Pyroban will alert forklift users and industry professionals to the latest developments in hazardous materials handling laws when it hosts its Southern Safety Seminar at the Marriot Hotel, Slough, on April 2.

A similar event was held in Chorley, Lancashire, last November, and a healthy response encouraged Pyroban, which manufactures explosion protection systems for forklifts, to stage the seminar in the southern region, said sales and marketing manager Malcolm Davis.

"We will be communicating the effects of new legislation such as the Explosive Atmospheres Directive (ATEX) and the Dangerous Substances & Explosive Atmospheres Regulations (DSEAR) so anybody involved in handling and storing potentially explosive materials cannot afford to miss this," he said.

ATEX defines essential health and safety requirements for all new machinery intended for use in potentially explosive or hazardous environments, while DSEAR applies to storing hazardous substances and protecting workers. Both laws take effect in June.