Airshow organiser and venue operator achieves IS020121 and OHSAS18001 certification.

Continuing its on-going policy to maintain the highest standards in event/venue organisation, Farnborough International Ltd (FIL), has achieved certification against international standards for sustainability and health and safety as part of its efforts to prepare for CDM enforcement (the new regulations, which are due to come into force from 6th April, will integrate health and safety into the management of projects in the event industry and encourage all parties involved to work together).

As organiser of the Farnborough International Airshow, FIL has worked to reduce the environmental impact of the show which is one of the largest trade exhibitions in the world. Over the last four shows, it has completely reduced the amount of waste going to landfill to zero – a major achievement given the sheer size of the event. From a Health and Safety point of view, the Emergency Services Group, County Planners and HSE have all commented on how well the FIL team performs.

Colin Alborough, Environmental Health Manager, Rushmoor Borough Council and Chair of the FIA2014 Safety Advisory Group, said, “It is a measure of FIL’s commitment to good health and safety that, at the last Farnborough International Airshow in 2014, there were no RIDDOR reportable accidents – which is some feat taking into account that this event is the largest of its kind in the world. Rushmoor Borough Council is proud to serve as a partner in the support and in the arrangements for this event”.

Achieving the ISO and OHSAS certification is a further step to ensuring FIL operates to the highest standards possible, not just for the Farnborough International Airshow, but also for the variety of different events that take place at FIVE, the venue operated by FIL.

“For commercial and operational reasons we have always managed our activity in these areas to a very high standard. We have created a team worthy of the demands befitting FIL’s portfolio of activities,” says Grahame Jones, FIL’s Chief Operating Officer.

Head of Operational Development, Jonathan Smith, lead on all H&S aspects at FIL added, “The roll-out of these standards across the entire breadth of our activity has strengthened our framework for systematic continuous improvement and makes an important statement to our customers and contractors about our credibility, dependability and integrity in relation to safety and the environment at a time in our industry when that has never been so closely scrutinized.”