Training Skills 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.

08/04/2025 Navigating new cobot regulations New robot safety standards have come into effect to reflect technological changes and advancements in collaborative robots (cobots). Matt Androsiuk of Cobots and Machinery Safety looks at the changes » Read More

18/03/2025 Automation liberation Choosing the right safety expert is of critical importance. Stewart Robinson, advisory consultant and functional safety expert at TÜV SÜD, explains why » Read More

09/12/2024 A celebration of safety and resilience The Society of Operations Engineers (SOE) Safety and Resilience Engineering Awards 2024 took place on 17 October at the Thinktank, Birmingham Science Museum. The event celebrated safety and resilience across the engineering landscape » Read More

02/10/2024 Protect and survive ?Protect and survive Stewart Robinson MIET MInstMC, principal engineer and functional safety expert at TÜV SÜD, asks, ‘how electrically safe is your machinery?’ » Read More

08/08/2024 PPE for hydraulics: got it covered? A host of PPE advances and developments will help hydraulic system operators and maintenance teams reach new levels of safety and protection, says Steed Webzell » Read More

10/06/2024 Fine mines Sustainability, employee protection and operational insights are the drivers of a cutting-edge electrification upgrade at BHP BMA’s Goonyella Riverside Mine in Queensland » Read More

10/06/2024 Machinery in mind The risk of damage to machinery from fire should be taken seriously in all industrial settings. The measures in place to prevent it include important procedural and operational requirements that should be closely noted. Darren ... » Read More

08/05/2024 Mitigating risks via engineering services In today’s complex and highly regulated business environment, compliance with regulatory standards is of paramount importance. Engineering services are very much in the game when it comes to helping organisations navigate these challenges » Read More

08/03/2024 Comment: The dangers of duplication You may have seen the communication from the HSE last October regarding radiographic duplication and falsification? If not, I recommend a read: http://tinyurl.com/5ef2bkn8 » Read More

08/01/2024 Proving driver competency On the back of continuing incidents involving on- and off-road plant vehicles, new driver training is being brought in to prove drivers can do the job, reports Tom Austin-Morgan » Read More

05/12/2023 Wind turbine lift safety An HSE alert has raised concerns about the safety of the design of maintenance lifts inside wind turbines. Now, publication of a relevant new design standard has been delayed, reports Toby Clark » Read More

12/10/2023 Safety fears over RAAC Reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete has come under intense scrutiny since late 2018, following a school roof collapse. How do you identify it and what is the best means of remediation, asks Brian Wall » Read More

31/08/2023 A guide to machine safety It is a common assumption among machinery owners that if their equipment has a CE or UKCA mark then no further action on their part is required to ensure machinery safety. However, it is vital that employers who provide machinery to ... » Read More

09/06/2023 Details really do matter Dominic Dawson, chief engineer, Zurich Engineering, the new chair of SOE subsidiary BES, discusses the safety and compliance issues raised in last month‘s article ‘Details Matter’ » Read More

31/05/2023 DROPS reaches its 25th anniversary DROPS (Dropped Objects Prevention Scheme) has steadily been gaining traction around the world as the campaign marks its 25th anniversary. Ben Spencer gets an insight into the milestones, opportunities, and plans for future » Read More

09/01/2023 Zoning in on site safety People and plant working together on site present a potentially fatal interface. Might zonal working be the answer? » Read More

09/01/2023 Construction: time to get risk-averse The construction industry is crying out for a statistical approach to identifying and mitigating safety risks. With the new Construction Risk Library project, it might just have arrived » Read More

19/12/2022 Safety leaders The Sir Moir Lockhead safety award recognises leaders in operational safety around the world. In this, the fourth year of the award, two winners are profiled » Read More

19/12/2022 H&S standards: changing of the guard ISO 45001, occupational health and safety (OH&S), management is intended to help develop a framework to improve safety, reduce workplace risks and create safer working conditions. It has supplanted OHSAS 18001 since March 2021. By David ... » Read More

19/12/2022 Taking the lead Lagging indicators have been used in the construction industry to measure safety for decades, but a programme of work, Discovering Safety, involving HSE (Health and Safety Executive) and the University of Manchester, is investigating an ... » Read More

17/05/2022 Rising up to the challenge The post-Grenfell Building Safety Bill aims to alter substantively how the welfare of high-rise buildings is managed – but the late-stage removal of the building safety manager role has caused some misgivings. By Brian Wall » Read More

17/05/2022 Beyond REACH What does a government-imposed delay to the implementation of UK REACH regulations mean for chemical plants and their supply chains? By Steed Webzell » Read More

13/04/2022 PPE changes for the workforce: guidance for employers With new PPE regulations that came into force on 6th April, under the Personal Protective Equipment at Work (Amendment) Regulations 2022, employers that supply safety equipment to employees must carefully assess their health and safety ... » Read More

14/03/2022 Workplace permitting and digital safety Yokogawa makes the case for a digital approach to safety management of plant operations, as it launches a new version of its RAP control-to-work software » Read More

19/01/2022 Safety leaders The Sir Moir Lockhead safety award recognises leaders in operational safety around the world. Originally set up in 2018, this third year of the scheme highlights safety leaders working in the UK and overseas. Three 2021 winners are ... » Read More