the earliest full text book listed is De Re Metallica – hazards of working with metals which was published in 1556! You can digitally turn over the pages! Making workplaces safer and healthier is NOT NEW!

   ACTION: Members are requested to check it out and if they can contribute by providing documents or references – please send to sp@sheilapantry.com

2. OSH UPDATE + FIRE electronic service

   This long established electronic service is a special collection of OSH and fire legislation, guidance and advice and much more! Do you need information on new developments, innovations, ways of working, latest research and training?

   Alongside the developments is the need to keep up-to-date with new health, safety and fire information. You will need to quickly gain access to legislation, guidance and advice that is constantly being up-to-date and relevant. Your first port of call is to an aggregation of 26 databases collected together in an electronic service entitled OSH UPDATE + FIRE that currently contains over 1,128,901 records including over 98,000 full text documents from worldwide sources!

   It is constantly update and arguably – especially at the subscription price the best collective source of information in the world. There are over half a million fire and fire related records in OSH UPDATE + FIRE.

   The databases and contents are from worldwide class organisations such as the US NIOSH, the UK Health and Safety Executive, the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work and many more similar organisations.

   Used worldwide by:

   • Fire fighters
   • Management in a wide range of industries and governmental departments
   • Lecturers, trainers and students in universities colleges
   • Inspectors, Consultants, Professionals
   • Information services and libraries
   • OSH and FIRE EXPERTS including Fire and Research Services

   OSH UPDATE + FIRE is easily searchable by keywords, titles, journal names, standard number, authors, organisations, and will keep you and your colleagues alerted to hot topics such as the health risks of nanotechnology, preparedness and business continuity, risk assessment, corporate killing and corporate social responsibility, bio-terrorism, management of road risks, all aspects of fire and related fire topics, workplace health and safety and much more.

   Arguably the largest electronic collection in the world in these very wide subject areas from worldwide sources. This time of the year is a good time for all organisations worldwide to review their health and safety goals and decide on the training or re-training that is needed for all levels of staff and update their information resources.

   Check out these successful efforts and introduce them into your workplace!

   So help is at hand for those working in health, safety and fire and fire related industries that need quality information. These are brought together in an easy to use web service entitled OSH UPDATE + FIRE www.oshupdate.com that is constantly updated.

   For a 15 DAY FREE NO OBLIGATION TRIAL contact: Sheila Pantry Associates Ltd | email: sp@sheilapantry.com | or fill in the Interest form www.sheilapantry.com/interest.html

3. Fire Research and Statistics User Group

   Sheila is a long time member of the Fire Research and Statistics User Group (FRSUG) and runs and hosts their website which contains many links to fire statistics and related sources plus minutes and other news items.

   FIG UK members are reminded that they have free access to www.frsug.org for all minutes, presentations, statistics, links and updates.

   Sheila also runs and hosts the FIG UK website www.figuk.org.uk. There are cross links.

4. New topics of interests

   Sheila also introduced some new words/concepts into the vocabulary of members. She has been carry out some research in trends in occupational health and would like to share the following information:

   Nomophobia – the fear of being with a cell phone (no-mobile-phone-phobia). In an increasingly connected world we rely on our phones for almost everything.

   There is FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) and this is also causing concern in many ways, especially in the workplace.

   Apparently research shows that people at work look at their phones 38 times a day and this is a concern for managers who have to ensure that work schedules are delivered in time.

   Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) – Research on the causes and risk factors for BPD is still in its early stages. However, scientists generally agree that genetic and environmental influences are likely to be involved. Loss, neglect and bullying may also contribute. There are four areas that may interest managers who have responsibility for staff in the workplace:

   • emotional instability
   • disturbed patterns of thinking or perception
   • impulsive behaviour
   • intense but unstable relationships

   You can check out if you are phone dependent: http://digitalintelligencetoday.com/nomophobia-smartphone-dependency-diagnostic-test-marketing-opportunities

Meeting closed at 4.15 pm.

Dates of next meeting

Note revised date

Next full FIG UK meeting Tuesday, 6 September 2016 at Burgoynes, Half Moon Court, London.

Start time 1 pm with Lunch – details of agenda etc nearer the date will be sent to all FIG UK Members.

October 2016 – FIG UK 2016 UPDATE Seminar – full details to be announced ASAP.