A Strong Start for the BFPA Health, Safety & Environmental Forum
24 Apr 2026
The inaugural meeting of the BFPA Health, Safety & Environmental (HSE) Forum took place virtually on 20 April 2026, bringing together a strong cross‑section of BFPA members and industry experts for an engaging and highly productive first session.
The forum was officially welcomed by Nigel Thomason, CEO of BFPA, who thanked members for their commitment and enthusiasm in supporting this important new initiative. Chair Shaun Coetzer, EnerMech Ltd, reinforced the forum’s purpose: to provide a trusted, collaborative space for BFPA members to share expertise, best practice and real‑world experience to improve health, safety and environmental performance across the fluid power sector.
A key highlight of the meeting was a Health and Safety Executive (HSE) update delivered by guest speaker Chris Steel, which prompted valuable discussion around workplace noise – particularly noise risks associated with compressed air systems. Members welcomed the opportunity to hear directly from the regulator and to explore practical ways the industry can better manage noise risks and improve the quality of noise assessments.
The forum also explored several strategic topics with long‑term impact, including industry data and trend analysis. Vice-Chair Jacky Lynch, Danfoss Ltd, shared practical examples of near‑miss and potential hazard reporting systems and the importance of consistent definitions to improve learning and prevention of accidents.
The forum highlighted the environmental support available to members, showcasing resources that can help organisations move forward on their sustainability journeys.
The level of engagement throughout the meeting – including open sharing of experiences, offers of peer‑to‑peer support and strong participation clearly demonstrated the value of the forum to BFPA membership.
Looking ahead, members agreed that the HSE Forum has significant potential not only as a discussion forum, but as a driver of tangible improvement across the industry. Plans are already in place for the next virtual meeting on 23rd July.
The first meeting set a very positive tone, and the BFPA would like to thank all participants for contributing to such a constructive and collaborative start. Interested in getting involved?
Join BFPA’s Health, Safety & Environmental Forum by emailing healthandsafety@bfpa.co.uk.