Critical Issues

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The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH)'s London Metropolitan Branch has hailed the result of a ballot by the European Parliament to allow mandatory safety requirements for new lorries.

Employers, especially those with staff who drive for work, are being urged to sign up now to be part of Road Safety Week 2014 (17-23 November), the UK road safety event.

By Andy Kaye, CEO of management recruitment company, BiS Henderson.

The British economy is bouncing back. In January, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) revised upwards its projections for UK GDP to 2.4% growth this year, retail sales in December were reported by the Office for National Statistics to be up 5.3% on a year ago, and the CBI's quarterly Industrial Trends Survey for the three months to January 2014 showed growth in new manufacturing orders was the strongest since April 2011. With encouraging signs of a resurgence in Britain's economic activity, what are the expectations for supply chain careers in the coming year?

By John Andrew Shawyer, director, Associated Pallets Ltd.

The right supply chain and logistics infrastructure are essential to the successful running of your business.Companies need to invest in the latest technology and systems in order to gain and maintain a competitive edge.

Some 75 per cent of professional drivers support a ban on smoking in cars carrying children, a survey shows.

Just a month since the UK's first Petroleum Driver Passport (PDP) became fully operational, 18 organisations are now approved to deliver PDP training and assessment with a further 21 in the approval process.

A full one third (33 per cent) of respondents to an Access WMS survey put improving the accuracy of their fulfilment operations at or near the top of their priority list.

While welcoming any measures that improve safety within a warehouse or distribution centre building, the UK Warehousing Association (UKWA) - the trade body which represents the interests of some 700 third party logistics specialists – has warned against the mandatory introduction of sprinkler systems within all warehouse facilities.

Thousands of transport and logistics operators are being urged by a health and safety legislation expert to act now over forthcoming changes to the way fuel will be categorised.

Changes in China will bring increased opportunities for UK businesses according to a director of China's largest independent business school.

Neil Selby, who is Director of Executive Education at Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business (CKGSB), was in Oxford to address business leaders at a conference held by Unipart, the manufacturing, logistics and consultancy group.