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The campaign highlights the scale of the problem and the fact that most cases are avoidable. Work-related skin disease can lead to pain, discomfort and time away from work and in serious cases, people may be forced to change jobs. It also results in millions of pounds in compensation and costs industry millions more in absence and retraining.

Dermatitis accounts for more than 70 percent of work-related skin disease cases. Hands are most at risk, although other parts of the body can also be affected.

The updated campaign guide sets out clear advice for employers and employees. It explains how to recognise early signs of dermatitis, including redness, swelling, cracking, itching and blistering of the skin. It also outlines legal duties under COSHH and other health and safety regulations, reminding employers that hazardous substances must be assessed and controlled before work begins.

A central message of the campaign is the need to reduce skin contact with hazardous substances and wet work. The guide promotes the principle of Safe Working Distance, encouraging businesses to avoid skin contact where possible, substitute harmful substances, introduce engineering controls and improve working practices before relying on personal protective equipment.

Where protective gloves and clothing are needed, the campaign stresses that selection must match the task, the substance and the wearer. An “any gloves will do” approach can increase the risk of dermatitis rather than reduce it.

The guidance also covers the importance of skin care recommending suitable pre-work creams, mild skin cleansers and after-work moisturisers to help maintain the skin’s natural barrier Regular skin checks are encouraged to support early detection and prevent more serious cases developing.

Outdoor workers are reminded of the risk of skin cancer from long-term exposure to the sun. The campaign advises the use of shade, protective clothing and a minimum SPF 30 sunscreen to protect exposed skin.

Commenting on the launch, John Hooker, Chief Executive Officer of the BSIF said: “It’s in your hands builds on the strong foundations laid by the original campaign and the progress made across industry over the past two decades. We have seen encouraging signs that awareness and reporting have improved, but work-related skin disease remains far too common.

“Skin health should not be treated as an afterthought or only discussed when something goes wrong. It needs to be part of everyday health and safety management. Simple measures such as proper risk assessment, selecting the right gloves, reducing direct contact with harmful substances and encouraging early reporting can prevent long-term harm.

“This refreshed campaign is a reminder that prevention is practical and achievable. Employers and workers both have a role to play. By making skin protection routine, we can reduce avoidable illness, cut costs for business and protect people’s livelihoods.”

The updated guide includes sector-specific advice for industries ranging from manufacturing and construction to food service and personal care. It urges organisations of all sizes to share the campaign materials, review their risk assessments and make sure workers have access to suitable washing facilities, protective equipment and skin care products. 

BSIF is encouraging businesses across the UK to download and use the refreshed materials and to make prevention of skin disease a routine part of workplace health management. Visit: https://bsif.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Its-in-your-hands.pdf

Filtermist Limited will be showcasing three brand-new products on stand 418 in Hall 19 at MACH from 20th-24th April – all designed to help UK manufacturers ensure the air in their production facilities is clean and safe to breathe.

Graeme Bell, Filtermist’s Global Commercial Director, elaborates, “As part of the global Absolent Air Care Group, Filtermist has access to an ever-expanding product portfolio which is continually evolving. We are widely known for our UK manufactured oil mist filters and aftermarket services, but we also manufacture Dustcheck and Kerstar branded dust collectors, process filters and industrial vacuum cleaners, and we distribute and support industrial filtration products from our sister company Absolent AB.

“Everything we do focuses on clean workplace air – our customers in the UK and around the world count on us to ensure their people are protected from exposure to harmful airborne particles, and their bottom line is healthy.

“Our global product development team is constantly listening to customers to establish what will add the most value to their operations – reducing energy consumption, utilising smaller footprints and offering higher filtration performance at a lower cost are all key topics which our latest products help to tackle.”

F Save – energy saving for Filtermist oil mist filters

The first new product, F Save, has been developed to reduce energy consumption on Filtermist’s centrifugal oil mist filters. Filtermist MD, René Joppi elaborates; “Our research and our customers’ feedback showed that some machines are only operational for around 30% of the working day. If the Filtermist unit is kept running the whole time the machine is switched on, whether it’s needed or not, this means energy is being used unnecessarily. Not only does this waste valuable resources and contribute to the customer’s carbon footprint, it also costs money!

“We’ve developed a smart system that involves attaching a sensor to the machine’s coolant pump which sends a signal to the F Save ‘Hub’. The Hub then switches the Filtermist unit off if the pump isn’t running. Our data shows that with this new smart system customers can reduce their energy usage by up to 70%! In these cases, payback can be achieved in as little as just over three months.

“F Save does not require any electrical interfacing with the machine tool which makes it extremely simple to set up. It also prevents machine operators from accidentally overriding the mist extraction, meaning people are always protected from exposure to harmful airborne oil mist particles.”

AW oil mist filters

Filtermist will also be introducing a brand-new oil mist filter developed in conjunction with Absolent AB. The new ‘AW’ units have been specifically designed to effectively capture large volumes of submicron particles generated in applications that use neat oil.

“The AW series combines over 80 years of oil mist filtration expertise from Absolent and Filtermist, packaged in a compact, lightweight, energy efficient, plug and play unit which is designed to be machine-mounted,” comments Graeme. “This is a very interesting addition to the Group’s product offering, and we are excited to be showing it to a UK audience for the first time on our MACH stand.”

AD dust and fume extraction units

The third new product on show will be an AD dust and fume extraction unit from Absolent AB. Initially launched last year, the AD range is being extended to offer ATEX rated options for use in potentially explosive atmospheres which must comply with DSEAR requirements.

The AD range maximises ‘True Downflow’ technology to provide dust extraction units which are compact, easy to maintain, and deliver optimised filtration density. Designed using input from hundreds of real customer use cases, the AD range provides a truly modular, fully ‘customer centric’ product line that is now available to UK manufacturers that undertake abrasive metal processes including welding, laser cutting, grinding and many more.

True Downflow combines vertical filter elements with a top to bottom air flow. This unique combination optimises the effect of gravity and ensures that the dust coming out of the filter elements during pulse jet cleaning is forced down to the disposal solution in the hopper.

Another unique aspect of the new range is the ’CleanChange™’ filter change clamping mechanism. The filter elements are linked together and, as the operator pulls the first element out, the next one is pulled to the front. No tool is needed, and engineers do not have to enter the dust filled unit to replace blinded filter cartridges.

This latest addition marks a pivotal moment in the Absolent Air Care Group’s product portfolio, as Graeme explains, “Dust extraction markets offer huge growth potential for our global businesses. AD units can be used on a huge range of fume and dust extraction applications and we’re very excited to be showing one in the UK for the first time.”

Visit www.filtermist.co.uk to find out more about all of the products and services Filtermist offers to UK customers.

The  speed with which the global maritime industry is adopting AI technology to optimise operations, recruitment and maintenance is leaving the sector open to a swift, autonomous cyber-attack that is almost impossible to detect before it’s too late.

New data shows that up to 60% of all newly disclosed software vulnerabilities on ship, onshore and offshore are being weaponised within 48 hours as hackers also begin to use AI to accelerate attacks.

In 2018, the average time from new software vulnerabilities being published to an actual  attack was 63 days; by 2024, it had fallen to five days. Today, AI-driven tools have reduced the hacking window to less than 48 hours, with many systems being targeted within just 15 minutes of a system flaw being detected.

Tetsuji Madarame, a distinguished maritime and logistics expert and former Head of Digital Transformation and Innovation at NYK Line, says that as AI moves rapidly from a generative to agentic and physical model, expanding capabilities into autonomous navigation and optimal fleet operations, “protecting AI-related assets must be a top priority.”

Findings from a Cydome security research paper published this week indicates that  87% of organisations now view AI-related vulnerabilities as the fastest-growing risk, highlighting a dangerous collapse in the traditional security response window. While the technology streamlines operations, it also enables the nefarious to carry out “flawless deception”.

Theofano Somaripa, Group CIO with dry bulk operator Newport S.A, says that cyber-attacks in 2026 will be defined by a “shift in focus from digitalisation to the radical restructuring of business models through AI”.

The report notes that 83% of phishing emails already use AI to target multi-national crews in their native language, and in a way that instantly establishes trust. This has led to a 1600% surge in voice phishing (vishing), where AI clones the speech pattern  of C-suite executives to authorise fraudulent transactions.

In a one incident, this type of AI-based skullduggery was used to fleece a European energy major out of US$25 million, when attackers used a deepfake audio clone of the company's CFO to instruct staff to carry out an urgent wire transfer. The voice was so precise in tone, dialect and cadence that the money was gone in a flash.

In a different incident, a US$200,000 crew compensation payment was diverted using an AI-based email interceptor to a criminal’s own account rather than to the family of the deceased seafarer.

And further illustrative of the 195% increase in AI-driven identity fraud, a firm unknowingly hired an operative who used an AI-enhanced photograph and a stolen identity to pass four separate video interviews. Bypassing standard captcha-style verification processes, the fraudster used a "laptop farm" to mask their true location while attempting to infiltrate the company's internal servers.

This mirrors a broader identity crisis where 82 autonomous AI agents now operate on the internet for every one human identity.

Shipping companies are deploying AI faster than they are defining cyber accountability," warns Katerina Raptaki, IT Manager at Greek shipping company Navios, in the report. "In 2026, the question after an incident won't be was the AI wrong?' but why was it trusted?”

Data suggests that system trust is also being eroded with the proliferation of edge network devices, such as routers, firewalls, and VPNs. According to Cydome this “digital gateway” was routinely exploited, with attacks increasing in 2025 by 800%, of which 20% targeted firewalls and VPNs directly.

The report reveals that it was in fact the wiping of “the network edge” that allowed Lab Dookhtegan hacktivists to disconnect a fleet of 116 tankers from the internet and the outside world.

By compromising the infrastructure of the connectivity provider, VSAT partitions on the ships hard drive were completely wiped. This resulted in a total loss of connectivity, substantial operational and safety risks, and compliance and legal issues. Hackers seized control of all ship-to-shore VOIP services.

“In 2026, the most significant cybersecurity risk will come from inside the perimeter,” says Øystein Brekke-Sanderud, Head of Maritime OT/ICS Security at NORMA Cyber. “As organisations become more digitally integrated, insider risk, whether malicious, compromised, or accidental,  will be one of the hardest challenges to detect and manage. Resilience will increasingly depend on how well we detect subtle signals early, not just how well we defend the edge."

Panagiotis Anastasiou, Cyber Security Strategy Leader with Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore furthers: “Attacks are inevitable and, as an incidents analysis indicates, are becoming more sophisticated; the differentiator will be how quickly and safely a shipping company can detect, respond, and continue operations.”

The full report is available at https://cydome.io/cydome-maritime-trends-report-2026/

The D1x represents a continuously evolving family of certified notification, initiation, and detection products engineered for operation in the most demanding hazardous industrial and harsh marine environments. Combining extensive international certification with advanced electronic design and robust marine-grade aluminium enclosures to deliver hi-performance signaling and detection solutions.  D1x devices are approved for use in Class I/II Division 1 locations to UL/cUL, as well as Zone 1 applications to ATEX/IECEx. Selected variants additionally carry UL1638, CAN/ULC-S526, EN54-23, and UL Marine approvals, enabling deployment across a range of harsh industrial, offshore, and maritime applications.

Integrated audible and visual notifications

The D1xC1 and D1xC2 ranges combine hi-intensity audible and visual signaling in a single, factory-configured device, simplifying installation while maximising alarm effectiveness. Xenon strobe beacons are paired with either flare horn sounders or compact radial horns, the latter providing omni-directional sound coverage regardless of mounting orientation.

Strobe options include 5 and 10 Joules outputs delivering up to 1,000,000 Candelas in seven UV-stable, field-replaceable colours, while sound output reaches up to 123 dB(A) for hi-noise environments. Selected 24Vdc variants are approved for fire alarm applications. A threaded flame path, compact internal layout, and ratchet-adjustable stainless steel brackets improve serviceability, wiring access, and installation accuracy.

The D1xC1F series extends the range to fully certified explosion-proof public mode fire alarm solutions for Class I Division 1/2 and Zone 1 to UL/cUL installations. It includes 15W and 25W loudspeakers with 25/70V line transformers or hi-output alarm horns, combined with Xenon strobes up to 190 Candelas, with automatic synchronisation as standard.

Alarm horn sounders and loudspeakers

Standalone D1xS alarm horn sounders are available in flare and radial formats, supporting up to 64 selectable first-stage alarm tones via internal DIP switching. Remote triggering enables up to four alarm stages or channels. The D1xS1 24Vdc variants carry approvals for public mode fire alarm systems.

The D1xL loudspeaker range includes 15W and 25W models with low-impedance and 70V line capability. DNV type approval confirms suitability for offshore PAGA and fire voice systems. High Q-factor drivers, controlled directivity, and factory-fitted transformers ensure excellent speech intelligibility in hi-ambient noise and corrosive marine conditions.

Manual call points, beacons and heat detectors

The D1xCP1-PS explosion-proof manual call point is UL and UL Marine listed, SIL2 compliant, and rated NEMA 4X, providing dependable manual initiation in hazardous and corrosive environments. The D1xB2 Xenon beacons deliver outputs of 5, 10, 15 or 21 Joules with peak light output of 2,100,000 Candelas. With LED beacon providing an alternative for low-power applications.

The D1xH1 heat detector range integrates Detect-A-Fire® rate-compensated sensing technology within the marine-grade aluminium enclosures. Approved to UL, cUL, ATEX, and IECEx, and SIL2 compliant to IEC 61508, these detectors provide reliable fire and over-temperature detection across, and Class I/II Divisions 1 and 2 to UL, and Zones 0 and 1 to ATEX/IECEx.

D1x family - a reference standard for harsh signaling specifiers

By combining hi-output performance, global approvals, and rugged marine-grade enclosure, the D1x family establishes a benchmark for hazardous-area signaling. From notification and voice evacuation to initiation and detection, it provides a scalable, compliant, and dependable safety platform for harsh and critical industrial applications where life-safety and operational continuity are paramount. Learn more about the D1x family at e2s.com.

New market surveillance data highlights widespread failures in PPE performance, certification, and documentation

The British Safety Industry Federation (BSIF) has revealed that 82% of personal protective equipment (PPE) products sourced from non-registered suppliers failed to meet required standards during testing in 2025, according to findings published in its new white paper, Combatting Substandard PPE in the UK.

The results are based on testing and compliance assessments carried out between January 2025 and January 2026, during which BSIF assessed 88 PPE products sourced from suppliers outside the BSIF Registered Safety Supplier Scheme. In total, 116 individual tests were conducted, alongside detailed reviews of certification, technical documentation, and product marking.

Only 18% of the products tested met all applicable regulatory requirements. The remaining 82% failed due to technical performance failures, missing or invalid certification, inadequate documentation, incorrect product marking, or a combination of these issues.

While 43% of products tested resulted in a direct technical performance failure, the overall non-compliance rate rose sharply once documentation and marking issues were included. Under UK PPE regulations, products that lack valid certification, Declarations of Conformity, or correct CE/UKCA markings are deemed non-compliant regardless of laboratory performance.

BSIF warns that missing or misleading documentation removes any reliable assurance that PPE has been tested against the correct standards or hazard categories, leaving buyers and users unable to confirm whether equipment is suitable for the risks it claims to protect against.

Failure rates across PPE categories

Testing revealed consistently high failure rates across almost every PPE category, with some reaching 100% non-compliance for selected products among non-registered suppliers:

•          100% of hearing protection products tested failed to meet required standards

•          100% of fall protection equipment failed to meet test criteria

•          94% of head protection products did not meet required test criteria

•          86% of eye and face protection products failed tests

•          84% of respiratory protective equipment (RPE) had ineffective filters

•          84% of protective clothing, including flame-retardant and chemical garments, failed tests

•          84% of high-visibility jackets failed brightness and visibility requirements

•          83% of hand protection products left workers inadequately protected

•          79% of safety footwear failed overall compliance checks

•          91% of sports and motorcycle protective equipment did not pass testing

How products failed

The white paper details repeated and serious failure modes identified during testing, including:

•          Respiratory protection exceeding permitted particle penetration limits

•          Safety helmets transmitting excessive impact force or failing chin-strap anchorage tests

•          Eye protection lenses shattering on impact instead of resisting it

•          Hearing protectors cracking under drop testing, rendering them ineffective

•          Safety footwear failing toecap compression, impact, penetration, and slip resistance tests

•          Protective clothing marketed as flame-retardant burning aggressively during testing

•          Chemical protective garments sold without verified chemical resistance data

In many cases, products failed multiple criteria simultaneously, compounding the level of risk faced by users.

Commenting on the findings, John Hooker, CEO of BSIF, said: “These findings should concern anyone responsible for worker health and safety. PPE is often the last line of defence against serious injury or harm. When 82% of products from non-registered suppliers fail to meet regulatory requirements — whether through performance failure or missing certification — it highlights a clear compliance gap in the market.

“This is not about minor administrative issues; it is about ensuring that equipment relied upon to protect lives is genuinely fit for purpose. Buyers must verify what they are purchasing and ensure they can evidence compliance.”

Roy Wilders, RSS Scheme Manager, added: “What we are seeing in testing is not isolated or technical nuance, it is fundamental failure. We saw respiratory filters that did not filter effectively, helmets that transmitted excessive force, and protective garments that burned so aggressively testing had to be stopped.

“Equally concerning is the volume of missing or misleading documentation. Without valid Declarations of Conformity, correct markings, and clear user instructions, there is no reliable assurance that a product has ever been properly assessed. That leaves workers exposed and employers vulnerable.”

A call for verification and trusted supply chains

By contrast, PPE sourced from BSIF Registered Safety Suppliers demonstrated a 96% compliance rate, with any issues typically limited to minor documentation matters that were addressed promptly.

BSIF is urging buyers, specifiers, and dutyholders to verify supplier credentials, scrutinise documentation, and look for the BSIF Registered Safety Supplier shield as a clear indicator of compliance, transparency, and a commitment to high standards. 

The full white paper, Combatting Substandard PPE in the UK, is available at: Combatting Substandard PPE in the UK.

Hart Door Systems has received further orders for its Speedor Storm following successful operation at a waste management facility west of London.

Hart’s managing director, Nick Hart, says the first doors were installed 18 months ago “and to get further orders, which would bring the total Hart doors on site to five,  from the major, transnational, company for Hart’s Speedor Storm is testimony to the quality of our leading brands.”

“Waste and Water management are very important issues facing the country,” says Mr Hart. “ “Waste transfer is subject to strict controls and in the UK the process is formally recorded using a Waste Transfer Note (WTN).

“A WTN is a legal document that tracks each movement of non‑hazardous waste from the point it is produced to the point it is collected, transported, or received by another party.

“This ensures there is a clear audit trail and that waste is only passed to authorised carriers or facilities. Where doors are involved in the process, clearly reliability is essential.”

Mr Hart adds: “Hart’s door systems are activity in over 20 industrial sectors in the UK and across the globe in Europe, Scandinavia, the Far East and North and South America, Africa and the Middle East.

www.hartdoors.com

MSA Safety, Inc., a global leader in the manufacture and distribution of PPE and safety systems, welcomes this week's harmonisation of EN 17235, a European test standard for permanently installed anchor devices used in horizontal construction applications.

EN 17235 sets out a comprehensive testing methodology for anchor devices that are permanently fixed to a structure, assessing not only the device itself, but also its fixings and the base material to which it is attached. The standard was harmonised on 9 February, 2026, with an 18-month transition period. After the transition period, manufacturers across the UK and Europewill be required to test products to EN 17235 in order to produce a Declaration of Performance and apply CE marking.

The harmonisation of EN 17235 is expected to significantly improve safety levels industry wide by requiring consistent, robust testing across the built environment, and by preventing the use of inadequately tested products on construction projects.

MSA Safety has long been an advocate for rigorous, up-to-date testing of all safety devices and welcomes the move to make compliance mandatory.

Tim Bissett, technical expert at MSA Safety, is part of the working group that developed this standard. He comments: “This harmonisation of EN 17235 is a major step forward for safety in the construction sector. By making robust testing a legal requirement, the standard helps to level the playing field and helps make sure that anchor devices are properly assessed as complete systems, not just as individual components.”

MSA’s development approach already reflects many of the principles now set out in EN 17235. For instance, its Constant Force Post range has long been tested as a complete system, looking not just at the anchor device itself, but also its fixings and the substrate it’s installed into. That mirrors the standard’s focus on assessing products in realistic installation conditions, helping give a clearer picture of how they’ll perform in practice.

The company is now progressing a programme to test both new and existing products directly to EN 17235, with its next-generation Constant Force Post among the first scheduled. MSA has historically carried out equivalent testing through the German DIBt approval process, whose methodology aligns closely with EN 17235 requirements, meaning many of its established testing practices are already consistent with the new framework.

“Testing to the latest standards has always been fundamental to how MSA designs and validates its safety solutions,” Bissett added. “EN 17235 formalises best practice and provides greater confidence for specifiers, installers and end users alike. Our mission is to send workers home safely to their families at the end of each day, and this helps us to do it.”