Health and Safety Feature Library

Operations Engineer's library catalogues editorial features going back five years.

Access to all archive material is free to all, including non-members of IPlantE (the Institution of Operations Engineers) or BES (Bureau of Engineer Surveyors), under the umbrella of SOE (Society of Operations Engineers). However, to discover the many benefits of becoming an SOE member, please click here.

03/09/2024 Convey the message Speaking with experts in bulk materials conveying solutions, Louise Davis discovers how this is one sector where the old adage “you get what you pay for” is especially true » Read More


31/05/2023 IMI's e-forklift engineering qualifications Forklift trucks with electric drive units are becoming increasingly popular, but does the sector have enough trained maintenance technicians to work on these high-voltage vehicles? » Read More


21/09/2022 Bulking up Using the right kind of bulk bags and handling equipment is paramount for the transportation, storage, processing and packaging of many solid materials – as is ensuring the highest levels of safety. By Brian Wall » Read More


30/03/2020 Handy advice Irritant contact dermatitis is an eczema that can be triggered by a range of substances used across industry. This article focuses on employee hands and looks at what measures can be put in place to prevent it » Read More


03/06/2019 Heart of the workhorse Forklift trucks that run on electricity are common throughout industry. So, what operational and maintenance-related advice and products are out there for users looking to get the most out of their batteries? » Read More


08/05/2019 Ploughing forward with safety Industry bodies are pushing ‘best practice’ to improve health and safety on farms. So, what are the issues for off-road agricultural vehicles and machinery and what safety checks should operators carry out? » Read More


05/02/2019 Cleaning up Leaks and uncontrolled releases of diesel can have major impacts on nature and the environment if they aren’t dealt with properly. Luckily there are different measures, products and services available for operators and businesses in ... » Read More


05/12/2018 Load and behold Automated truck loading machines can be used as alternatives to forklift trucks and pallet trucks. How does this machinery work, and what installation and training requirements are needed? » Read More


30/06/2018 Driving forward Forklift truck manufacturer Combilift has opened its brand-new global headquarters and manufacturing facility in Ireland. (NOTE: This article was originally printed in Manufacturing Management magazine) » Read More


30/06/2014 Flixborough revisited Forty years on from the Flixborough disaster, Brian Tinham looks at the lessons learned then and since – and the repercussions for safety throughout the process industries. » Read More


27/02/2014 Material world New materials are being investigated for coal-fired power plants as their owners and operators seek to reduce emissions, using alternative fuels and carbon capture technologies. » Read More


14/12/2013 Future fuels? Materials handling is a sweet spot for hydrogen fuel cells, according to one expert. They've been introduced in the US, with proven benefits, so why haven't they taken off in the UK? Laura Cork reports » Read More


18/02/2013 A regulation tie-up? As part of its review of health and safety legislation, the government has been considering whether regulations covering related topics such as lifting and loading operations could be pulled together. Is a merger of PUWER and LOLER still ... » Read More


01/06/2007 Pit and the Pendolino Two years ago, Leighton Buzzard-based Harmill Systems won an unusual project - a rail-mounted seat for the London Underground Waterloo and City depot inspection pit. Within months, that turned into a plant lifting and manipulator project ... » Read More