In an industry becoming increasingly globalised, The British Abrasives Federation (BAF) provides a vehicle whereby abrasive suppliers in the UK have the opportunity to take an active role in the generation of safety rules, regulations and standards common to all participating countries. In Europe, CEN (European Committee for Standardisation) Safety Requirements are ultimately adopted by all EU mem
bers and become the minimum norm to which manufacturers adhere. ISO (International Standards Organisation) Standards developed in parallel and fully compatible with the CEN regulations reach a global ordinance via the various National Standards Associations and Institutes. BAF Members provide specialists to help create the regulations and standards with both of the above organisations, and work closely with BSI (British Standards Institution) and the HSE (Health & Safety Executive) at all stages. BAF and its Members work in close liaison with FEPA (Federation of European Producers of Abrasives) and the Technical Commissions within the organisation, to produce Safety Leaflets, Safety Codes and Material Safety Data Sheets, in as many as 6 different European languages. The use of these documents plays a vital role in ensuring that up-to-date information is available to abrasive users in domestic and export markets. The FEPA Safety Codes and Safety Leaflets form an essential element in the development of training modules. The BAF provides a forum for companies to discuss common issues whether they be environmental (waste disposal, re cycling), safe use of products, rationalisation/standardisation of product offerings, sharing experiences with a view to resolving those issues industry wide.
