Hardstaff Barriers - Experts & Thought Leaders

Event organisers must act now to ensure they meet essential security requirements to protect the public, a White Paper published has warned. ‘Time to Act Now: Hostile Vehicle Mitigation (HVM) and the responsibilities facing event organisers’ urges organisers of events, large and small, to proactively review their security procedures now before imminent changes to the law come into force. Seeking expert advice It highlights that while the introduction of Protect Duty, also known as Martyn’s Law, may still be months away, organisers ought to be proactive and not wait until the legislation is in place to take action. The White Paper also provides guidance on the approach and steps event organisers are to take to ensure the safety of their employees, volunteers, and members of the public.  The document has been written by HVM experts from Hardstaff Barriers - one of the UK’s suppliers of HVM solutions and the company responsible for delivering the Government’s National Barrier Asset (NBA) framework. The guidance document will be available to visitors at the Event Production Show, at ExCel London, on March 1 and 2, 2023. Attendees are invited to visit Stand F5EE and seek expert advice from one of its main authors, Niall Griffin CSyP, who will be in attendance throughout the event.  Qualified specialists working Niall is one of less than 300 Chartered Security Professionals on the Register in the UK Niall is one of less than 300 Chartered Security Professionals on the Register in the UK, making him one of the most knowledgeable and qualified specialists working in the HVM industry. Niall Griffin said: “Anyone who attends an event - from a small gathering to a sports game attended by thousands of spectators - has the right to be safe and protected.” He adds, “Event organisers have a duty to ensure, so far as reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of these individuals, and that they are not exposed to risks to their health and safety arising from the operation of the event.” Taking proactive steps Niall Griffin further said: “The underlying message throughout the White Paper is the importance of planning ahead and taking proactive steps to keep people safe, rather than wait until imminent laws are in place. This proactivity will not only protect people’s lives, but it will also protect the reputation of an event and the organisations behind it.” Hardstaff Barriers will also be showcasing its range of HVM products at the Event Production Show, which are all approved to standards including EN 1317, IWA 14-1, PAS68 and VADS. 

Visitors to the Commonwealth Games were protected from the threat of vehicle-borne attacks thanks to months of meticulous planning and the largest ever deployment of Hostile Vehicle Mitigation (HVM) barriers in the UK. Some 18 months prior to the major event, held in Birmingham from July 28 to August 8, the National Vehicle Threat Mitigation Unit (NVTMU) started its preparations to help protect everyone attending the games. Vehicle restraint system This involved providing advice to local and regional authorities, transport partners, police, and the organising committee of the Commonwealth Games on preventing vehicle as a weapon attacks. As the appointed supplier of the Government’s National Barrier Asset (NBA), the process was supported by Hardstaff Barriers. Its team of specialists delivered the barriers to 18 sites, which included athletes’ villages, transport malls, and sporting venues. In order to keep the many sites across the West Midlands as safe as possible, the following items were installed: 56 gates 387 barges 160 Wailing Units 2000 Quick Moveable Blocks 12 kilometres of security fencing were deployed, with support from ZSD Contractors Ltd 5 kilometres of high security fencing, with support from ZSD Contractors Ltd 2 kilometres of temporary vehicle restraint system (TVRS), with support from Asset VRS 475 modular HVM units Largest ever deployment This was completed in partnership with the NBA Contractor who completed this tremendous task In its recent article about the security of the Commonwealth Games, the National Counter Terrorism Security Office stated: 'The deployment of the NBA, to support partners in delivering the Commonwealth Games, has seen the largest ever deployment of the asset in the 19 years that it has been deployed across various sites around the UK.' ‘This entire process spanned a total of 76 days. The size of the task cannot be underestimated. Meeting deadlines, cost-effectiveness and the sheer number of resources required (staff and assets) made this a challenging deployment.’ With reference to Hardstaff Barriers’ role, the article went on: ‘This was completed in partnership with the NBA Contractor who completed this tremendous task, thus helping to ensure the safety and security of those attending the Commonwealth Games.’

A road safety barrier firm is now protecting the planet as well as people by recycling every item of PPE when it reaches the end of its life. Hardstaff Barriers, which manufactures and supplies vehicle restraint systems (VRS) and security barriers, is now ensuring that all personal protective equipment that can no longer be worn is recycled rather than disposed of. Personal protective equipment PPE has been widely used in the workplace for many years, but since the outbreak of COVID-19, its use has skyrocketed. In the UK, approximately one million tonnes of clothing is disposed of every year and 10,000 items of clothing are sent to landfill every five minutes. This is approximately 30% of all clothing. Kathryn Cooper, Service Manager at Hardstaff Barriers, said: “We are delighted that we can not only protect our workforce and customers through the use of quality PPE, but we can rest assured that we are not damaging the environment when the workwear is no longer fit for use.” High visibility tape Granite Workwear destroys all clothing, including boots and belts, by recycling it into new fibres The company, based in Nottinghamshire, has teamed up with Granite Workwear, an ISO14001 certified company located in the same county, which has launched its very own textile destruction and recycling service for old or damaged workwear and PPE. Granite Workwear destroys all clothing, including boots and belts, by recycling it into new fibres, for a variety of products including new fabrics. Plastics from safety glasses and helmets are re-chipped for re-use in the plastic industry. Metals from studs, buttons, zips and toe caps and melted down for reuse. The only product that it cannot recycle is the high visibility tape, which goes to incineration. Create sustainable infrastructure The service is carried out by Granite at no cost, with customers simply needing to send the clothing back to them. Hardstaff Barriers is part of Hill and Smith Holdings PLC, an international group of companies operating within the infrastructure and galvanizing markets. One of the group’s main objectives is to create sustainable infrastructure and safe transport through innovation. Simon Towle, Director at Granite Workwear, said: “We started the service as we take sustainability and the environment very seriously. As far as we know, we are also the first company to offer complete recycling and re-tasking of all workwear and PPE products that have been purchased from us, ensuring a full circular economy and not just a recycling economy.”