Annual Conference

The annual SW&WE SOM conference is to be held at the University West of England, Bristol on Friday 7th of September 2012.  A map of how to get there and travel options can be found here. It covers the issue of managing mental health within the workplace and focuses on giving delegates practical approaches to related issues for the workplaces for which they are responsible. Key speakers will include, Dr Ian Jones, Senior Lecturer in Perinatal Psychiatry and Honorary Consultant Psychiatrist in Cardiff University. Alan Bradshaw, Business Psychologist and partner in work-life solutions and Dr Maurice Lipsedge, Consultant Psychiatrist with Pelham Chambers (contributor to Hunter's Diseases of Occupation). For a booking form contact clairespelling@eoph.org.  We look forward to seeing you there.

Spring Visit 2012 - Postlip Hall, Cotswolds

Visit to Postlip Hall

On 20th April 2012, the South Wales and West of England SOM group visited Postlip Hall Estate for their spring meeting organised by Stuart Galey.  Stuart took us on a fascinating tour of the co-housing community estate, giving us a real insight into the hazards and attendant risks of working woodland followed after a background talk on wood management.  We then took part in a discussion regarding the use of different tools in estate with a chance to handle the different equipment before working in small groups  assessing the risks we had identified during the tour.  After an excellent lunch with locally pressed apple juice, the founding member of the community, Sandy McMillan took us on  a tour of the estate whilst giving a historical overview of the building and surrounding countryside.  An excellent day, despite the April showers. More information about the community can be found at http://postliphall.org.uk/the_place.htm.