LEAD SUSPENSIONS FALL
Posted Thursday, February 26, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
Lead has been worked and handled for many centuries and still is encountered in a number of forms in present day workplaces. It poses risks to the health of persons in a long list of occupations such as smelting, refining, alloying, casting, badge and jewellery enamelling and other vitreous enamelling, the lead battery industry, glass making, the manufacture of pigments and colours, scrap and demolition work.
Under the Control of Lead at Work Regulations 2002, and the 1980 and 1998 Regulations, all workers with significant exposure to lead are required to be under surveillance by an appointed doctor or a HSE Medical Inspector. This involves the measurement of each worker's ‘blood-lead level’ which is expressed in micrograms per hundred millilitres (µg/100ml).
LEAD BATTERY INDUSTRY PROMINENT
The HSE has published the latest statistics (2002/03) on blood-lead levels of workers in Great Britain exposed to lead which show:
the number of workers under medical surveillance in 2002/03 fell for the 5th consecutive year to 12,773 reflecting the decline in the size of the industry; the lead battery industry recorded the highest number of individual males, 74 (2.9% of those surveyed), with 60µg/100ml or greater blood lead, compared with 41 (1.5%) in 2001/02;
68 males were suspended from working with lead in 2001/02, a decrease on the previous year; 5 females were suspended from working with lead in 2002/03, also a decrease on the previous year.
Full details of the statistics can be viewed at www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/causdis/lead.htm
NEW COAL MINING REGULATION & ACOP PROPOSED
Posted Thursday, February 26, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
The HSC has issued a consultative document - Proposals for the control of inhalable dust in coal mines - concerning new Regulations and an accompanying Approved Code of Practice for the control of inhalable dust in coal mines in Great Britain to apply to all working coal mines. They will replace the Coal Mines (Respirable Dust) Regulations 1975 (RDR).
Coal mine owners, managers and other employers of employees working below ground at a coal mine, such as contractors, mine workers’ representatives and organisations and anyone wishing to make comment, have until 28th May 2004 to do so. Comments can be sent to Richard White, HSE Policy Group, Mines, Quarries and Explosives Policy e-mail: richard.white@hse.gsi.gov.uk.
Despite the success of The Coal Mines (Respirable Dust) Regulations 1975 (RDR) statutory control limits for respirable dust in UK coal mines, during 1999 and 2000 a small number of new cases of higher category pneumoconiosis, including 2 of the complicated form, progressive massive fibrosis, has led to the proposal to strengthen the control regime established by RDR.
FLY-TIPPERS TARGETED
Posted Thursday, February 26, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
The Environment Agency says it welcomes the launch of a new government initiative to help tackle the scourge of fly-tipping of materials ranging from household rubbish to more serious and hazardous types of waste.
Nationally fly-tipping is increasing, enforcement is split between the Environment Agency and local authorities. Local authorities deal with small scale fly-tipping, the Environment Agency works to tackle fly-tipping of a more serious nature; the big, the bad and the nasty, including incidents involving hazardous wastes which pose risks to the environment and human health.
"We are pleased to see that the government recognises the importance of tackling illegal waste activities such as fly-tipping. Fly-tipping is a crime that affects us all and is continuing to get worse.
In one year alone we dealt with almost 5,000 serious flytipping incidents. It is vital that we work together with the government and in particular through partnerships with local authorities to help crack this anti-social problem. This strategy will help us to do that in the most effective way possible." - Alan D’Arcy, Environment Agency’s Waste Policy Manager.
EMPLOYEE ALMOST LOST BOTH ARMS!
Posted Thursday, February 26, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
During December 2002 William Thomson, a driver employee of R&N Cessford, a haulage company based in Brechin, Angus, was cleaning a trailer's conveyor equipment at the premises of a company in Guthrie to whom he had made a delivery of fertiliser, when his work clothing caught in its mechanism.
Mr Thomson's arms were drawn into the equipment, as a result of which one was amputated and the other badly injured to the extent that he does not now have full use of it.
At Arbroath Sheriff Court R&N Cessford pleaded guilty to breaching health and safety legislation in the circumstances of the accident and was fined £12,000. Investigation revealed that Mr Thompson was working without the benefits of a risk assessment-derived safe system of work. He had no formal training for the cleaning activity and the equipment was inadequately guarded.
DRUGS & WORK - A STUDY!
Posted Thursday, February 26, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
HSE funded research has been conducted to determine the extent and impact of drug use on the functioning of the workplace, the work - The scale and impact of illegal drug use by workers, RR193, was undertaken by the Centre for Occupational and Health Psychology at Cardiff University.
In addition to establishing the prevalence of illegal drug use, the study aimed to provide a detailed profile of current and potential users, explore the effects of illegal drugs taken out of working hours on the work performance of people who continue to work within the next day, or 2-3 days, and to uncover any possible consequent association between illegal drug use and workplace accidents, injuries and human error.
The project shows that recreational drug use may reduce performance efficiency and safety at work.
COUNCIL REWARDED FOR TAKING ASBESTOS MESSAGE OUT TO ITS COMMUNITY
Posted Thursday, February 26, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
Reigate and Banstead Borough Council has been presented with a regional award in recognition of its European Week for Safety and Health 2003 activities. Its initiative aimed to enhance awareness amongst local people, business and tradesmen, of the risks of asbestos, particularly targeting those working in the building industry and allied trades, such as computer cable installers, and DIY enthusiasts.
The Council organised a variety of activities during the week, and these received coverage in the local media. Posters were designed to highlight the dangers of asbestos and how to avoid the risks. Displays were set up in 14 local businesses including building suppliers, trade outlets and a DIY store, local libraries and the Council's own help shops. The Council, in partnership with Surrey Trading Standards, ran a mobile display vehicle in local town centres.
"I am delighted at this public award which recognizes the Health and Safety Team's hard work and commitment. The dangers of asbestos are clear - it kills. Now thanks to the teams' efforts, more people who live and work in the Borough of Reigate and Banstead are aware of the continuing threat." - Cllr. Mike Buttery, Portfolio Holder for Community Safety & Transport.
FALL FROM HEIGHT PROSECUTION
Posted Wednesday, February 25, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
Reekie Manufacturing Ltd, Orchardbank Industrial Estate, Forfar, Tayside, has been fined £4,000 by Forfar Sheriff Court for a breach of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 in the circumstances of an accident in which employee John Thomson fell and sustained injury working at a pallet racking storage system.
The company admitted to failing to adequately instruct, train and supervise employees in a safe system of work with the system.
STATISTICS REVEAL GOOD & BAD IN OFFSHORE SAFETY PERFORMANCE
Posted Wednesday, February 25, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
Latest figures (2002/3) published disclosing the health and safety performance of the UK offshore oil and gas industry offer some grounds for optimism with a sharp drop in 'over-3-day' injuries, but also show a disappointing rise in major injury incidents. The HSE's Offshore injury, ill health and incident statistics report 2002/3 (Provisional data) (HID Statistics Report HSR 2004 001) show there were 64 ‘major’ injury incidents during 2002/3, a perturbing increase of 36%, though there were no fatalities during the period. Pleasingly, a steep downward trend continues in the number of ‘over-3-day’ injuries reported, with 118 incidents reported in 2002/3 and 187 during 2001/2.
The figures below shows the provisional injury numbers and rates per 100,000 workers in brackets (2002/3).
CATEGORY 2000/1 2001/2 2002/3p
Fatalities 3 (12.9) 3 (12.9) 0 (0)
Major injuries 53 (227.2) 47 (202.5) 64 (287.5)
Over-3-day injuries 177 (758.7) 187 (805.8) 118 (530.0)
The number of dangerous occurrences fell slightly with 636 during 2002/3 compared with 652 in 2001/2. There were 19 cases of work-related diseases reported during 2002/3, an increase of 6 on the previous year.
VIEWPOINTS ON THE LATEST OFFSHORE SAFETY PERFORMANCE FIGURES
“This is a very mixed picture – on the one hand sustained downwards pressure on more minor injuries but on the other a stubbornly high rate of major injury accidents. I also must mention with sadness the 3 fatal accidents that have occurred so far this reporting year. All our sympathies must go out to the families of the men who died at work on the UK Continental Shelf in 2003.
Major injuries are frequently associated with lifting incidents, either on decks or associated with drilling activity. My inspectors continue to give a high priority to tackling the causes of such incidents.
The progressive decline in 'over-3-day' reportable injuries, and dangerous occurrences (though at a lower rate), should encourage industry and the families of offshore workers that similar gains can be had in fatal and major injury accidents. All those with a responsibility for offshore safety must see this brought about.
There is a lot of work to be done to achieve the industry aim of the UK becoming the safest offshore oil and gas sector in the world by 2010 but there are encouraging signs that it can be achieved.
Yesterday HSC launched its revised strategy for improving health and safety at work in Great Britain to 2010 and beyond. The vision that underpins the strategy is to make health and safety a cornerstone of a civilised society.
My Division’s commitment to work in partnership with industry and the workforce to secure big improvements in safety performance and to secure for the UK a safe, efficient industry with a long term future is a practical demonstration of what HSC’s revised strategy is intended to deliver in the changing world of work.” - Taf Powell, Head of HSE’s Offshore Division.
“It is heartening to see the continuing positive trend in improvements in hydrocarbon releases, dangerous occurrences and 'over-3-day' injury incidences. However, the 3 tragic fatalities, one on Ensco 85 in May 2003 and two on Brent Bravo in September 2003, remain a sobering wake up call for us all. Step Change remains committed to supporting industry to implement the wide range of best practices and guidelines already available as quickly and effectively as possible.” - Alison Goligher, Managing Director of Schlumberger Oilfield Services and chair of Step Change in Safety.
“Whilst we welcome the improvements that have been made in the area of ‘over-3-day’ injuries, we are deeply concerned about the two other major areas - fatalities and major incidents. We know that there have been 3 fatalities since the end of the reporting period, one of which was in the drilling sector.
It was noted with interest that at Offshore Europe 2003, Taf Powell stated that HSE were concerned about the back-log of maintenance. It is, therefore, disappointing that the industry appear not to have taken heed of Mr Powell’s concerns. Today we still see a growing backlog of maintenance and a reduction in manpower. This trend has to be reversed if we are to meet the PILOT vision of 2010.
The trade unions also support HSE in any initiatives to address the maintenance back-log and reduction in numbers.” - Graham Tran, Regional Officer of Amicus.
WEEKEND DIVING DEATH
Posted Wednesday, February 25, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
HSE has investigated the circumstances of the death on Saturday of a female diver at the Stoney Cove diving centre near Hinckley, Leicestershire. The dead woman's diving companion who alerted the centre's emergency team to her underwater predicament has made a recovery after being treated for decompression sickness.
MIDLANDS CONSTRUCTION FATALITY
Posted Wednesday, February 25, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
A construction worker has died after falling 15 metres down a lift shaft on the University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust hospital project site in Coventry. The accident occurred around midday yesterday, the accident victim, believed to be in his 50's, died at the scene.
LONDON BOROUGH'S HOUSING BUILDING SERVICES SECTION SINGLED OUT BY HSE
Posted Wednesday, February 25, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
The Housing Building Services section of the London Borough of Lewisham has secured an HSE award for the authority in the 2003 European Safety and Health Week competition.
The section marked the week with a month of health and safety courses covering COSHH, manual handling, personal protective equipment, risk assessment, asbestos awareness together with advice on the construction design and management regulations. Display stands were set up at all the service centres to promote and raise awareness.
"It was very pleasing to receive an award from a well respected organisation, such as the HSE, recognising the team effort which made our European month a considerable success. I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who supported this event and I look forward in anticipation to similar support for the 2004 event" - Doug McInnes, Construction Services Manager.
SAFETY AWARD FOR NETWORK RAIL
Posted Monday, February 23, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
Shoreditch-based Network Rail is among 9 London organisations with winning entries in the 2003 European Safety and Health Week. Network Rail merited its award through its excellent work in raising the profile of the risks posed by dangerous substances in the workplace. It identified the main hazards facing employees and contractors on construction sites and introduced a programme of events during the Week to help reduce the risk of injuries. Activities included regional safety forums with managers from contractors such as May Gurney, Southern Electric Contracting Ltd and Balfour Beatty, and toolbox talks with employees and contractors on hazardous substances and personal protection. As well as covering the use, transportation, disposal and emergency handling of chemicals, they included advice on specific conditions which are widespread in the industry, such as dermatitis.
"This important award highlights the importance that our team at Network Rail puts on health and safety issues, and it's great to have our efforts recognised outside the rail industry. This success has given us a boost and increased our impetus to go for it again next year. It's a complex industry, so we focused on one element relevant to all our contractors regardless of location the use of chemicals on construction sites. This is critical information for everyone on the front line, which is where accidents happen." - Chris Thomas, Project Safety & Environment Manager.
SAFER SYSTEMS OF WORK FOR STEVEDORES
Posted Monday, February 23, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) acting with the HSE has required ships' operators to improve access for the work of lashing containers on deck for stevedores who must otherwise balance on a narrow ledge to fit lashing bars to the outside tiers. The operators have in the interim restricted the loading in these areas and are addressing similar potential problems on ships under construction.
For stevedores, the disposition of containers on ships involves tasks on unprotected platforms with a potential fall over the side of the vessel or into the well deck, risking serious or even fatal injury. The most common cause of incidents is the lack of suitable and safe access to lashing workstations forcing, in some cases, stevedores and crew to use unorthodox and unsafe work practices. Present practices can also give rise to musculoskeletal disorders, because of heavy lashing bars being handled often in awkward positions.
PSSL
To their surprise, ship owners implementing remedial actions to address these issues experienced quicker turn round times which have resulted in more cost effective operations. Port employers, trade unions, HSE, MCA and the port industry's representative body, Port Skills and Safety Limited (PSSL), are working together to try to minimise the risk to those who have to work on these vessels. Awareness is being raised among designers of container vessels for safe access to be built into new ships and any subsequent modifications. More detailed information on problems of container ship design and solutions will soon be available in the publications section of the Safer Ports Initiative website.
TAKE CARE WITH OXYGEN CYLINDERS
Posted Monday, February 23, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
The advisory leaflet Take care with Oxygen - Fire and explosion hazards in the use of oxygen is now available on HSE's website.
Minimum safety standards for the use, inspection and maintenance of oxy-fuel gas welding, cutting and heating equipment incorporating individual portable or mobile cylinder gas supplies are given. It is for anyone who uses oxygen gas in cylinders. Pure oxygen, at high pressure, such as from a cylinder, can react violently with common materials like oil and grease. Other materials may catch fire spontaneously. Nearly all materials including textiles, rubber and even metals, will burn vigorously in oxygen.
CONSTRUCTION COMPANY FAILED TO HEED INSPECTOR'S WARNING
Posted Monday, February 23, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
A failure to heed the advice of an HSE official concerning work at height on a construction site at Loddon Court, Earley, Reading, culminated in an appearance at Reading Magistrates' Court for Clarkfield Enterprises Ltd of Portsmouth last week.
The prosecution followed a visit by an HSE official who witnessed an employee at risk of falling from a stepladder placed on a scaffold platform with only one guard-rail. The company had been advised of the danger of inadequate guard-rails two weeks earlier but had failed to make the necessary repairs or to take the scaffolding out of use.
BLITZ OBSERVATION
The Portsmouth based construction company was fined £2,500 with £619 costs after pleading guilty to contravening r.6(3) of the Construction (Health Safety & Welfare) Regulations 1996. This regulation states: 'Guard-rails, toe-boards, barriers and other similar means of protection shall be so placed as to prevent, so far as is practicable, the fall of any person, or any material or object, from any place of work.'
"This case highlights the fact that employers and contractors must ensure a safe working environment on construction sites. Someone could have been seriously injured or killed in this case. The second Inspector's visit was part of an inspection 'blitz' targeted at work at height because this is the most frequent cause of fatalities on construction sites." - Louise Norris HSE Inspector, Construction.
NEAR FATAL ACCIDENT LED TO PROSECUTION
Posted Monday, February 23, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
Anglo-Dutch Meats (UK) Limited (ADM), of Eastbourne, has been prosecuted and fined by Eastbourne Magistrates' Court for breaches of health and safety legislation in the circumstances of an accident during April 2002 in which its employee, Mr Graham Haynes, was severely injured when he was crushed between the rear of a reversing articulated HGV and his stationary rigid body HGV.
The accident occurred at the company's premises in the Highfield Industrial Estate, Eastbourne, Mr Haynes sustained a fractured pelvis and ribs, collapsed lung, punctured right lung and had to have his spleen and one kidney removed.
Anglo-Dutch Meats (UK) Limited was fined £8,500 after pleading guilty to breaching S.2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act etc. 1974 and £3,500 after pleading guilty to breaching r.3(1)(a) of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999. It was ordered to pay £2007.50 costs.
"Today's case arose from a near fatal accident to an employee of Anglo-Dutch Meats (UK) Limited, because the company had not assessed risks and therefore not identified or implemented the necessary precautions. Transport is one of HSE's revitalised priorities and we will take whatever actions necessary to bring the message home that employers must assess risks to employees and implement all necessary, reasonably practicable precautions to ensure safety." - Heather Bryant, HSE HM Principal Inspector, who investigated the circumstances of the accident.
LADDER STABILITY DEVICES - PERFORMANCE AND EFFECTIVENESS
Posted Monday, February 23, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
An HSE-funded report prepared by Loughborough University has made a thorough investigation into the performance and effectiveness of ladder stabilisers, describing the test methodologies including the way in which instability occurs in the ladder and the stability devices.
The report, Evaluating the performance and effectiveness of ladder stability devices - RR205, comprises a literature review, instructions and warnings, comparison of standards, a review of products, ladder footing techniques etc and more.
NO NUCLEAR INCIDENTS AT INSTALLATIONS
Posted Monday, February 23, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
The latest Statement of Nuclear Incidents at Nuclear Installations: Fourth Quarter 2003 reports that for the period 1st October to 31st December 2003 there were no incidents that met the reporting criteria at any of the nuclear licensed installations
MOWLEM PLC PROSECUTED
Posted Monday, February 23, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
Construction company Mowlem plc, of Isleworth, Middlesex, has been prosecuted at a Scottish Sheriff Court over a failure to conduct a lifting operation properly while engaged on a contract for work at the harbour in Scrabster, Caithness. Shane Duff and John Gunn, both employed by Principal Contractor, Mowlem, were present during a lifting operation in October 2002 that resulted in severe foot injuries for them when a load of steel bar dropped because a rope supporting it failed.
Wick Sheriff Court fined the company £2,500 for breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act etc 1974, investigation revealed the rope, used instead of a sling for suspending the load from a forklift truck, was unsuitable for the purpose.
QUAD BIKE FATAL ACCIDENT
Posted Monday, February 23, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
It is reported that Brian Williams, 57, described as a builder from Beddgelert, has died following an accident at the weekend involving a quad bike on a farm at Rhyd-Ddu, Gwynedd, N Wales. According to one account given he was undertaking maintenance work there.
NO CHARGE PERMITTED FOR EMPLOYEE PROTECTIVE CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT
Posted Friday, February 20, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
HSE wishes to remind employers, especially in the catering industry, that charging for items of personal protective equipment (PPE) provided to control risks is not permitted. This is a requirement of S.9 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 - 'No employer shall levy or permit to be levied on any employee of his any charge in respect of anything done or provided in pursuance of any specific requirement of the relevant statutory provisions'. R.4(1) of the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 requires employers to provide suitable PPE where a risk assessment has shown that there are risks to health and safety that cannot be adequately controlled by other means.
SLIPS IN CATERING
In the catering environment PPE can typically comprise of:
SAFETY SHOES WHICH ARE SLIP-RESISTANT OR WITH PROTECTION AGAINST OBJECTS DROPPED ONTO THE FEET;
GLOVES OR GAUNTLETS TO PROTECT HANDS AND ARMS FROM BURNS AND CLEANING AGENTS;
APRONS AND OVERALLS TO PROTECT FROM HOT SPLASHES;
FACE MASKS AND GOGGLES TO PROTECT AGAINST CLEANING AGENTS FOR OVENS AND HOT PLATES.
Slips, trips and falls are the commonest causes of major injuries in the workplace, accounting for about a third of the total. The risk of injury from slipping is higher in the catering industry than in most, and worker complaints about having to buy protective footwear feature prominently in reports reaching HSE.
Avoidance of spills and leaks on to the floor, immediate cleaning of spills and provision of non-slip flooring surfaces are some key steps to achieve a high degree of control.
“Recent reports to HSE from unions and groups of workers indicate that some employers providing safety shoes or other items of PPE are classing them as part of the work uniform and charging workers for them. Regrettably we receive similar reports regularly over the years. Catering employers must understand that the practice of charging in this way is illegal.
The provision of PPE should never be the first step in dealing with risks in the workplace, anyway, only after all other reasonably practicable steps have been taken to prevent and control risks to an adequate level should there be recourse to PPE.
Each case must be considered on its merits, but sometimes, despite all these measures, slip-resistant shoes will be necessary to adequately control the risk. When this is the case, the shoes will be regarded as PPE and must be supplied free.
Where staff turnover is rapid and the cost of personal issue equipment kept by staff when they leave is high, many employers choose not to issue any at all. In this situation, free provision of slip-resistant overshoes may be an alternative to avoiding the problem and risking breaking the law.” - Percy Smith, HSE Principal Inspector dealing with the catering industry.
APRIL DATE FOR PLYMOUTH SHAD
Posted Friday, February 20, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
A feature of the Working Well Together Campaign is the series of nationwide Construction Safety and Health Awareness Days (SHADs) for smaller construction firms. The next one will be held in Plymouth on 6th April and is a free, day-long event offering advice from within the industry to others in the business on good practice and safety procedures when on site. The event is aimed at small contractors who employ fewer than 15 people, sole traders and the self-employed, who can take the opportunity to find out about the latest developments in improving health and safety. The 'High 5' risks on site are to be highlighted - the basics, tidy sites and decent welfare; falls from height; manual handling; transport; and asbestos. The day will feature live action demonstrations and practical advice to businesses from Devon on how to avoid some of the most common dangers of construction site working.
SUSTAINED EFFORT REQUIRED
The seminar has been organised by a partnership of people including The Federation of Master Builders, Devon County Council, NHBC, ROK, Midas, Bluestone, Dean & Dyball, Cowlin Construction, Costain, Interserve, Ian Williams, Underhill Engineering, Mitie Engineering, Kier Western, CITB, Plymouth City Council and Mowlem.
The event takes place from 8am to 2.10 pm, followed by workshops, at the College of Mark and St John, Derriford Road, Plymouth on Tuesday 6th April. If you would like to attend, please contact the Federation of Master Builders on 0117 9736891 or email: suetucker@fmb.org.uk.
"This initiative is not aimed at health and safety professionals, neither is it aimed at small firms who are already committed to health and safety. It is aimed at those small contractors who underestimate the impact poor health and safety performance can have on their own lives and those who work with them; the financial impact on their business if things go wrong; and who have yet to realise that health and safety can actually make good business sense." - Joy Jones, Working Well Together Campaign Manager.
WORKER SHOULD NEVER HAVE ENTERED CONFINED SPACE
Posted Friday, February 20, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
Two men died in a tank which harboured an atmosphere that was severely deficient in oxygen, entering it was a basic error that cost them their lives.
At the Lowestoft inquest into the deaths on 5th March 2003 of Charles Buckenham, 52, and his stepfather Brian Dove, 55, it was explained how the two men cut a hatch and entered a steel tank on the quayside at School Lane wharf, Lake Lothing, Lowestoft. Their purpose was to conduct an examination to decide how to dispose of it and 3 others prior to redevelopment of the Associated British Ports site.
Mr Dove was employed by Small and Co, engineers, who had an expressly stated policy that entry should only be made after 24-hour venting, a policy shared with tank owners Nuthall.
The jury returned verdicts of death by misadventure for both men. It will never be established why Mr Dove made the fatal mistake, but it was clear Mr Buckenham had made an ill-fated rescue attempt of his colleague.
GREAT LOSS OF LIFE IN IRAN TRAIN EXPLOSION
Posted Friday, February 20, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
It is reported that many persons have been killed and several hundred injured after train wagons carrying large quantities of hazardous chemicals, including petroleum products and fertlisers, reportedly broke free, set in motion following an earth tremor.
A devastating explosion occurred while emergency services attempted to extinguish a fire on the derailed wagons. The dead and injured include local firefighters and residents of communities along the railway line in Khorasan province, not far from Nishapur. It is now thought the death toll may rise to over 300.
SCOTTISH EURO WEEK AWARD WINNERS
Posted Friday, February 20, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
A wide range of Scottish organisations took part in the European Week for Safety and Health 2003 and 10 have been chosen to receive prestigious awards in recognition of their efforts to address the issue of dealing with hazardous substances in the workplace. The winners were presented with their awards by Anne McGuire MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Scotland Office, at a ceremony at the Trades Hall, Glasgow. All the winning organisations actively highlighted the issue of hazardous substances in the workplace.
Scotland's winning organisations are:
SCOTTISH WATER, INVERGOWRIE, DUNDEE
JABIL CIRCUITS LTD, MID-CALDER, WEST LOTHIAN
HAIRMYRES HOSPITAL, EAST KILBRIDE;
RENFREWSHIRE COUNCIL, PAISLEY
CHAMPION SERVO, ABERDEEN
DEVRO (SCOTLAND) LTD, CHRYSTON, GLASGOW
HUNTERSTON A DECOMMISSIONING SITE, WEST KILBRIDE
HM NAVAL BASE CLYDE, HELENSBURGH
DAY INTERNATIONAL (UK) LTD, DUNDEE
GLASGOW CITY COUNCIL.
POLLUTION-FREE TRANSPORT, BUT IT COMES WITH HAZARDS
Posted Friday, February 20, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
Fuel cells produce electricity and heat, operating like a battery, producing an electric current from chemical reactions. However, whereas a battery needs regular recharging or replacement, a fuel cell continues producing electricity for as long there is a fuel supply. This space age technology now powers some London buses, but it brings risks and hazards.
Fuels used in cells catch fire easily and present a significant danger of fire and explosion, and are ‘dangerous substances’ under the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 (DSEAR). These regulations impose new duties that include avoiding sources of ignition and the release of dangerous substances into the workplace.
UNDERSTAND THE HAZARDS
An HSE guidance publication Fuel cells: Understanding the hazards, control the risks, HSG243, ISBN 0-7176-2766-7, price £8.50, provides simple and straightforward advice to designers and users, so they can become more aware of the hazards and how to reduce the risks of this innovative and fast-developing technology.
It advises how to control the risk from fire and explosion or exposure to harmful chemicals, reiterates the basic areas of managing a safe system of work such as on manual handling, training and operating emergency procedures.
“HSE encourages innovation in industry by ensuring risks to the health and safety of workers and other people are controlled in a sensible and appropriate manner.
Everyone working on fuel cell technology should be aware of their responsibility to reduce the risks involved.” - Dr Gordon Newsholme, HSE Specialist Inspector.
DOMESTIC CARBON MONOXIDE TRAGEDY
Posted Friday, February 20, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
Although it remains to be confirmed, Dominic Rodgers, 10, who died last week at his Huddersfield home, is thought to have been a victim of carbon monoxide poisoning. Dominic lived with his mother in the rented property, she discovered him in his bedroom last Thursday. Police, HSE and Transco are investigating.
PROPERTY PURCHASE AND RADON
Posted Friday, February 20, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
For nearly 20 years the UK Government has been advising the public of the health risks associated with radon and how to reduce the radon risk in homes and workplaces.
It is known that in some regions of the UK the naturally occurring radioactive gas can, if permitted, build up inside a building, increasing the occupiers' lifetime risk of developing lung cancer.
Higher risk areas can be found in Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Northamptonshire and Derbyshire, but many other areas of the UK exhibit above average levels of radon.
BRE, part of the Foundation for the Built Environment, is offering practical advice in a new publication concerning the bearing that radon issues have on property transaction.
Buying homes in radon-affected areas, by expert Chris Scivyer, explains for solicitors, conveyancers, estate agents, buyers and sellers that it can be regarded as an important but relatively straightforward issue that should not prevent or delay property transactions.
It can be purchased at the BRE Bookshop, price £27.50.
WORKPLACE TRANSPORT FATALITY
Posted Friday, February 20, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
A worker at a Perthshire coal merchants has lost his life in a workplace transport accident.
The accident occurred at Scott's coal merchant, Bridge of Earn, according to one account the accident victim sustained crush injuries when he became caught between two lorries within a large building.
£200,000 FOR SOCIAL WORKER
Posted Friday, February 20, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
A former social worker and her former employer have arrived at an out-of-court settlement, reportedly in excess of £200,000, over an incident in which she was seriously assaulted by a client who, to the knowledge of her employer, Swansea City and County Council, had previously threatened her.
The incident in June 1998 occurred at a meeting she had with the violent client at her employer's Swansea offices. She subsequently suffered poor mental health rendering her unable to work. Her legal representatives maintained that her employer could have reasonably foreseen and prevented the assault in the circumstances.
FARM WORKER LOSES ARM IN TRACTOR'S DRIVE-SHAFT
Posted Friday, February 20, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
Farm worker Benjamin Tomkins, 36, has lost part of his arm in a tractor's power drive in an accident yesterday afternoon while working at a farm near Norton, Worcestershire. He succeeded in raising the alarm of his predicament after making his way several hundred metres over farmland.
Mr Tomkins is in a stable condition, unfortunately his severed arm was not in a condition in which reattachment was considered possible.
LEVEL CROSSING DEATH
Posted Friday, February 20, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
A motorist died following an accident at a level crossing near Kirknewton Station in central Scotland. His car was struck by a train travelling between Edinburgh and Glasgow, no one on the train was injured.
BOY, 6, CRITICAL FOLLOWING GARAGE ACCIDENT
Posted Friday, February 20, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
The police and HSE are investigating an accident that occurred earlier this week at a garage in Telegraph Hill, Exeter, in which a boy of 6 sustained serious head injuries when he was struck by part of a recovery vehicle in the garage forecourt.
It is reported that the boy's father owns the recovery vehicle and had been recovering a vehicle at the time.
HSE TEAMS VISIT BEDFORDSHIRE PREMISES
Posted Friday, February 20, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
This week businesses and organisations in Biggleswade and Sandy received a visit from HSE inspectors who examined health and safety standards in the workplace. The visits concentrated on the two areas that cause the most serious accidents in the workplace - operating transport and working at height. Inspectors also looked at the control of occupational asthma, slips, trips and manual handling risks."
These visits are part of a series across the East and South East. They have so far included industrial estates in Broxbourne, Watford, Dunstable, Hemel Hempstead, Welwyn Garden City, Hatfield, Bedford, Peterborough, Cambridge and Wisbech.
DEFECTIVE HOTEL LIFT TRAPPED MAN'S FOOT
Posted Friday, February 20, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
The employee of a recycling company who called at the Hotel Ibis in Edinburgh during May 2002 to collect glass got his foot trapped in its refuse lift that was subsequently found to be defective. His injury was so severe he required eventually to have part of the foot removed.
Investigation of the accident by Edinburgh City Council officials resulted in the prosecution of Accor (UK) Economy Hotels Ltd who pleaded guilty to breaching S.3(1) the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 for which it was fined £5,000.
SAFETY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS - CHEMICALS
Posted Tuesday, February 17, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
It can be difficult to directly measure the success of actions taken to improve health and safety performance. To assist in one area of activity at least, guidance from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development has been published - Guidance for Industry, Public Authorities and Communities for developing SPI Programmes related to Chemical Accident Prevention, Preparedness and Response - as an interim draft prior to its revision in 2005.
It serves as a tool to assist industrial enterprises, public bodies, and communities near hazardous installations world-wide to develop and implement a means to assess the success of their chemical safety activities. Without defining a specific methodology it shows how to develop and use safety performance indicators including the general elements of Safety Performance Indicators (SPI) Programmes, advising generally on the process of establishing and implementing such programmes.
SWINGEING FINE FOR FLY-TIPPER OF CONTROLLED WASTE
Posted Tuesday, February 17, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
Vance Miller, trading as Maple Industries, Oldham, has been fined £16,000 at Bury Magistrates’ Court after admitting dumping and burning controlled waste in the town during January 2003. He also incurred £1,766.09 Environment Agency costs.
Acting on public complaint of a fly-tipping incident Environment Agency officials witnessed a vehicle travel up Elbut Lane towards Birtle Lane, proceed to an area of land at Birtle Mill, and then dump its load. A man was then seen pouring liquid on to the pile, and within seconds it burst into flames. The fire was left unattended as the vehicle left the scene. An inspection of the dumped material identified it as timber off-cuts, kitchen unit doors, shelving and other kitchen manufacturing materials, around 40m³ of waste in total.
REGULAR PRACTICE
Police stopped the vehicle and the driver said he worked as the HGV driver for Maple Industries, a company owned by Vance Miller, saying the company’s transport manager told him to take the waste to Birtle Mill. He confirmed he had been instructed to dump three loads there, and that it was a regular practice for the company to do so. DVLA searches revealed that Maple Industries was registered as the keeper of the vehicle seen dumping waste at the Mill.
"Mr Miller acted with rank disregard to the environment in an attempt to sustain profit.
The court didn’t accept any mitigation put forward by the defence for the actual offence. However, the court gave credit for his early guilty plea and the fact Mr Miller was now able to show that he had contacted Euroskips to dispose of the waste at a licensed landfill site." - Finola Eyres, Agency official.
EMPLOYEE, 13, LOST PART OF FINGER
Posted Tuesday, February 17, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
A teenager who lied to an employer about his age to secure a holiday job with egg packers lost part of a finger while working at conveying equipment. The 13-year-old was injured at the premises of D Davies & Company, Shawbury, Shropshire. The company admitted breaching health and safety legislation and was fined a total of £15,000 at Shrewsbury Magistrates' Court with £1,300 costs.
Investigation revealed that no safe system of work was provided and safety information about the boy's work had not been given to his parents.
COUNCIL PROSECUTED OVER REFUSE TRANSFER STATION ACCIDENT
Posted Tuesday, February 17, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
An accident in August 2002, in which Stevenage Borough Council employee Kevin Bailey fell from height as he attempted to flatten refuse projecting from a 3-metre tall container sited at a transfer station, ended last week with the prosecution of his employer. The Council was fined £16,000 with £8,890 costs for breaching the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.
Magistrates deemed Mr Bailey, who sustained major injury in the fall, had not been specifically instructed on how to deal with compaction that his vehicle bucket could not accomplish. The Council took the view that their employee on this occasion had failed to follow his training. Nevertheless, it was apparent that he had been permitted to adopt an unsafe system of work.
COMPRESSED GAS SAFETY
Posted Thursday, February 12, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
The British Compressed Gases Association (BCGA) 2004 Annual Conference and Dinner is to take place at the Tortworth Court Hotel, near Wotton-under-Edge, Gloucestershire, on Thursday 22nd April 2004.
BCGA says the focus of the Conference will be on maintaining and ensuring safety in the context of a complex background of new European Legislation and changing UK Regulations. The full programme is yet to be finalised, however it is hoped to have speakers to address issues such as: periodic testing and inspection requirements for cylinders and the audit regimes for test shops; a review of legislative and safety matters facing the chemical industry; safety issues in the medical sector; dealing with cylinders in fires;
implementing successful behavioural safety regimes & a summary by BCGA’s Technical Sub-committees of key issues in forthcoming legislation, as well as updates on new and revised Codes of Practice, Guidance Notes and other BCGA publications.
2.5 METRE FALL OFTEN SUFFICIENT TO KILL
Posted Thursday, February 12, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
Construction company Eugena Ltd has been prosecuted by the HSE over a fatal accident on 17th June 2001 during construction work at St Thomas' Hospital, Lambeth Palace Road, London SE1.
Ian Mallon was laying blockwork at a height of about 2.5 metres when he fell from the unguarded edge of a scaffold work platform, sustaining severe head injuries from which he later died in hospital. Investigation confirmed that the incomplete scaffold platform used by Mr Mallon and his workmates had not been inspected by a competent person after its alteration.
Eugena Ltd pleaded guilty to a breach of duties under Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act etc 1974 and was fined a total of £40,000 with £12,983 costs at the Old Bailey.
COMMENT
"Sadly it is all too often the case [that] when not adequately supervised corners are cut, a principal contractor must be alive to such risks." - Case Judge.
"This case has demonstrated that principal contractors simply cannot assume that sub- contractors, if left unsupervised, will act safely.
Principal contractors must ensure that they have adequate arrangements in place to supervise the work of their sub-contractors." - Neil Stephens, HSE Principal Inspector.
"If proper supervision had been provided on site before this accident, and the scaffold platform had been inspected prior to use,
then this accident could easily have been prevented." - Michelle Workman, the HSE inspector dealing with the case.
COUNCIL EMPLOYEE CHARGED WITH MANSLAUGHTER
Posted Thursday, February 12, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
Gillian Beckingham, 45, described as a Design Services Manager and who is employed by Barrow Borough Council, has been charged with the common law offence of the manslaughter of 7 persons who died in the August 2002 outbreak of Legionnaires' disease with its source at the Forum 28 Arts Centre in the town. It is also understood that the Council, too, is in receipt of summonses citing manslaughter.
Additionally, it is also alleged that both parties have breached the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.
The charges are the product of a lengthy Cumbria Police and HSE investigation.
The case will generate intense interest among other local authorities, but especially in managers who have a responsibility to ensure property water systems remain sufficiently free of legionella bacteria to prevent an outbreak.
SAFETY AND HEALTH AWARENESS FOR MANAGERS EVENT
Posted Thursday, February 12, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
HSE, Local Authorities (Trafford, Salford, Manchester, Tameside, and Oldham) and Manchester United Plc are teaming up to present a Safety and Health Awareness for Managers seminar at Manchester United Football Club on Thursday 11th March. Prominence is to be given to some of the major topics of HSC's ongoing Revitalising Health and Safety campaign, with practical demonstrations to feature: managing asbestos; work at height; manual handling; workplace transport safety & slips, footwear and flooring design.
DEMANDING TARGETS
Awareness will be raised of the potential risks in each of these areas of work and the preventative measures that can be taken to eliminate them. The half-day morning seminar will be repeated during the afternoon and will be attended by representatives of up to 300 companies from throughout Greater Manchester. Places are free and bookings can be made by contacting Mr Kevin Mattison at HSE Manchester at kevin.mattison@hse.gsi.gov.uk
Manchester United Plc is delighted to be working in partnership with the HSE and the Local Authorities. Our keenness to support the HSC's Revitalising Health and Safety Campaign reflects our commitment to health and safety. We hope that the Manchester United event will boost Greater Manchester's contribution to meeting these demanding targets. - David Gill, Chief Executive of Manchester United Plc.
NETWORK RAIL AND BALFOUR BEATTY RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE SERVICES LTD FINED OVER PREVENTABLE DEATH
Posted Thursday, February 12, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
Two prominent rail industry companies, Network Rail Infrastructure Ltd (NRIL) and Balfour Beatty Rail Infrastructure Services Ltd (BBRIS), have been fined for breaches of health and safety legislation surrounding the death of Bobby Wood, 4, who was electrocuted on 15th June 1999 when he accessed a live rail on the permanent way in Strood, Kent.
At a hearing in June 2003 NRIL pleaded guilty to breaching S.3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HSW) between 7th June 1999 and 16th June 1999, for which it was fined £75,000 this week at Maidstone Crown Court. NRIL also pleaded guilty to breaching r.3 of the Railway Safety (Miscellaneous Provisions) Regulations 1997 in that between 1st February 1997 and 16th June 1999 it failed to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the prevention of unauthorised access to the infrastructure, for which it was fined £75,000. NRIL also has to meet costs of £11,412.50.
Bobby's death was entirely preventable
BBRIS pleaded guilty last year to a single charge of breaching S.3(1) of HSW, it being alleged that between 1st February 1997 and 16th June 1999 the company failed to prevent access to the rail infrastructure by ensuring that a gate giving access to it was secure. It was fined £150,000 and ordered to pay costs of £21,735.90.
"Our thoughts at this time are with the Wood family. It is over four years since Bobby's death, and at last this case has come to an end. It is a tragic reminder of how terribly things can go wrong when rail companies don't do enough to prevent access to the railway. I am pleased to say that the rail industry and its partners have done much work recently to address the problem of unauthorised access - such as improving fencing and security around sites. And campaigns such as 'Track Off' have helped to raise awareness of the dangers of going near railways. But Bobby's death was entirely preventable, and I appreciate that there will be little comfort today for his family. - Stuart Johnson, HSE's HM Railway Inspectorate (HMRI), who investigated the circumstances of Bobby's death.
INADEQUATELY TRAINED EMPLOYEE FELL TO HIS DEATH
Posted Thursday, February 12, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
Construction company George Leslie Ltd, Barrhead, Strathclyde, has admitted breaching the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and been fined £25,000 at Paisley Sheriff Court over the March 2003 death of its employee Robert Murdoch, 56.
Mr Murdoch, who with colleagues had erected a portable scaffold structure without receiving adequate training or instruction at Linwood Water Treatment Works, fell 2.5 metres from it, sustaining head and spinal injuries from which he later died.
SAILOR'S BODY RECOVERED FOLLOWING KING'S LYNN DOCKS INCIDENT
Posted Thursday, February 12, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
An incident investigation is underway after the body of a sailor was retrieved from the water at Alexandra Dock, King's Lynn. The circumstances of the incident remain unconfirmed, but according to one account it would appear the the tragedy occurred after the dead man disembarked from his vessel, falling from a bridge into the water.
A second man who entered the water survived.
BS 8800 REVISION REFLECTS EMERGING ISSUES
Posted Tuesday, February 10, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
Many organisations recognise that BS 8800, Guide to Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) Management Systems, offers an effective model for OH&S management. A revision of the British Standard is underway with a draft for public consultation BS 8800 (03/116777 DC) now available. The revision has been prepared to reflect the issues which have emerged in the occupational health and safety field, both at a national and international level, since the publication of BS 8800:1996.
The draft standard contains proposals for significant changes including development of the main clauses. The annex devoted to the integration of other management systems now addresses OHSAS 18001, International Labour Organisation (ILO) OSH Guidelines 2001 as well as ISO 9001 and ISO 14001. All the annexes have been revised with a substantial change to that on risk assessment and control. There are new annexes on implementing a positive culture and hazardous event investigation.
SMALLER INSURANCE PREMIUMS
Comments are sought for submission to BSI by 29th February 2004. The revision should be accomplished by this summer.
To order a copy of the draft contact the BSI Customer Services on +44 (0)20 8996 9001, or email orders@bsi-global.com quoting reference 8800A-LA. BS 8800 (03/116777 DC) costs £20 +p&p* or £10 to BSI subscribing members.
"BS 8800 is being revised for a whole host of reasons, and it is hoped that the new version will help organisations manage this vital area of their business. Importantly, the Government will work with the insurance industry to develop fairer risk-related premiums to reward companies with a strong health and safety record, particularly small and medium-sized businesses." - Mike Low, Director of British Standards for BSI Group.
"The Committee making these changes consists of representatives from UK industry, commerce, professional bodies and regulators. The output very much reflects what they see as being needed by any organisation wishing to manage OH&S effectively". - David Smith of IMS Risk Solutions and chairman of the committee responsible for drafting BS 8800.
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY GROUPS' COMMITMENT RECOGNISED
Posted Tuesday, February 10, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
This year's recipients of the RoSPA Alan Butler Memorial Awards for Excellence, sponsored by BT, have been announced. RoSPA recognises outstanding efforts made by local occupational health and safety groups for their commitment to making the workplace safer during 2003. The 80 or so groups located throughout the United Kingdom provide a valuable local forum for communication between employers, educational establishments, local authorities, health and safety inspectors and trade unions.
HARD WORK AND DEDICATION
The groups fall into two categories, large and small. Large groups are those with 65 or more members, small ones consist of less than 65 members. Des Browne, Minister of State for Work, presented award winners with their certificates at the House of Lords.
Award winners were:
SWANSEA AND WEST WALES OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY GROUP - best programme for large groups
CAMBRIDGE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY GROUP - best programme small groups;
NORTH WEST REGIONAL ASSOCIATION OF OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY GROUPS - best seminar; and
SCUNTHORPE AREA EXECUTIVE HEALTH AND SAFETY GROUP- best communication.
“These awards are very important to local safety groups.
They help to make others aware of the hard work and dedication that is involved in promoting safety in the workplace.
Local safety groups are a vital part of spreading the safety message at grass roots level, providing an opportunity for people involved in safety to network. Another benefit is that they allow large organisations to share safety knowledge with smaller companies.” - Roly Buss, awards co-ordinator for the National Health and Safety Groups Council.
GUIDANCE LAUNCH FOR PAPER RECYCLING INDUSTRY
Posted Tuesday, February 10, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
The recovered paper industry has been experiencing a period of growth and is dominated by small firms, who collect, sort and bale waste paper for recycling. The number of people killed and injured in the industry has grown, so that the recycling industry now has one of the highest rates of fatal accidents in any industry in the UK. One of the highest causes of fatal injuries in the industry is becoming trapped or crushed in a paper baler, and new guidance available later this month specifically sets out revised advice on how to prevent these accidents.
The advicory leaflet on improving health and safety receives its launch on Wednesday 25th February 2004 at a free half-day industry seminar.
RECYCLING PAPER IS BIG BUSINESS
The HSE in partnership with industry stakeholders, leading manual handling trainers Pristine Condition and Shoesmiths Solicitors, invites both employers and employees from the industry to the event at the Forest of Arden Hotel, Coventry. Single copies of Recover Paper Safely (INDG 392) will be available free from HSE Books.
To book your place at the seminar contact Jacqui Dracup at the HSE on 01342 334308 or by e-mail: mailto:%20jacqui.dracup@hse.gsi.gov.uk
“Recycling paper is big business. Most of us do it, and more and more local authorities are making it one of their top priorities to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill. But how many people know that recycling paper can be fatal?
All too often the health and safety of people working in the industry is given insufficient attention, the machinery used, including conveyors and balers, is straightforward but accidents at these machines sometimes, sadly result in loss of life. Bulk paper is heavy and many of the workers suffer from bad backs or other musculoskeletal problems.” - James Barrett, Head of HSE’s Manufacturing Sector.
CAN YOU HANDLE YOUR DRINK?
Posted Tuesday, February 10, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
Its not always the case that accidents with alcohol happen on the opposite side of the bar from where pub landlords normally stand, but on this occasion the HSE is reaching out to them to highlight the dangers posed by handling drinks in their cellars and storerooms.
Stacking crates, unloading lorries and unpacking boxes of bottles and cans bring the risk of injury from handling goods incorrectly. To raise awareness of this issue, HSE and Taunton Deane Borough Council is holding a Cellar Safety Seminar for Somerset pub landlords on Monday 16th February. Landlords and bar managers are invited to the event in Taunton to hear about common safety problems encountered in drinks delivery and how to prevent them.
SEMINAR
The event, a product of collaborative effort by HSE and Taunton Deane Borough Council, comes in advance of random unannounced spot checks at a number of pubs, clubs and hotels in Somerset during February and March 2004. These inspections will focus solely on cellar activities and involve officers from both agencies observing a drinks delivery.
The seminar will feature input from an ergonomics expert, trade suppliers of cellar safety equipment, speakers from the Shepton Mallet-based major producer Matthew Clark plc and Taunton's Cornerhouse Hotel, who will give handy tips on delivery vehicle safety and the dangers of cellars.
The Cellar Safety Seminar takes place at The Deane House, Belvedere Road, Taunton and starts at 9.30am. The charge is £10 including a buffet lunch. To book a place, please contact Meryken Then-Bergh at Taunton Deane Borough Council as soon as possible. Telephone 01823 356340 or email m.then-bergh@tauntondeane.gov.uk
"Handling activities are the single largest cause of injuries and ill health in the food and drinks industries. The most common cause is stacking and de-stacking containers and this accounts for 53% of manual handling accidents. The majority of these are preventable if you take precautions. That's why I urge pub landlords to attend this seminar - or send their member of staff who is responsible for drinks delivery. It can only help them to avoid hurting themselves or others. Manual handling injuries are often caused by lack of information or training, so this is an ideal opportunity for them to brush up their working practices and find out how to maintain a safe workplace." - HSE Inspector Simon Edwards.
SEVEN ARRESTS FOLLOW POLICE COCKLE DEATH INVESTIGATIONS
Posted Tuesday, February 10, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
Seven persons have been detained in connection with the police inquiry into the deaths of 19 cockle pickers in Morecambe Bay.
The incident represents what is the UK's largest loss of life in work activity since 1988's Piper Alpha disaster in which 167 workers died.
HSE ISSUES STATEMENT ON MORECAMBE BAY TRAGEDY
Posted Tuesday, February 10, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
Deputy Director General of HSE Justin McCracken, also HSE's Head of Operations, has issued a statement concerning its involvement in the investigation into the loss of life last week at Morecambe Bay:
"HSE is deeply concerned following the tragic deaths of the cockle-pickers in Morecambe Bay and wishes to extend its sympathies to the families of those who lost their lives. Although inquiries are still at an early stage, we are already working with other agencies to support the police investigation. The incident highlights the need to ensure sensible health and safety arrangements are in place for all workers in Britain."
SECOND VICTIM OF PEMBROKE CARE HOME FIRE
Posted Tuesday, February 10, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
A further resident of the Old Rectory Nursing Home, Gumfreston, Pembrokeshire, has succumbed to the effects of last week's fire.
Albert Thomas, 88, died four days after the fire, resident Nelly Walsh, 83, died hours after the fire occurred.
CARE HOME IGNORED HSE ENFORCEMENT ACTION
Posted Tuesday, February 10, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
Mr Ashraff and Mrs Khairool Jaddoo, owners/proprietors of Elmer Sands Nursing Home, Bognor Regis, West Sussex, have pleaded guilty to breaching section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work, etc., Act 1974 and been fined £1,000 each at Chichester Magistrates' court with £1,639 costs. The prosecution followed an HSE inspection in August 2002 where radiators on the premises, including some which were adjacent to residential beds, were left uncovered, therefore exposing elderly residents to risks of burns.
An Enforcement Notice was issued but this was not complied with and follow-up inspections on the 20th and 27th February 2003 found that the vulnerable residents were still exposed to dangerously hot radiators.
"The temperatures of the radiators were measured at up to 61°C, which can cause serious burns in less than two minutes. Mr and Mrs Jaddoo, in putting over twenty vulnerable people at risk, disregarded advice from the HSE and an Enforcement Notice. It is fortunate that no-one was seriously hurt or killed." - HSE Inspector Liz Smith.
DESIGNER INITIATIVE IMMINENT IN 4 COUNTIES
Posted Tuesday, February 10, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
This week throughout Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire and Worcestershire, HSE construction officials will meet with designers on site by appointment to discuss how design issues impinge on site safety - particularly working at height - and on the subsequent safety of maintenance workers during the life of the structure. Designers are required by r.13 of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 1994 (CDM Regs) to reduce risks.
The inspectors will be asking designers to explain what they have done during the design stage to reduce the risk from work at height for those working on these sites, perhaps uncovering innovative solutions in the hope that these can be shared with the wider design sector.
"Since the Construction (Design & Management) Regulations were introduced in 1994, designers have had legal duties to design risk out where reasonably practicable. Work at height continues to be the most significant cause of fatal accidents on construction sites in the UK, responsible for around 40% of all deaths. Many designers have invested considerable resource and innovation in this area, but unfortunately, many others have simply failed to address this area of their work, often with fatal consequences.
Last year colleagues in the north of England and Scotland undertook a project of this nature. The findings of the initiative were very disappointing - we found that approximately one third of the designers met had little, or in some cases, no understanding of their responsibilities under the Regulations nearly ten years after their introduction. A significant number had failed to consider the practical detail of how the structure they had designed could be safely constructed and maintained.
We hope that the designers we speak to in February can demonstrate better compliance with the law than those in the north of the country.
Designs have to be better and safer if we are to have any impact on the toll of death and injury caused by falls from height in this industry."- Joy Jones, HSE's Principal Construction Inspector in the four counties.
LECTURER GETS OUT-OF COURT SETTLEMENT
Posted Tuesday, February 10, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
A lecturer is to receive an out-of-court payment of £43,000 in compensation for the loss of health she maintains she suffered through an excessive workload. A further payment of £37,000 is to be made to the Department of Work and Pensions to cover benefits payments paid out after she suffered a nervous breakdown.
Coventry's Henley College does not accept responsibility for the lecturer's loss, denying it breached a duty owed to her.
The lecturer maintains the problems stemmed from an increase in workload during 1998. When she made her employer aware of her position they sent her on a stress management course, but her workload did not diminish. Eventually she suffered poor mental health that prevented her working.
DEVON ATV BLITZ
Posted Tuesday, February 10, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
The dangers of All Terrain Vehicles, highlighted in recent years by celebrities who have experienced injury, is the specific reason behind HSE activity in Devon this week in an awareness raising exercise. Officials are to visit farms, making sure employees know how to use them safely. They will also be extolling the virtues of using the correct protective headgear, and to help combat these accidents the HSE initiative will focus on training of ATV users and the use of helmets.
The blitz will cover farms in Torridge and West Devon and the North and Mid-Devon areas, and takes place between 9th - 13th February.
"Serious injuries and fatalities continue to occur through the use of these vehicles on farms and other locations. ATVs are seen in the same light as motorcycles but have specific handling characteristics which must be learned in order to ride safely. Unfortunately many choose to learn through their own mistakes.
Approx 50% of riders admit to losing control of their ATV and parting company with it. Many accidents involve head injuries that may be avoided or at least rendered less serious by wearing an appropriate helmet.
We want to spread the message that quad bikes are potentially dangerous pieces of equipment that should be used with care. - Barry Trudgian, HSE Inspector in Plymouth.
HSE INVESTIGATES RAIL ACCIDENT
Posted Sunday, February 8, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
The victim of last week's rail accident in Essex remains in a critical condition. Adrian Harris, 40, an employee of First Great Eastern, was struck by a train near Ilford.
OSH MONITORING ACTIVITY IN EU
Posted Sunday, February 8, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
A study into the manner in which EU member state organisations monitor their occupational safety and health systems has been published on the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work website.
The project report - A review and analysis of a selection of OSH monitoring systems (Working Paper) by Peter Smulders, TNO Work and Employment, the Netherlands, in collaboration with a group of partner organisations, sets out to review and analyse a representative selection of systems currently in use.
HSG65, Successful Health and Safety Management, suggests monitoring, a means of measuring performance, is a line management responsibility that has two parts - active and reactive.
The systems chosen were not necessarily ‘the best’ but reflect the variety available in the EU with respect to aim, use, content and methodology.
They include: worker surveys; databases; registers of accidents, diseases, and/or absenteeism; policy-directed systems & intervention and OSH management-oriented systems.
HOTEL COMPANY PROSECUTED OVER FIRE SAFETY LAPSES
Posted Sunday, February 8, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
An emergency callout by fire services during July 2002 to a Worcester hotel has culminated in the prosecution of Macdonald Hotels, proprietor of the former Giffard Hotel. Management lapses, it was deemed in court, had permitted a deterioration in the standard of emergency lighting of the building's means of escape to an extent that it was found to be in breach of duties contained in the Fire Precautions Act 1971. The company denied the breach, but was fined £5,000 with £20,000 costs.
JUST HOW WELL ARE THEY/WE MANAGING HEALTH AND SAFETY?
Posted Sunday, February 8, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
Always a difficult question to which to respond, and given the growing demand for evidence of greater responsibility, transparency and social accountability over health and safety in the workplace environment and beyond, enquiries concerning performance in the management of risks will eventually become commonplace.
To this end, HSE is involved in the development of a Corporate Health and Safety Performance Index (CHaSPI) to throw some light on how well we, or another organisation with which we may have contact, are managing risks and responsibilities towards workers and the public. Internally, it can be used as an indicator of performance and progress in health and safety management.
At the moment it is applicable to UK organisations employing over 250 people, although a similar SME version is planned.
CONSULTATION OVER FIREWORKS LEGISLATION
Posted Sunday, February 8, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
A 12 week consultation period has begun ending on the 23rd April that heralds a further tightening of legislation concerned with the sale of fireworks.
The document - The Fireworks (Safety) Amendment Regulations 2004 proposes amendments to the Firework (Safety) Regulations 1997. Consumer Minister Gerry Sutcliffe comments
"I welcome these proposals which are all aimed at improving consumer safety and ensuring that fireworks are fun but do not get into the wrong hands.
Air bombs are a cheap 'pocket money' firework. The industry took the initiative to remove them from the market & we are honouring our undertaking at the time to turn the voluntary ban into law.
By making it harder for under 18s to get hold of them and other fireworks, we are continuing to tackle the issue of firework safety and their anti social use - stopping young people being a danger to themselves and others."
The new regulations will
make it harder for under 18s to get hold of fireworks;
ban the supply of those that cause the most nuisance on the streets;
tighten the definition of and prohibit the supply of air bombs;
tighten the definition of and prohibit the supply of mini rockets;
strengthen retailers' obligation to check if a customer is over 18, meaning that if there is any doubt about the customer's age, retailers should ask for proof.
USING ACETYLENE IN WELDING, CUTTING AND SIMILAR PROCESSES
Posted Sunday, February 8, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
HSE guidance is available from its website in the form of INDG 327 TAKE CARE WITH ACETYLENE which explains the fire and explosion hazards of the extremely flammable gas, Acetylene, which differs from other flammable gases because of its instability.
Under certain conditions it can decompose explosively into its constituent elements, carbon and hydrogen, the guidance is illustrated with pictures of the devastating effects of such incidents.
It explains how it is necessary to purge hoses, use the correct lighting up procedure and pressures, and fit cylinders with flashback arresters to avoid disaster. Advice is offered on preventing flashback and what to do if one occurs.
More detailed advice is available in
THE SAFE USE OF COMPRESSED GASES IN WELDING, FLAME CUTTING AND ALLIED PROCESSES HSG139 HSE BOOKS
BRITISH COMPRESSED GASES ASSOCIATION CODE OF PRACTICE CP7 THE SAFE USE OF OXY-FUEL GAS EQUIPMENT (INDIVIDUAL PORTABLE OR MOBILE CYLINDER SUPPLY). REVISION 2: 1996
BS EN 730 GAS WELDING EQUIPMENT - EQUIPMENT USED IN GAS WELDING, CUTTING AND ALLIED PROCESSES, SAFETY DEVICES FOR FUEL GASES AND OXYGEN OR COMPRESSED AIR. GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS, REQUIREMENTS & TEST
FLASHBACKS
A flashback can occur if there is a flammable mixture of fuel gas and oxygen in the hoses when the torch is lit.
If it is not stopped, the flame will ignite the mixture and will travel backwards from the torch, along the hoses, through the regulator and into the cylinder.
A flashback can trigger decomposition of the acetylene in the fuel hose, in the regulator and in the cylinder itself.
SME'S TO BE 'SPURRED' ON TO BETTER HEALTH AND SAFETY
Posted Sunday, February 8, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
Small businesses in North London can avail themselves of free advice on keeping their employees safe at a safety awareness event next week. The Health and Safety Awareness Day, a venture by local councils and the HSE aimed at small firms employing fewer than 50 people, takes place at Tottenham Hotspur's White Hart Lane stadium on Wednesday 11th February.
The event provides for one-to-one exchanges with safety profesionals about specific issues concerning their own businesses. To reserve a free place on the awareness day - you can opt for morning or afternoon - contact the HSE on 020 7556 2115 or 020 7556 2297.
"The event is based on a series of practical demonstrations, delivered by experienced independent instructors, focusing on aspects of everyday workplace safety that employees in most small companies will encounter. The instructors cover the hazards that are causing the highest numbers of accidents and ill-health in workplaces. The informal scenarios will include risk assessment, managing asbestos, working at height, manual handling, workplace transport, and slips, footwear and flooring design. The day will be a chance for small firms to take a fresh look at health and safety and keep themselves up to date with current practice.
In the long run health and safety plays a vital role in the profitability of a company and gives it that competitive edge, by reducing employee absence through sickness and accidents." - Charles Horsefield, Head of Operations, HSE, London.
ACCIDENT ON MOD LAND COSTS SOLDIER’S LIFE
Posted Sunday, February 8, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
It is reported that a soldier has died following a transport accident on Ministry of Defence land near Richmond, Yorkshire.
It is understood he sustained crush injuries between two vehicles.
NETWORK RAIL & MAINTENANCE COMPANY FINED OVER UNREPAIRED RAIL SAFETY-CRITICAL EQUIPMENT
Posted Sunday, February 8, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
Network Rail, formerly Railtrack, and First Engineering have been prosecuted and fined at Glasgow Sheriff Court for breaching health and safety legislation by jointly failing to ensure rail safety-critical equipment, reported as faulty, was repaired promptly.
Both companies were fined £17,500, the lapses coming to light during investigation of an incident in August 2001 at Glasgow Central station in which a train derailed because of a points failure. Although no one was injured, the occurrence was a consequence of poor communication over repairs between client and maintenance company which had given rise to similar situations across Scotland.
HSE URGES DUTY HOLDERS TO LIMIT FUTURE DAMAGE TO HEALTH FROM ASBESTOS
Posted Sunday, February 8, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
The HSE has marked the publication of an article in the British Medical Journal, warning of the growing number of deaths from mesothelioma in future years as a result of past exposure to asbestos, with a reiteration of advice about the management of asbestos in buildings. New regulations will place a duty on those responsible for workplaces and common areas of residential properties to manage any asbestos in those premises to protect people carrying-out maintenance. The new duty, part of the Control of Asbestos At Work Regulations 2002 (CAWR), will require those with responsibilities for the repair and maintenance of non-domestic premises to find out if there are, or may be, asbestos-containing materials within them. It also requires them to record the location and condition of such materials, and then assess and manage any risk from them, including passing on information about their location and condition to anyone liable to disturb them.
500,000 NON-DOMESTIC PREMISES
The duty to manage means only working on materials once they have been checked for any asbestos. If asbestos is in good condition, it should not be removed, providing that steps are taken to warn anyone likely to disturb it. If the asbestos is in bad condition, it should be safely removed by companies licensed to do so.
HSE believes there could be as many as 500,000 non-domestic premises in the UK that contain asbestos materials. Assessing the risks from those materials and putting in place systems to manage that risk will therefore take time, so there has been an 18-month lead in period for the duty.
"The expected rise in deaths from asbestos-related disease clearly represents a tragedy for the many victims and their families. Sadly, we are powerless to prevent these deaths, caused by exposure many years ago, but it is possible to minimise the risk of future exposure. Duty holders should take action now to actively manage the risk, particularly from asbestos in buildings, ahead of May this year when it will become their legal duty to do so." - Bill Macdonald, Head of Asbestos policy, HSE.
SCALE OF LOSS OF LIFE UNACCEPTABLE IN UK WORK ACTIVITY
Posted Sunday, February 8, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
At least 19 cockle gatherers, mainly young persons, have lost their lives by working on the tidal sandbanks of Hest Bank, Morecambe Bay. At least a further 14 narrowly escaped the same fate as the others, presumably caught out by the notorious and treacherous inrushing tides and quicksands.
The dead are believed to be all or mainly Chinese, it is not yet known how their labour was organised in an industry that attracts the participation of migrant workers.
Their are huge incentives for organisers and individuals who can earn a reported £500-£1,000 for a day's work. The tragedy will be unlikely to deter others lured by a large income, the industry driven by a great market demand for the shellfish.
PEMBROKESHIRE CARE HOME FIRE CLAIMS LIFE OF RESIDENT
Posted Sunday, February 8, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
A fire in the early hours of yesterday morning at the Old Rectory residential care home, Gumfreston, has killed a female resident. Nineteen other residents were evacuated successfully, however four of them required treatment for the effects of smoke.
INSTALLATION, USE & MAINTENANCE OF GAS-FIRED EQUIPMENT IN CATERING
Posted Sunday, February 8, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
A new free guidance publication in the Catering information sheet series Gas safety in catering and hospitality, sheet no. 23, has been published providing advice on gas-fired equipment used for cooking.
The sheet clarifies a number of matters, related both directly and indirectly to use of gas, which have been a recent source of misunderstanding, covering: installation & repair work on gas appliances; maintenance & inspection by users; landlords & residential accommodation; use of gas & routine tasks on equipment;
ventilation; British standard BS 6173 & how to assess the risks, with examples.
MANSLAUGHTER CHARGES OVER CHILD'S DEATH NEAR BUILDING SITE
Posted Sunday, February 8, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
A police and HSE investigation into the death last July of Declan Elliott, 2, on the Stocking Farm estate in Leicester has culminated in charges of manslaughter.
Two men will appear next week at Leicester Magistrates' Court.
VIOLENCE AT WORK FIGURES WORRYINGLY HIGH
Posted Sunday, February 8, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
The latest figures (2002/03) on violence at work contained in the British Crime Survey show that although the number of incidents has fallen since the peak in 1995 they remain at a worrying level.
The report Violence at Work: Findings from the 2002/03 British Crime Survey is available on the HSE website.
The British Crime Survey definition of work-related violence is: 'all assaults or threats which occurred while the victim was working, that were perpetuated by members of the public, excluding verbal abuse.'
The statistics disclose that:
there were an estimated 849,000 incidents of violence experienced by workers in England and Wales (including threats & physical assaults);
protective services, eg. police officers, were most at risk of violence at work, 14% experienced violence;
health and social welfare associate professionals, including nurses, medical and dental practitioners, were also at relatively high risk, 5% experienced violence;
more than 66% of workers who had some contact with the public received neither formal training nor informal advice on violence or threatening behaviour;
81% of workers in protective services received formal training, among other high-risk groups the level of training did not exceed 54%;
16% of all workers in contact with members of the public were very or fairly worried about being assaulted at work;
19% were very or fairly worried about being threatened;
concern was higher in certain occupations: for example, 36% of health and welfare professionals were very or fairly worried.
RESOURCES
Published HSE guidance is available on the topic: Work-related violence: Case studies - Managing the risk in smaller businesses (HSG229 HSE Books 2002 ISBN 0 7176 2358 0) is available from HSE Books . Abridged versions of the case studies are on HSE's website at www.hse.gov.uk/violence/experience.htm. This and other information is at www.hse.gov.uk/violence/index.htm.
A free guidance leaflet Violence at work, a guide for employers, INDG69(rev), is available from HSE Books - priced publications on tackling violence in the health services, education, retail, and banks/building societies are also obtainable.
"Physical assaults and threats towards people who are simply doing their jobs and providing a much needed service to the public are wholly unacceptable and should not be tolerated. These incidents often have devastating consequences for the victims and their families, and real financial costs to employers.
In 2000 we began a three-year programme of work with our stakeholders and partners to tackle the problem, including a great deal of work with employers to help prevent these incidents and, when they do occur, to manage them effectively. For example, we have issued guidance illustrated by case studies for smaller businesses and lone workers, funded the development of occupational standards to help employers develop their own policies, and delivered a targeted programme of inspections across health services.
The apparent fall in the number of incidents since 1995 is encouraging but the actual number of incidents is probably much greater than this, as it is likely that many incidents are not reported. Over the coming months we will be considering how we can build on the progress so far and make further inroads into this disturbing feature of Britain's workplaces. " - Chris Rowe, Head of Psychosocial Issues at HSE.
FARM WORKER KILLED WHILE INFLATING TRACTOR TYRE
Posted Sunday, February 8, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
Gavin Jones, 25, has died in a workplace accident on a farm in Llanfrothen, Gwynedd.
According to one account Mr Jones sustained injuries to which he later succumbed when a tractor tyre he was inflating with a compressor exploded.
ROSEPARK DEATH TOLL REACHES 14
Posted Sunday, February 8, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
Another elderly resident of the Rosepark Care Home, Lanarkshire, has died following Saturday's fire. The victims so far named were in their 80's and 90's, 3 more are being treated in hospital and reported as stable.
In addition to determining the cause of the fire, apparently seated at a cupboard in an upper level room, investigation is focusing on the alarm system and why smoke and hot gases apparently spread so rapidly.
NORTHERN IRELAND FALLS INTO LINE ON MOBILE PHONES AND DRIVING
Posted Sunday, February 8, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
Since Monday the use of hand-held mobile phones while driving is illegal in Northern Ireland. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) and the Highway Code advise drivers they should switch off their phones when they get into their vehicles and not use them again until they are parked in a safe spot.
RoSPA disapproves of the hands-free alternative and would like drivers prohibited from using these as well.
“We are delighted to see the new law, but it will not have the impact in Northern Ireland we have been hoping for if people switch to hands-free devices instead.
It is the telephone conversation that is the main problem. People are drawn into the conversation and ignore what is happening on the road around them. They vary their speed, drive closer to other vehicles, wander about on the road and their reactions are slower.
Sadly, on the UK mainland we still see some people ignoring the legislation and using hand-held phones while driving. They are endangering not only their own lives, but also those of the people on the road around them.
They seem to think that their phone call is more important than someone’s life.” - Kevin Clinton, RoSPA Head of Road Safety.
TRANSPORT ACCIDENT
Posted Sunday, February 8, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
A man is being treated in hospital for major crush injuries he sustained when he became trapped between two vehicles as he worked transferring loads between them earlier this week.
The accident occurred at the Torrangorm Industrial Estate, Oban, Argyll, it is believed the man's injuries are not life-threatening.
CALL FOR SEAFARERS TO PARTICIPATE IN FATIGUE AT WORK STUDY
Posted Sunday, February 8, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
NUMAST is urging deepsea sector members to participate in the latest phase of a long-term research project being conducted by the Seafarers’ International Research Centre, Cardiff University, on the dangers of seafarer fatigue. NUMAST, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and the HSE are supporting the initiative, and 3,000 members employed in the deepsea tanker and containership markets will be receiving questionnaires that aim to build a detailed database of hours worked, sleep and rest patterns, tour lengths, workloads, and health and safety.
The Union is stressing the need for clear guidelines on fatigue to be produced for seafarers, accident investigators and enforcement authorities. The study's Professor Smith said he hoped the work will then lead to the development of such programmes as fatigue awareness training, fatigue risk assessment and other counter-measures.
GATWICK AIRPORT FINED FOR POLLUTING RIVER
Posted Sunday, February 8, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
The Environment Agency has prosecuted Gatwick Airport Ltd - a subsidiary of airport operators BAA plc for admitted breaches of S.85 of the Water Resources Act 1991.
At Lewes Crown Court Gatwick Airport Ltd was fined £30,000 with £3,458 costs for polluting a stretch of the River Mole during September 2002 killing several thousand fish. A detergent used to clean and remove oil, grease and rubber build-up from the runway found its way into the river when a discharge of foam was made into a gully and not sent to water treatment works.
“We are encouraged by the way the court has viewed this incident by imposing a substantial fine. This was a serious incident that should have been avoided had proper procedures been in place before hand.
Although the company’s efforts to limit the long-term impact of this pollution is to be applauded, it still remains the Agency’s policy as environmental regulators to prosecute all incidents of this kind.
The company has co-operated with the Agency in carrying-out remedial work to aid the river’s recovery, and we will continue to work closely with its staff to ensure similar incidents are avoided.” - Paul Greaves, The Environment Agency.
SCHOOLS' FALLS FROM HEIGHT CAMPAIGN UNDERWAY
Posted Sunday, February 8, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
A campaign is underway that aims to reduce the number of deaths and injuries caused by falls in the classroom, an issue that HSC has included as one of its Priority Programmes, with 5 deaths and over 3,000 injuries in the education sector alone over the last 6 years. The campaign started this week at schools in Sheffield, Trafford and Glasgow - the HSE and the 3 local education authorities have produced posters and a guidance leaflet to raise awareness of safety in the classroom.
Teachers and classroom assistants, who are targeted by the campaign, can sustain injury in the following ways:
falling off a chair while putting material in a cupboard;
standing on a bookcase to put up a display and falling; and
standing on a stool to close a window and falling.
The initiative will be evaluated later this year after which it may be introduced elsewhere.
VISUAL REMINDERS
The posters offer a visual reminder that using inappropriate equipment, such as a table or a chair, to carry out an activity at height can be dangerous. The leaflet raises awareness of accidents in the classroom and provides guidance on good practice.
"I am delighted that these three local education authorities have agreed to work with HSE to address the issue of falls from height amongst classroom staff. Our statistics show that teachers and classroom assistants are at risk from this type of accident and we hope that this approach will be successful in raising awareness of the danger and reducing the number of accidents." - Bill Gillan, Programme Manager for the HSE Falls from Height Priority Programme.
50KG BAGS OF SEED TO GO!
Posted Sunday, February 8, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
Despite an ongoing shift from manual to bulk handling of agricultural seed, particularly in arable areas, there appears to be a continuing demand for bagged seed especially amongst livestock farmers growing small acreages of cereals.
Now, as a consequence of an agreement brokered by HSC's Health in Agriculture Group (HIAG), there should be fewer bad backs among workers. Certified seed suppliers and farm-saved seed mobile cleaners have agreed to stop using 50kg bags by the autumn of 2007 following discussions between the Agricultural Industries Confederation (AIC), the National Association of Agricultural Contractors (NAAC) and HIAG.
The 2001/02 self-reported work-related injury survey shows that of those who have worked in agriculture in the past 8 years, 3.8% have sustained a musculoskeletal injury, compared with 2.3% in general manufacturing and 3.6% in that other high risk manual handling industry, construction.
"More workers in agriculture suffer from bad backs than in any other industry and there is wide agreement that we need to move people away from handling bags of seed weighing 50kg.
HIAG asked the AIC to investigate the scope for reducing the weight of bagged seed and they have responded with positive proposals to move away from 50kg bags. This is a good example of collaborative working where the risk of injury is being addressed at source." - Roger Nourish, Acting Chief Inspector of Agriculture and chair of HIAG.
"With a general move towards bulk handling on the one hand and smaller pack sizes at the other, our members felt they could play their part in reducing the risk of injury amongst their customers. The lead-in time allows suppliers to spread the cost of changes to capital equipment." - Paul Rooke of the AIC
"Our members felt that there was a sufficiently strong case for discontinuing supply in 50 kg bags and support this move." - Jill Hewitt speaking of behalf of the NAAC's mobile seed processors group.
UNDER STARTERS ORDERS AT SEDGEFIELD FOR SAFETY AWARENESS EVENT
Posted Tuesday, February 3, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
HSE and Local Authorities in NE England are offering small businesses (less than 50 employees) there the chance to find out about the top 6 work hazards - and how to avoid them.
It is expected that more than 300 small business delegates will attend the Safety and Health Awareness event at Sedgefield Racecourse on Wednesday February 4th.
Delegates can attend either a morning or an afternoon session, based on a series of practical demonstrations by experienced independent instructors focusing on aspects of everyday workplace safety that employees in most small companies will encounter.
Matters covered will include:
assessing and using display screen equipment;
managing asbestos;
working at height;
manual handling;
workplace transport;
slips and trips.
Anyone interested in attending should contact Tina Donaldson on 0191 202 6306 for more details.
"Often smaller firms can't afford the luxury of employing a Health and Safety specialist of their own, so visitors to the event will have the opportunity to get the information that's directly relevant to them, presented in a very informal way.
It will be a chance for small firms to take a fresh look at health and safety and keep themselves up to date with current practice. - Chris Gillies, HSE principal inspector
BNFL PROSECUTED OVER 'UNACCEPTABLE' DIVING PRACTICE THAT ALMOST KILLED
Posted Tuesday, February 3, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
HSE has prosecuted British Nuclear Fuels Limited (BNFL) over a diving accident during March 2003 in which employee diver Peter Whelan was placed in great danger of losing his life. In a Sellafield operation involving a technique called 'live-boating' (diving from a moving vessel), a practice termed unacceptable by HSE, Mr Whelan became trapped under a boat having been pulled up to this position by his breathing line after it wound around the boat's drive shaft. In rough seas one of a series of frantic attempts succeeded in his rescue without injury.
NO SAFE SYSTEM OF WORK
BNFL previously pleaded guilty at Whitehaven Magistrates Court to breaching the Health and Safety at Work Etc. Act 1974. At Carlisle Crown Court it was fined £30,000 with £20,783 costs.
The risks inherent in this type of work had been inadequately assessed by the company.
"Carrying out diving operations whilst the craft is under power is not a safe system of work. BNFL also did not to carry out a suitable risk assessment, failing to take into account the poor underwater conditions. Mr Whelan was in a potentially life-threatening situation. Had his helmet been damaged whilst trapped he could have been subject to a life support failure, resulting in a fatality.
Approved codes of practice and guidance on diving exist and are available from HSE. Additionally HSE diving inspectors are available to advise on the management of health and safety aspects of diving at work." - HSE Inspector Jim McCormick
PRODUCT RECALLS - NEW RULES NOW IN FORCE
Posted Tuesday, February 3, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
The revised General Product Safety Directive (GSPD - 2001/95/EC), which concerns safety controls of all consumer products except food, is now in force. It sets safety requirements for consumer products such as sports and playground equipment, child care articles, lighters and most household products such as textiles and furniture.
Legislation on product safety is a mixture of laws applying to specific products or sectors and general laws applying to all products - the revised GPSD clarifies the relationship between its general rules on product safety and product or sector specific laws.
"For the first time manufacturers have the legal obligation to inform authorities if a product is unsafe. These are recalled and taken off the market. Also for the first time the EU Commission can even now initiate recalls and provisional bans to assure the same level of protection for the entire EU. This is very good news for consumers."- David Byrne, EU Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection.
MIGRATING PRODUCTS
Manufacturers and distributors will now be legally obliged to inform the authorities if they conclude a product they supply is dangerous. They will then have to work with the authorities in tracing dangerous products and taking them off the market. If necessary, companies can be required to organise a product recall.
The revised GPSD further clarifies that products that "migrate" from professional to consumer use, for example power tools primarily intended for builders that become available for sale or rent to consumers in DIY shops are covered by its rules, as are products supplied to or used by consumers as part of a service.
Detailed guidance is available on how the GPSD relates to the Toys Directive, the Directive on Equipment with Voltage Limits, the Directive on Personal Protective Equipment and the Cosmetics Directive.
BARNET HEALTH AND SAFETY SCRUTINISED
Posted Tuesday, February 3, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
Recent unannounced visits have been made by inspectors from the HSE and the London Borough of Barnet to 102 small businesses in a recent two-day blitz in the latest part of a London campaign providing a co-ordinated and streamlined approach to inspection.
HSE says at many premises standards were good but at too many others there were significant problems, and it was necessary to issue 2 Prohibition Notices and 2 Improvement Notices.
Prohibition Notices resulted from concern over the spraying of paints containing isocyanates without adequate control measures, and an ice-covered floor in a freezer. The Improvement Notices related to a lack of certification of thorough examination for a pressure system, and a flooded pub cellar that forced staff to use crates as stepping stones.
"I am sorry to see that there are still businesses in Barnet that do not take enough responsibility for the health and safety of their staff and the public. We fully support the HSE's drive to ensure a safe and healthy working environment, and look forward to more joint working in future." - Councillor Brian Salinger, Cabinet Member for Housing and Environmental Health
HELP ON THE HORIZON WITH SLIPS AND TRIPS
Posted Tuesday, February 3, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
The latest estimate for the overall cost to employers of slip & trip accidents (at 2001/2002 prices) is £512 million per annum. The estimated cost to society ranges from a lower estimate of £815million to an upper estimate of £918 million.
To ameliorate this position, HSE and the Health and Safety Laboratory are developing the Slips Assessment Tool (SAT) - a PC-based package which allows ‘non-experts’ to assess the slip risk of pedestrian walkways/surfaces.
Input of information on the:
floor surface type;
cleaning regime used;
condition of the floor (in terms of its cleanliness and history); and
human factors relating to pedestrian use,
enables a ‘slip-risk’ rating to be determined.
Additionally, the system represents a valuable source of training information to increase awareness of the scale of the slips problem, and familiarise users with common ‘slip-resistance’ test methods.
Currently the system is being field tested by HSE and Local Authority Inspectors, with the prospect of the SAT software becoming available for free download via the HSE website by summer 2004.
HEALTH AND SAFETY SURVEY OF ROAD HAULAGE AND DISTRIBUTION INDUSTRY
Posted Tuesday, February 3, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
The Transport and General Workers' Union is approaching road haulage and distribution industry employers to invite them to participate in a national survey of standards of health and safety.
The initiative, which was earlier piloted in Hull*, aims to ascertain how health and safety for transport workers can be improved.
The national survey findings will be made available to the industry, the HSC and the Department for Transport.
"The need for this survey is crucial in our judgement. Our industry faces some enormous challenges now and over the next few years not the least of which is recruiting and keeping more drivers. That means constant vigilance to make sure the safety regimes are up to scratch, for the protection of drivers and the public. The T&G is determined to make sure they are.
If these findings are repeated in our national survey it will be an indictment of the management of the industry.
I hope for the sake of health and safety managers up and down the country they aren't but if they are we'll want to see some pretty sharp movement to tackle these shortcomings." - Ron Webb, T&G national organiser for transport at the union's national road transport committee.
* The Hull survey sent questionnaires to 106 road haulage businesses in the area, only 10 replied, revealing a wide range of deficiencies, which makes one consider how bad the non-respondents' standards are:
4 out of 10 companies had no health and safety training of any kind;
4 out of 10 had company health and safety committees and of those one met only every 6 months;
less than half carried out occupational health checks.
SLIPS, TRIPS OR FALLS ON THE SAME LEVEL BEING TACKLED IN RAILWAY ENVIRONMENT
Posted Tuesday, February 3, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
Slips, trips and falls are the most common cause of injuries on the railways, accounting for more than two thirds of all reported accidents.
These events are not minor matters - from 1st April 2002- 31st March 2003 slips, trips or falls on the same level resulted in:
2 fatalities;
86 major injuries to staff;
460 passenger injuries requiring hospital treatment; with
1,199 passengers admitted to hospital following accidents on stairs and escalators at stations.
Progress in this area will greatly improve overall railway safety performance figures, and to provide an impetus to the efforts of those attempting to improve this situation, HM Railway Inspectorate are holding two seminars on reducing slip & trip injuries at railway premises. The intention is to increase awareness of the scale of the problem, and to inform and encourage a wider industry debate on possible solutions.
STATION DESIGNERS, MANAGERS AND OTHERS
The seminars, which are aimed at station designers, managers and others with an interest in reducing such incidents on railway premises, will be presented by HMRI in conjunction with staff from HSE’s Health and Safety Laboratory (HSL) and will include:
information on the most frequent causes of slips, trips and falls;
employers’ legal obligations in relation to preventing injury to staff and the public;
simple cost-effective solutions to particular problems; and
an introduction to the Slips Assessment Tool (SAT), which can be used to measure the slipperiness of floors.
The first seminar will be held on 26th February at HSE’s Rose Court offices in London SE1 and the second on 16th March at the National Railway Museum in York.
Places are limited and will be allocated on a ‘first come, first served’ basis.
Enquiries should be directed to HMRI’s Jill Moore (Tel: 0161 952 8358, e-mail: jill.moore@hse.gsi.gov.uk) or Christopher Davies (Tel: 0121 607 6304, e-mail: christopher.davies@hse.gsi.gov.uk).
ERGONOMICS WEB RESOURCE
Posted Tuesday, February 3, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
FEES, the Federation of the European Ergonomics Societies, has a role to enhance the recognition of ergonomics which it maintains can contribute to economic development, quality of life, and health and safety at work. Its website has links to EU ergonomics bodies.
Founded in May 2003 it comprises a network of the ergonomics societies in the various countries in Europe, members are ergonomics societies, not individuals.
FEES seeks to foster communication between European ergonomics societies, exchanges between ergonomists, and to organise conferences about evolving ergonomics isues.
Objectives include influencing EU ergonomics policy and programmes, and stimulating networking in ergonomics.
BABY SCALD ACCIDENT PROSECUTION
Posted Tuesday, February 3, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
An accident in which a baby bottle- warming hot water flask given to a mother that subsequently toppled from the tray it was being carried on, scalding her baby, has resulted in a prosecution at Hull Magistrates' Court. The accident, which scarred the baby, occurred during May 2002 at the Princes Quay Shopping Centre in Hull.
Select Service Partner, then proprietor of Jacket Junction, was deemed to have breached the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 in the circumstances of the accident for which it was fined £7,500 with £1,040 costs.
The breach was compounded by its failure to report the accident as required by the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995, for which it was fined £1,500.
GRASPING THE H&S ESSENTIALS - HSE SEMINARS FOR MERSEYSIDE BUSINESSES
Posted Tuesday, February 3, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
HSE is presenting 2 free seminars to help Merseyside businesses improve their understanding of basic workplace health and safety issues.
The events take place at
Suites Hotel, Knowsley between 9.00 a.m. and 12 noon on Thursday 19th February followed by buffet lunch; with a second event at
Tranmere Rovers Football club from 9.00 a.m. and 1.00 p.m., including a buffet lunch on Thursday 26th February.
The seminars are open to businesses throughout Merseyside and neighbouring areas. They will introduce a broad range of health and safety topics including the role of the:
HSE;
local authority environmental health departments;
HSE and local authority inspectors;
Also being covered are:
key health and safety legislation;
risk assessments;
the cost of accidents;
sources of health & safety information.
Both events are followed by an open forum for questions. To reserve a place for the Knowsley event, contact Keith Lynch on telephone 0151 477 1356.
For the Wirral event call Emma Lavin on 0151 644 4720.
OWNERS OF CAR PARK STRUCTURES NEED TO HAVE ROBUST PROCEDURES IN PLACE
Posted Tuesday, February 3, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
An HSE research report has been published on the 1997 partial collapse of the 30-year-old Pipers Row multi-storey car park incident in Wolverhampton offering explanation of why a 120-tonne section of the top deck at the Pipers Row car park collapsed, fortunately without injury. It was believed to be the first ‘Lift Slab’ structure to have failed in service, the deterioration of concrete precipitated shear failure of the concrete slab although the column/slab connection unique to the ‘Lift Slab’ method of construction was not part of the failure mechanism. Deterioration resulted from localised breakdown of the overlying waterproofing membrane, as a consequence water ingress to areas of poor quality concrete leading to frost damage and a loss of strength.
The report concludes:
owners of car park structures need to have robust procedures in place;
the employment of people with appropriate levels of competence is also significant, to ensure that these structures are properly inspected, maintained and - where necessary - repaired.
there are concerns about the generalised robustness requirements in current design codes.
For some types of reinforced concrete structures, including flat slabs without adequate provision of bottom reinforcement over the columns, there may be a risk of progressive collapse following punching shear failure.
Read it at www.hse.gov.uk/research/misc/pipersrow.htm
on HSE’s web site.
GEORGE SLAUGHTER SAFETY AWARDS
Posted Tuesday, February 3, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
The George Slaughter safety awards competition aims to promote a greater interest in health and safety in the work place among young people, and last week this year's awards for young people (16 to 21) working in the Luton area demonstrating an aptitude for health and safety at work were made. It is organised by the Lea and Ouse Valleys Safety Association and was established in memory and honour of the late George Slaughter.
Entrants must research and write on health and safety problems they may encounter in every-day working life. They are given a workplace scenario and asked to produce a report on the actions they would take to reduce deaths and injuries at work.
MANUAL HANDLING
Robert Carr, 18, an apprentice at Britannia Airways Ltd based in Luton, received 1st prize for his essay on the risks associated with manual handling in the work place. Mr Martin Slaughter presented him with a cheque for £150.
2nd prize was awarded to Paul Lawrence, 19, of Britannia Airways Ltd and 3rd prize to Dean Harper, 19, also from Britannia Airways Ltd.
"Once again, I am very encouraged by the effort that the apprentices put into the George Slaughter competition. This year we asked them to prepare a report about some typical manual handling accidents, particularly situations that involved lifting. Not only did they have to identify what went wrong in each case and suggest ways of preventing such accidents happening again, they also had to look more widely at some of the management issues affecting this type of accident. This was not an easy task, particularly for young people who may not have put themselves in a manager's position before." - David Head HSE Principal Inspector who presented Britannia Airways Ltd with a shield.
BMA SAYS ALL HEALTH CARE WORKERS REQUIRE PROTECTION
Posted Tuesday, February 3, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
With the Scottish Executive currently undertaking a Public consultation to introduce legislation to protect emergency workers from violence, the British Medical Association (BMA) has called on the Executive to extend protection measures to include all health care workers, not just those attending emergencies.
The BMA survey on violence at work found more than a third of staff experienced some form of violence in the workplace over the past year and, significantly, that only a third of violent incidents had been reported.
BMA points out that a treatment given by a doctor in an A&E department is considered an 'emergency situation' under proposals outlined in the consultation document, while similar treatment administered on an intensive care ward is not. Therefore if a doctor was subject to a violent incident in an accident and emergency department, he or she would be protected by law; whereas a doctor working in intensive care would not.
"Politicians must send a clear message that violence against public sector staff is unacceptable. The BMA believes that there should be a commitment to extend the legislation to include protection for health care workers in all areas of the health service, not just those attending emergency situations." - BMA
LOO … E DISCHARGES WERE ILLEGAL!
Posted Tuesday, February 3, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
The Environment Agency has prosecuted John Fowler Holidays Ltd, the current owners of Trelawne Manor Holiday Park in, Pelynt, Cornwall, once owned by Haven Leisure Ltd, for an environmental offence contrary to the Water Resources Act 1991 and Environment Act 1995. The company was given a two-year conditional discharge with £1,315 costs for polluting a tributary of the West Looe River with poor quality sewage effluent.
On occasions the camp's private sewage treatment work's discharges repeatedly failed to meet the required standards, especially during the summer months giving rise to a risk of effluent entering the West Looe River and adversely affecting an EC Bathing Beach at nearby East Looe.
NEGATIVE IMPACT
Despite considerable effort by the company the failures continued and in April 2003 the Environment Agency issued the holiday park with a formal warning letter. Instead of discharging direct to the stream, the site operator had released effluent via a soakaway in breach of its consent. Effluent samples contained up to 11 times the permitted levels of ammonia. Suspended solids also exceeded the standards required.
The outcome is that following the issuing of an Agency Enforcement Notice the company is to invest over £800,000 connecting its sewage treatment works at Trelawne Manor to a mains sewer.
"It is vital that operators of holiday parks operate their sewage treatment facilities correctly. The decision by John Fowler Holidays to connect the campsite to the main sewer means that in future, tourists can enjoy visiting Cornwall safe in the knowledge that the Trelawne Manor holiday park is no longer having a negative impact on the environment." Nick Keen, Environment Agency.
WORKER FELL FROM IMPROVISED PLATFORM
Posted Tuesday, February 3, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
Paul Watters, employed by Higgins Agriculture of Doncaster, was working from an improvised platform while loading potatoes into a hopper at Ardgye Farm, Moray during October 2002.
Unfortunately as he did so he fell to the concrete floor and sustained a fractured arm. Subsequent investigation by HSE officials established that the platform had been improvised using potato crates and pallets, built to a height exceeding 2 metres, and had neither secure ladder access nor edge protection to prevent falls. Mr Watters, it was deemed, had been inadequately trained in safety and was working without the benefit of risk assessment derived control measures.
At Elgin Sheriff Court Higgins Agriculture was fined £750 by Sheriff Cameron for breaching health and safety legislation in the circumstances of the accident.
PRINCIPAL ACT USED TO PROSECUTE NHS TRUST OVER PATIENT SUICIDE
Posted Tuesday, February 3, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
Tayside Primary Care NHS Trust has been prosecuted over the death of Rhona McDonald, 31, a psychiatric patient being treated at the Trust's Sunnyside Royal Hospital, Montrose, its failures deemed to be a breach of s.3 of the Health and Safety at Work Etc. Act 1974. The Trust admitted the offence at Arbroath Sheriff Court and was fined £10,000 last week. The case will be of great interest to similar organisations who have such patients in their care.
On November 3rd 2001 Mrs McDonald took her own life by hanging using a window fixture to do so, and it was claimed that the Trust had failed to act to remove or in some other way reduce the risk presented by the window fixture being accessed by potentially suicidal patients.
The Trust were well aware of the danger, months earlier another patient had attempted an act of suicide using the same type of fixture in the same ward. In the intervening period no action had been taken to address what was an obviously unacceptable risk to patients.
WORKPLACE TRANSPORT DEATH INQUEST
Posted Tuesday, February 3, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
An inquest into the death of Charles Green, 53, who died in March 2003 in a workplace transport accident at Cavendish Mill mineral processing plant in Derbyshire, has arrived at a verdict of accidental death.
Mr Green, an employee of Securicor Omega Container Logistics, who arrived to collect a load at the Glebe Mines Ltd quarry, sustained crush injuries when a forklift truck being towed free from a gravel mound by a mechanical loader began unexpectedly rolling backwards, trapping him between the forklift and the other vehicle.
SITE SAFE NEWS
Posted Tuesday, February 3, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
The latest copy of HSE's Site Safe News has been published on its website. It contains information on the progress and outcome of a number of construction health and safety campaigns and is illustrated with alarming photographs of appalling standards on some building sites visited by HSE officials.
SICKNESS TAKES HIGH TOLL OF WELSH HOSPITAL WORKFORCE
Posted Tuesday, February 3, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
Figures showing absence rates for staff working in Welsh hospitals reveal an average absence of 15 days each year due to sickness, more than 25% higher than the corresponding absence level in England.
The information, revealed in the Auditor General for Wales survey, indicates a rising trend in absence, nursing and midwifery workers exhibiting highest absence rates.
COUNCIL IMPROVES ITS RISK MANAGEMENT OF WOODLAND & TREES
Posted Tuesday, February 3, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
Following the findings of the investigation into the death of Rianna Davenport, 8, who was struck by a falling tree in school grounds in Ashtead during January 2003, Surrey County Council has acted to improve its management of risk associated with its trees and woodlands. Last April HSE served an Improvement Notice on the Authority obliging it to formalise its systems of inspection and record-keeping. A decision was taken not to prosecute over the fatal accident.