SKY AIRS EMPLOYEE HEALTH AND SAFETY ISSUES
Posted Monday, February 21, 2005 by Ahmed Khan
A new initiative by British Sky Broadcasting (Sky) to ensure a healthy two-way exchange of views and information, including health and safety matters between management and employees, has been commended by the HSE.
This open dialogue of workplace issues is enabled by the Sky Forum, a panel of 67 staff representatives elected by Sky's 13,000 employees who can now discuss ideas with fellow employees, senior management and members of Sky's executive committee. The consultation helps Sky meet its business objectives and provides useful input on issues relevant, for example, to training and development.
The Sky Forum meets up to 6 times a year, a London-based HSE Inspector familiar with the initiative says: "An actively engaged workforce is fundamental to successful health and safety. A consultative approach can improve the bottom line of a company by reducing injuries and ill health. I am confident that the Sky Forum will bring real benefits to Sky and its employees."
Sky's own Group Head of Health and Safety comments: "Sky has launched this initiative because it recognises the importance of open dialogue about important workplace issues such as health and safety. We want the Forum to be a real voice for Sky staff and to help us to achieve continued business success."
COMMERCIAL FISHERMAN DROWNS IN HARBOUR
Posted Monday, February 21, 2005 by Ahmed Khan
It is reported that a member of the crew of a fishing vessel lost his life in the waters of Blyth harbour on Saturday after falling from the quayside.
A colleague present attempted a rescue, according to one account the vessel is based in Buckie, Banffshire.
Last month a commercial fisherman in his 30s succumbed to the effects of a fall into the icy waters of Peterhead harbour, in northeast Scotland.
WATER SITE SAFETY STANDARDS DISCUSSED
Posted Monday, February 21, 2005 by Ahmed Khan
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) event, Towards Water Safety Excellence, takes place in Bournemouth on March 14th and 15th and will provide delegates with the opportunity to discuss industry-wide standards for beaches, inland waters, harbours, marinas and swimming pools. Ways to make water sites throughout the UK safer will be discussed.
RoSPA says that persons failing to heed warnings that they should only swim at properly supervised beaches and swimming pools accounts for many of the 430 accidental drownings in the UK each year.
The conference fayre is of direct relevance to leisure, tourism and recreation managers, beach and lifeguard managers, environmental and health and safety professionals, water sports and leisure managers, architects and landscape engineers, outdoor education and recreation managers and water safety product manufacturers.
The Sport England and the Environment Agency-sponsored event will feature special clinics to allow delegates to attend presentations most relevant to their working environment.
“Acceptance of poor standards is often a sign of weak safety management and in many instances can be a major cause of accidents.
Although we have seen the number of drownings fall in recent years, there is still a great deal more that can be done by managers of all types of water sites to improve things.
Our conference will bring together experts on national and international good practice to discuss ways in which we can improve safety at our beaches, inland waters, harbours, marinas and swimming pools.
Many people still drown unnecessarily because they ignore safety messages or because of poorly-managed sites. There are many measures which can be put in place to prevent people from getting into danger.” - RoSPA Head of Water and Leisure Safety.
HSE BEGINS SAFETY INSPECTIONS OF SCHOOLS IN SOUTH WEST
Posted Monday, February 21, 2005 by Ahmed Khan
Next Thursday 24th February marks the latest in HSE's days of school inspections in the South West of England, part of a rolling programme, on this occasion in the Swindon area. The visiting officials will arrive at 21 schools to determine how well the Local Authority is managing risks to employees, pupils and visitors.
Priority areas include the control of risks generated by vehicular traffic on the premises, pedestrian segregation and safety and general on-site risks.
"We are really looking to make sure that there are safe systems and procedures in place to reduce the risk of accidents at schools. As well as monitoring on-site transport and pedestrian activities, we will be looking at visitors, such as contractors, in particular those working at height. We are looking to help those schools that might be failing to improve and avoid accidents." - The HSE Inspector and team leader.
"Swindon Borough Council welcomes the opportunity to work with the Health and Safety Executive on this inspection of Swindon schools. I am sure that the inspection team will identify many examples of good practice in the borough and I also expect it to highlight areas where the council needs to do further work. We will take any recommendations and implement them through the extended schools agenda to improve the learning environment and opportunities for the community. " - Director of Education for Swindon Borough Council.
SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE
Posted Monday, February 21, 2005 by Ahmed Khan
15 persons and their employers can benefit from the offer by the British Safety Council of scholarship places (5 each) on its Diploma in Safety Management, Certificate in Safety Management, and Diploma in Environmental Management.
Applicants must be younger than 25 years old on 31st December 2005, the courses are due to commence throughout 2005 at centres up and down the UK.
For more information visit BSC .
ELECTRICAL HEATERS WERE DANGEROUS
Posted Monday, February 21, 2005 by Ahmed Khan
Benross Marketing Ltd of Liverpool has been prosecuted and fined for supplying imported electrical heaters, the design of which permitted someone lifting them to come into contact with live parts.
Harrow trading standards officials initiated the prosecution when they inspected one of the heaters they discovered in a local shop, the company was fined £1,500 with £1,100 costs by Harrow Magistrates for supplying the heaters in breach of the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 1994.
CONFINED SPACE EXPLOSION LEFT WORKER BADLY BURNED
Posted Monday, February 21, 2005 by Ahmed Khan
A workman using a solvent-based paint to coat a ship's engine room tank suffered serious burns to his hands and face when the solvent vapour was ignited by a halogen lamp in the confined space.
The accident occurred in Fraserburgh harbour in April 2004, his employer, Peter Bruce Ltd, admitted breaching s.2 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 in the circumstances of the event. Peterhead Sheriff Court fined the company £5,000, the accident victim faces some months of further hospital treatment.
The ship-painting company has since invested heavily to restore its former good health and safety record.
FUEL DELIVERY DRIVER FELL FROM LADDER
Posted Monday, February 21, 2005 by Ahmed Khan
A March 2004 incident in which the driver of a fuel delivery vehicle fell 3 metres from his ladder led to a prosecution for breach of the Workplace Regulations. The employee of Watson Petroleum Ltd sustained head and back injuries from which he has yet to fully recover.
The company was fined £3,000, with costs of £903, at Witney Magistrates' Court, Oxfordshire, for breaching r.13 of the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992¹.
The delivery man was based at its Brize Norton premises and called at Logg Farm, Oddington, Islip, in Oxfordshire, to refuel a tank there, a routine activity for him. He was using the ladder that was carried on his tanker to gain access to the top of the tank, but whilst attempting to remove the lid of the tank, the ladder slipped sideways and he fell to the ground.
Watson Petroleum Ltd had received previous advice from HSE, following an investigation into an incident in 2003, when one of its employees suffered a fractured wrist after falling from a tank he was filling when the ladder slipped.
¹ Regulation 13 of the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 states:
(1) So far as is reasonably practicable, suitable and effective measures shall be taken to prevent any event specified in paragraph (3).
(2 )So far as is reasonably practicable, the measures required by paragraph (1) shall be measures other than the provision of personal protective equipment, information, instruction, training or supervision.
(3) The events specified in this paragraph are:-
(a) any person falling a distance likely to cause personal injury;
(b) any person being struck by a falling object likely to cause personal injury.
"When the accident victim first started work for the company he was given training by other staff members. Although this covered ladder safety, it did not do so in a structured way. There was no formal procedure for undertaking risk assessments at delivery locations.
There are several accidents each year to delivery drivers falling from ladders whilst delivering oil to tanks. Many of these accidents are at farm premises and it is important that both farmers and oil delivery companies ensure that there is a safe means of access provided for those undertaking this task." - HM Inspector of Safety and Health.
WORK-RELATED STRESS CONFERENCE FOR KENT SMES
Posted Monday, February 21, 2005 by Ahmed Khan
Small and medium-sized businesses in Kent can take the opportunity later this week of attending a free HSE-organised conference to learn how to recognise the causes of stress and how to take action before sickness absence, staff turnover and poor productivity mean they lose money. Employers have a duty to ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of their employees at work and to assess for health and safety risks, these duties extending to work-related stress.
The event, the latest in a nationwide programme of workshops to equip employers to tackle stress among their staff, is to feature workshops on: stress in the workplace; the role of occupational health support; conflict resolution; and risk assessment.
The half-day conference, Managing Work-Related Stress in Your Business, takes place on Thursday February 24, from 9.30am to 12.30pm, at Kings' Hill Conference Centre, University of Greenwich, Kent. Any businesses interested in attending or needing more information should contact HSE on 020 7717 6336.
"Pressure is part and parcel of all work and helps to keep us motivated. But excessive pressure can lead to stress which undermines individuals and businesses performance, can make people ill and is costly to employers.
Businesses have to recognise their legal duty to ensure, as far as is practicable, the welfare of their employees at work and to assess for health and safety risks.
The HSE wants to highlight how organisations can prevent and manage stress effectively, from well-designed job specifications and to robust systems to risk assess staff." - HSE Corporate Medical Unit, South East Region.
ROSPA’S 2005 OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY AWARDS
Posted Monday, February 21, 2005 by Ahmed Khan
The closing date for businesses and organisations to enter the UK’s leading safety scheme, RoSPA’s 2005 Occupational Health and Safety Awards, sponsored by RMC Group plc, is approaching.
The closing date is February 28th, awards are made to all sectors of industry and commerce, large and small businesses have an equal chance of winning an award.
Presentations are made to the winners in May at the National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham, alongside ‘Safety and Health Expo 2005’, and in early September in Glasgow alongside ‘RoSPA Scotland 2005’.
DEFRA FUND HEALTH AND SAFETY FOCUSED TRAINING
Posted Monday, February 21, 2005 by Ahmed Khan
The Department for The Environment, Food And Rural Affairs(Defra) has provided funding to meet the costs of health and safety focused training for farmers across North Northumberland.
The North Northumberland Agricultural Training Association (NNATA) was awarded funding from Defra's Vocational Training Scheme (VTS) to run the courses to allow farmers to meet a range of legislative requirements and develop associated skills. Courses include the use of workplace transport equipment increasingly featuring in major accidents, eg forklift and all terrain vehicles. Other courses are available on chainsaw use and pesticides and spraying. 126 farmers and farm workers have already signed up for courses.
Grants of up to 75% of all eligible costs are available to applicants (who may be training providers or individuals) under the scheme which is selective and all applications need to meet a quality criteria.
"The association was set up more than 30 years ago to help local farmers obtain training at local venues to help ensure they have the skills they need to run their businesses successfully.
The changes in agriculture over the years now demand that farming enterprises address health and safety issues and look at new ways of working.
The funding received through Defra's Vocational Training Scheme has been invaluable. These courses help reduce health and safety risks and give farming enterprises the opportunity to consider areas in which to diversify and improve productivity. While being a legislative requirement, the courses also offer a first step to access more advanced training helping ensure a skilled and flexible workforce." - Training officer for the NNATA
"VTS grants are available to both individuals and organisations to help cover the costs of a wide range of training from dry stone walling to IT skills.
It's essential farmers and others in rural areas can access training at local venues, not only to meet legislative requirements but also to upgrade and enhance their skills to ensure the future viability of their businesses." - Adviser at Defra's Rural Development Service in the North East.
CDM SUCCESS
Posted Monday, February 21, 2005 by Ahmed Khan
A report by the Institute of Occupational Medicine on its investigation into the impact made by the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 1994 (as amended 2000), and the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations (Northern Ireland, 1995) (as amended 2001), has concluded that the legislation has largely succeeded in its aim to raise health and safety awareness and clarify duty-holder roles and responsibilities in the industry.
The study, Investigating practices in communication and information exchange amongst CDM duty-holders, found benefits where CDM had promoted better health and safety management and communications practices, but problem areas remained where it was thought: too much time was spent producing paperwork that was not always necessary;
there was a lack of implementation of effective H&S procedures, a general lack of understanding of basic risk assessment procedures amongst some duty-holders, and confusion about competency assessment;
Concern was expressed over an inadequacy of basic health and safety training given to some duty-holders and site operatives.
Recommendations are made that, it is hoped, will offer useful direction and guidance on effective communication and information exchange processes that can be used to promote improved health and safety management.
SAVING LIVES OF CHILDREN ON FARMS
Posted Monday, February 21, 2005 by Ahmed Khan
Work continues on a broad front to reduce the number of tragic fatal accidents to children on farms. Since 1993, 45 children (under 18) have been killed on farms, through being struck by moving vehicles, drowning/asphyxiation, struck by moving object, fall from height, contact with machinery and fire.
A partnership comprising of key players in the agricultural industry¹ has launched two new leaflets, one for children and one for adults, augmenting the published advice already available² aimed at helping to reduce the number of accidents and incidents of ill-health affecting children on farms.
The TGWU wishes to prevent children under 16 years of age from working on farms altogether as a means of, at least, reducing the tragic toll.
The leaflets, Be responsible: keep children safe on your farm, and Farms are not playgrounds: 10 ways you can get hurt on the farm, are available from http://www.hse.gov.uk/agriculture/secondment.htm#childsafety.
¹ HSE, TGWU, National Farmers Union (NFU), NFU Mutual, the ADAS rural economy consultancy, Women's Food & Farming Union (WFU), Farms for Schools and Cardiff University School of Social Sciences.
² Preventing Accidents to Children on Farms (leaflet As10), is available online at: http://www.hsebooks.co.uk/ The leaflet supports the Approved Code of Practice Preventing Accidents to Children in Agriculture (L116), ISBN 0 7176 1690 8, price £5.50.
Stay Safe in Farming can be ordered free of charge from HSE books (tel 01787 881165).
Information on the work of the HSE in the agricultural industry.
Information on the work of the Transport & General Workers' Union (TGWU); the TGWU's national campaign relating to children on farms.
Information on the NFU effort can be found at http://www.nfuonline.com/ and its specific website aimed at children http://www.friendlyfarmclub.com/ .
The Women's Food & Farming Union (WFU)
Information on the work of NFU Mutual.
Farms for Schools.
Information on the work of ADAS.
Information on the work of Cardiff University School of Social Sciences.
"Agriculture has one of the highest fatal accident rates of any industry in the UK and is also the only high-risk industry that has to deal with the constant presence of children. Farms are homes as well as workplaces and visitors to the countryside, many of whom are children, are often present on farms.
In the ten years from 1993 to 2003, 45 children were killed on farms and HSE received reports of nearly 400 serious injuries to children, with many more incidents going unreported. Last September a 13-year-old boy was shot dead on farmland in Devon whilst taking part in a fox-shoot. It is extremely important that all adults in the industry take responsibility for keeping children safe and stopping them going to areas where they might be at risk.
Everyone involved in the agricultural industry should be working together in partnership to improve the health and safety of children on farms. We must all strive to ensure that there are ZERO fatal accidents to children on farms each year." - HSE Inspector seconded to the TGWU.
"The continuing toll of death, injury and ill-health for young people on farms is a vivid scar running across our industry. It requires a united assault by employers, workers and enforcers to tackle the root causes and bring this miserable tale of woe to an end. These publications are an indispensable weapon in that campaign." TGWU.
HSE SCAFFOLDING WARNING
Posted Monday, February 21, 2005 by Ahmed Khan
Substantial Crown Court fines for two Merseyside firms, for failures that led to the serious injury of 3 men, serve as a warning to scaffolding companies and their clients that exchange of information and the preservation of channels of communication concerning work are essential if duties under health and safety law are to be met.
During October 2002, 3 employees of Thompson Underpinning and Building Contractors were repairing the gable wall of a shop at Lower House Lane, West Derby, when a section of scaffold suddenly collapsed into a busy roadway. One worker suffered serious permanent brain damage, another is unable to walk without assistance, the third suffered hand injuries and a fractured cheek bone.
Erector of the independent tube and steel scaffold involved was J and P King Ltd, trading as Kings Scaffolding, it was found guilty of breaching s.3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and fined £75,000 with costs of £58,920.
Thompson Underpinning and Building Contractors were fined £6,000 having pleaded guilty to a breach of s.2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 in that they failed to ensure a safe place of work for employees.
"This incident highlights the importance of good communication between scaffolding contractors and their clients. Responsible scaffolders need to talk to their clients and make sure they know what the work is about, so that they can provide the right structure for the job. Just as important is the hand over of the scaffold, so that clients are clear when it is safe to use and what they are allowed to do from and to it." - HM Principal Construction Inspector
"Whilst welcoming the verdict handed down by the court, the fact remains that 3 men were seriously injured in an incident that could easily have been avoided, had appropriate and straight forward measures been in place.
The incident came about through an almost complete communication failure between both parties, particularly with respect to the nature of the works and its extent. This led to employees of Kings Scaffolding providing scaffolding that was unsuitable for the weight of brickwork to be put on it. To compound matters further, anchorage ties were installed in brickwork that was to be removed. The investigation also revealed that the scaffold was fitted with only 4 ties when the recommended number is 7, none of which had been pull out tested." - HSE Construction Inspector who investigated the case.
CHEMICAL COMPANY FINED £100,000 FOR CHLORINE LEAK
Posted Monday, February 21, 2005 by Ahmed Khan
Six employees of Rhodia Eco Services Ltd required treatment in hospital for the effects of chlorine exposure in a November 2003 incident at its site at Staveley, Derbyshire, which also caused disruption to the neighbouring residential community. The chlorine leak, it was established by joint HSE/ Environment Agency investigation, stemmed from deficiencies in company procedures and a failure to implement lessons from the experience of a smaller such escape of chlorine gas.
Earlier, at Chesterfield Magistrates' Court, Rhodia pleaded guilty to failing to ensure the safety of its workers, failing to ensure the safety of contractors and members of the public, and failing to ensure the process was maintained and operated by sufficiently trained and supervised staff. Additionally, it pleaded guilty to an Environment Agency charge of failing to ensure that suitably experienced, trained and supervised people carried out the process that led to the leak¹.
This week, at Derby Crown Court, Rhodia was fined a total of £100,000 with £19,902 costs.
¹ S.6(1), 23(1)(a) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 for failing to ensure that an authorised process was managed and operated by sufficient people who were suitably qualified, experienced, trained and supervised when carrying out the process.
"Rhodia should have had tightly controlled safety systems in place to prevent incidents like this - but they didn't. The company should have learned the lessons from the first leak - but they didn't. In the end, local people paid the price in disruption and distress.
Emergency services were very concerned that the situation could escalate, which could have led to local people being evacuated. Companies must have stringent controls in place when producing, storing and distributing such a highly toxic chemical. Plant, procedures and systems of work must be of the highest standard and companies must be able to demonstrate that all control measures are effective.
To avoid these problems, companies should have straightforward workable procedures and systems which are used on the plant, rather than kept in a file in the office, and all employees should be given the training and information they need to do their jobs safely." - HSE Inspector who led the investigation.
"There is no room for complacency when dealing with dangerous substances. Having written procedures is just not enough, they need to be properly implemented by the people doing the job.
Unfortunately a distinct lack of training, experience and supervision at this company lead to a major incident involving a hazardous chemical. This is just not good enough, and local people, as well as the staff who work at the company, deserve better." - Special enforcement officer for the Environment Agency.
LIDL FINED FOR FAILING TO MAINTAIN MEANS OF ESCAPE AT STORE
Posted Monday, February 21, 2005 by Ahmed Khan
West Berkshire Magistrates' Court has fined retailer, Lidl GmbH, £3,185 including costs for breaching s.3 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 for failures at its Newbury store in February 2005.
Council officials visited the store twice within one week and discovered emergency exits obstructed, a situation directly attributable to a failure to implement an adequate system of fire safety management.
"We are satisfied that the judgement is fair given the serious nature of the offence. Obstruction of emergency exits puts both staff and store customers at risk. We hope that this outcome will provide reassurance to traders who comply with the proper safety measures and send out a severe warning to those who are not." - Environmental Health Manager at West Berkshire Council.
PARTS MANUFACTURER FINED FOR RISK ASSESSMENT FAILURE
Posted Monday, February 21, 2005 by Ahmed Khan
A Leamington caravan and trailer components' manufacturer's failure to assess the risks in operating new equipment, which subsequently featured in an accident in April last year, has led to prosecution and fine by the town's Magistrates.
Al-Ko Kober, of the South Warwickshire Business Park, was fined £6,000 plus £1,060 costs for the risk assessment failure and having the equipment's moving parts inadequately guarded. The danger was recognised by several members of staff at the time of its first operation, but management were not immediately informed to permit intervention, and prevention of the severe injury to an employee's finger and the loss of the company's near-60 year prosecution-free status.
HSE BACKS SCHOOL TRIPS
Posted Monday, February 21, 2005 by Ahmed Khan
The Deputy Director General (Operations) of the HSE has made supportive comment on the merit of educational excursions organised by schools and the need to recognise the place of proportionality between the extent of risk and the level of control required.
To further inform on the issue, HSE says the report into the death of a 10-year old boy, who drowned whilst on a school trip to Glenridding Beck in 2002, will be published on HSE's website next month, on the Sensible Health and Safety part of the HSE website.
The comment follows publication yesterday of the Education select committee report on school trips.
"HSE believes that school trips are a vital part of a child's education. It would be a sad day if misplaced risk aversion deprived them of such opportunities. On the contrary, adventure activities provide the ideal opportunity to make children 'risk aware' by involving them in practical decision making in challenging environments.
HSE's views closely mirror those of the Education Select Committee. HSE will continue to champion the message that sensible health and safety is about managing risk rather than eliminating it.
We applaud those teachers and helpers who give their time and energy to follow best practice and do the job safely and properly. Long may well-planned educational visits continue." - HSE Deputy Director General (Operations).
FAILURE TO CONTROL RISKS LED TO FATAL WORKPLACE TRANSPORT ACCIDENT
Posted Monday, February 21, 2005 by Ahmed Khan
British Sugar has been fined £400,000 for breaching health and safety legislation, deemed by a Crown Court to have resulted from the company's failure to manage risks on its site at Bury St Edmunds.
In February 2003 an employee was struck and fatally injured on the premises by a loading vehicle at its animal feed warehouse operated by a contractor. The contractor, VM Plant Limited (now in liquidation), was fined £250,000.
The failure by the British Sugar to implement a system of health and safety management manifested itself in the uncontrolled risk to employees who could access an environment where there was inadequate separation of vehicles and persons.
British Sugar has since invested significant sums in health and safety at the site.
ENGINEERS' FAILURE TO ACT PUT MANY LIVES AT RISK
Posted Monday, February 21, 2005 by Ahmed Khan
Engineers failed to realise the potential danger to life posed by a leak they discovered in an air conditioning system on which they were working to identify a fault, Edinburgh Sheriff Court learned during the prosecution of the engineering company, Fisher Group of Glasgow, this week. Instead of isolating the system and raising the alarm the employees took a tea break.
The incident occurred in February 2003 at the Playfair Bar in Edinburgh's Omni leisure centre, later that day 14 occupants and two firefighters were affected by the products of combustion given off when the refrigerant vapour came into contact with a heat source, and they required treatment in hospital.
Fisher Group pleaded guilty to a breach of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 for which the Sheriff fined it £1,350.
CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY AND DIRECTOR LEADERSHIP - CASE STUDIES
Posted Monday, February 21, 2005 by Ahmed Khan
HSE has published linked web pages concerning Corporate responsibility and Director leadership. The feature on leadership at the highest level in organisations in the public, private and voluntary sector across a number of industries, gives examples by case study of the drivers, value and benefits of the appropriate leadership.
HARMONISATION OF COMMENCEMENT DATES FOR HEALTH AND SAFETY LAW
Posted Monday, February 21, 2005 by Ahmed Khan
In its first annual statement of changes to domestic occupational health and safety law the HSE informs that, from 2005, domestic changes will only be implemented on two days each year - 6th April and 1st October.
It is intended that this harmonisation should make it easier for employers and employee representatives to implement and respond to changes in occupational health and safety law and practice.
"This is what businesses say they want and HSE is pleased to be able to join the initiative at an early stage. By bringing commencement dates together, employers will be able to prepare better for changes. This should particularly benefit small firms, who do not have the resources to monitor changes to legislation.
We want to make it easier for changes to be implemented and ensure people are aware of them. We are committed to being a good partner of business and employees - today's publication is a statement of our commitment to that partnership." - HSE Director General.
SCRAPYARD PROPRIETOR FINED
Posted Saturday, February 19, 2005 by Ahmed Khan
The proprietor of Raven Motors, Hereford, has been prosecuted and fined £3,000, with £2,100 costs, at the town's Magistrates' Court for breaching health and safety legislation in the circumstances of a November 2003 workplace accident in which an employee sustained a broken leg.
The accident victim was crushed between a moving item of plant and a car, a direct result of a failure to adequately separate the movement of persons and site traffic.
ESTUARY HARVESTING - REVISED GUIDANCE
Posted Saturday, February 19, 2005 by Ahmed Khan
During February 2004, 21 Chinese cockle pickers perished in the tragic incident at Morecambe Bay. Guidelines issued by the HSE last year were revised late in 2004 to take account of lessons learned following their introduction.
The Guidelines for safe working in estuaries and tidal areas when harvesting produce such as cockles, mussels and shrimps advise on information requirements, equipment, planning, getting to the work area, lifejackets and liferafts, boats, manual handling, first aid and emergencies.
POLICE ARREST PAKISTAN INTERNATIONAL AIRLINES PILOT!
Posted Saturday, February 19, 2005 by Ahmed Khan
Greater Manchester police arrested and later released a Pakistan International Airlines pilot on suspicion of exceeding the blood alcohol limit. The pilot was removed from the aircraft as he was in preparation to fly a Boeing 747 to Karachi at the weekend. According to one account, the police may have been alerted to the danger by a hotel employee.
Aviation personnel are subject to stringent blood/alcohol limits, this meaning flight deck crew, cabin crew, and air traffic controllers, all are subject to a limit of 20mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood. Existing legislation makes it an offence for pilots and other members of the crew of an aircraft, air traffic controllers or licensed aircraft maintenance engineers, to carry out their duties while impaired through alcohol or drugs.
The new limits apply to all pilots, cabin crew, air traffic controllers and licensed aircraft maintenance engineers within the UK, regardless of nationality, and to the crews of UK-registered aircraft anywhere in the world.
Because people can naturally produce trace amounts of alcohol, this limit represents the lowest point at which it is possible to be sure that alcohol has been imbibed.
Aviation personnel face a maximum £5,000 fine and/or two years in jail if found to be over the limit.
SART - SICKNESS ABSENCE RECORDING TOOL
Posted Saturday, February 19, 2005 by Ahmed Khan
In pursuance of its need to determine the success of its occupational health strategy for Great Britain - Securing Health Together - which seeks to achieve a 30% reduction, by 2010, in the number of work days lost due to work-related ill-health, and for the purpose of providing information on possible interventions, HSE has funded an Institute of Occupational Medicine study to devise a standardised recording system for sickness absence.
The overall aim of the work programme was to design, develop and validate suitable tools for recording sickness-absence, including the recording system, a classification system to allow the systematic coding of causes of absence, and provide non-specialist guidance to assist with sickness absence management more generally.
The report, Managing health at work – recording and monitoring information on sickness absence including work relatedness, has successfully provided a sickness absence recording tool system, classification scheme and sickness absence management guidance materials.
Issues and potential methods for the ongoing development and distribution of the tools are presented.
HEALTHY HANDLING 2005 INITIATIVE UNDERWAY SOON
Posted Saturday, February 19, 2005 by Ahmed Khan
HEALTHY HANDLING 2005, the construction industry initiative, will see HSE's Construction Division inspectors blitz visit sites, with a GB-wide focus on what clients, designers, planning supervisors and contractors are doing to prevent work-related ill health in construction arising from handling materials.
During the March 2005 activity inspectors will focus on: Order and organisation, fundamental to occupational health management; Lifting and carrying, manual handling of materials and equipment can cause back injury and muscle strain; Wet cement, skin contact may lead to dermatitis and burns; Hand-held vibrating tools, power tools can cause hand-arm vibration syndrome e.g. white finger, and/or hearing loss.
To help duty holders, HSE has published guidance relating to sensible precautions that Inspectors will expect to find where hazards are present.
HSE says enforcement action, including prohibition of work and prosecution, is possible where effective precautions are not in place, similarly, intervention is likely where clients, designers or planning supervisors, have not complied with their CDM duties.
POOR ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT OF HEALTH RISKS
Last year's second week of the Healthy Handling construction blitz in London and the South East saw inspectors issue 66 enforcement notices on around 350 sites, the picture emerged of construction clients, designers and contractors requiring to improve their assessment and management of health risks.
Inspectors issued 40 enforcement notices prohibiting work or requiring improvements on matters relating to the initiative, and on a number of projects there was an agreed cessation of work activity until improvements had been effected. Inspectors found cement use without proper facilities for washing, heavy loads being handled in an unsafe manner, and vibrating tools being used when the user was unaware of the safe exposure period.
A further 26 enforcement notices were issued concerning basic safety risks arising from work at height and moving plant and vehicles.
CDM - SELECTION OF DESIGNERS AND CONTRACTORS
Posted Saturday, February 19, 2005 by Ahmed Khan
If you have something to say concerning the selection of designers and contractors, or perhaps are appointed as designers or contractors on projects to which the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 1994 apply, a researcher working on an HSE-funded project would like to hear your views on current practice. In particular, responses would be valued from institutions and trade bodies on practice, the legislation, ACOP text, and how these might be improved.
The focus is on the ‘competence and resource’ requirements of the CDM Regulations (Regs 8, 9) and to propose changes to guidance.
More information is available at HSE.
LOCAL AUTHORITY AND SENIOR EMPLOYEE FACE MANSLAUGHTER CHARGES
Posted Saturday, February 19, 2005 by Ahmed Khan
Barrow Borough Council and one of its senior employees appeared in court last week charged with manslaughter and breaches of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 relating to the summer 2002 outbreak of Legionnaires' Disease in the town which, it is alleged, was centred on a Council-owned property in the town. Seven died in the outbreak.
The alleged offences are expected to occupy at least several weeks of court time. The case will generate intense interest among other local authorities, but especially of managers who have a responsibility to ensure property water systems remain sufficiently free of legionella bacteria to prevent an outbreak.
LOCAL AUTHORITY AND SENIOR EMPLOYEE FACE MANSLAUGHTER CHARGES
Posted Saturday, February 19, 2005 by Ahmed Khan
Barrow Borough Council and one of its senior employees appear in court this week charged with manslaughter and breaches of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 relating to the summer 2002 outbreak of Legionnaires' Disease in the town which, it is alleged, was centred on a Council-owned property in the town. Seven died in the outbreak.
The alleged offences are expected to occupy at least several weeks of court time. The case will generate intense interest among other local authorities, but especially of managers who have a responsibility to ensure property water systems remain sufficiently free of legionella bacteria to prevent an outbreak.
NORTH HERTFORDSHIRE AND STEVENAGE PREPARES FOR 'BACKS WEEK'
Posted Saturday, February 19, 2005 by Ahmed Khan
Businesses, schools and community organisations in North Hertfordshire and Stevenage are being invited to have their say on a special 'Backs Week', commencing on 13th June, to raise awareness of ways to prevent back injury and combat back pain which costs the NHS, business and the economy an estimated £5 billion per year, including working days lost and sickness benefits paid.
In preparation the North Hertfordshire and Stevenage Accident Prevention Group is staging a Stakeholder Day this coming Thursday, February 10th, hosted by GlaxoSmithKline in Stevenage.
'Backs Week' is actively supported by the accident prevention group, employers, trade unions and community representatives, who are working together to raise awareness of the risk of injuries caused by incorrect manual handling and bad postural habits, and the most appropriate treatments and rehabilitation. The week will feature various activities run by members of the group, including: a Safety and Health Awareness Day for small and medium-sized businesses; school visits to talk to students about carrying heavy bags and newspaper deliveries; manual handling seminars for home carers and workers; targeted inspections by Stevenage Borough Council, North Herts District Council and HSE, focusing on moving and handling.
Stakeholder day is intended to engage other key organisations who might consider: running training courses for their employees;
introducing new ways of working or new handling equipment; examining their accident history and risk assessments and develop a risk reduction plan; or sponsor a poster competition for school children.
Phone HSE on 01582 444200 to find out more or attend the event.
"We want as many people and organisations as possible to help us raise awareness of back pain and what can be done to avoid it. We are inviting local companies, trades union representatives and other interested organisations to meet us at the stakeholder engagement event to hear more about the issue and to work with us to develop more activities to be held during Backs Week." - Assistant Director of Public Health at North Herts & Stevenage PCT and Chair of the Accident Prevention Group.
"Every year the HSE and local authorities receive thousands of reports of accidents, when someone has injured their back at work while lifting or handling - most of these accidents could have been avoided. The result of just one accident like this, particularly if the injury is not treated effectively soon afterwards, can be permanent disability, long term pain and/or an inability to continue working.
Simple safety measures could prevent so many accidents in the workplace and save both the employer and employee a lot of pain and expense." - HSE representative.
LAW CATCHES UP WITH UNQUALIFIED GAS FITTER
Posted Saturday, February 19, 2005 by Ahmed Khan
Milton Keynes Magistrates' Court has prosecuted a local gas fitter who pleaded guilty to breaching the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998.
Despite being removed from the Council of Registered Gas Installers (CORGI) in 1997, he fitted a combination boiler in a premises in Milton Keynes during August 2002, placing him in breach of the legislation, for which he was fined a total of £3,500, with costs of £1,000.
"The man's fines properly reflect the seriousness of his lack of competence to undertake gas fitting work and his non-registration with CORGI. HSE is pleased that this matter has now been concluded. CORGI registration remains an effective way to ensure that persons who undertake gas fitting work meet a satisfactory level of training and experience." - HM Inspector of Safety and Health.
HAVE YOUR SAY ON BAD DRIVING PUNISHMENTS
Posted Friday, February 4, 2005 by Ahmed Khan
A Government consultation paper, Review of Road Traffic Offences Involving Bad Driving, has been published containing proposals for tougher measures to deal with bad or illegal driving. Existing laws have been reviewed and the following proposals are made:
new offences (max sentences of 5 years imprisonment) of causing death by careless driving and death resulting from illegal (disqualified or unlicensed) driving; a requirement for courts to take serious injuries into account when sentencing; and an alternative verdict of guilty for statutory offences to be available to the courts when the offence of manslaughter is not proved.
The Government is committed to increasing the maximum sentence for the offence of dangerous driving from 2 to 5 years, there are also proposals to extend the use of community sentences for a number of driving offences which currently result in a court fine or a short term of imprisonment.
Responses can be made before 6th May 2005.
"Our proposals today, which we aim to take forward in legislation, seek to strike the right balance between the level of criminal culpability on the part of the bad or illegal driver and the devastation that their action may cause.
Too many of those who have been disqualified from driving by a court or who drive without an appropriate licence put other road users at risk by taking a vehicle out on the road in clear breach of both the law and their responsibilities to other road users. It is right that they should be held accountable for any consequences that may result, irrespective of the standard of the driving involved." - Home Office Minister.
"RoadPeace, the UK's charity for road traffic victims, has been calling for many years for an end to using minor traffic charges in response to culpable road deaths and injuries. But our long wait for action will require that the laws that will finally replace the inappropriate summary charges bring justice and serve as a deterrent. We hope will be the outcome of the Government's present consultation on road traffic offences involving bad driving." - founder of RoadPeace.
CATERING EQUIPMENT PLACED STAFF IN DANGER
Posted Friday, February 4, 2005 by Ahmed Khan
A 30-year-old fish frying range at The Right Plaice chip shop in Ipswich, Suffolk, was left by the installing company in a dangerous condition last February, a matter that only came to light when the proprietors and staff began developing symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning. Investigation by HSE inspectors also established that the equipment presented an unacceptable fire and explosion risk.
At South East Suffolk Magistrates' Court, Caterquip (UK) Ltd, of The Equipment Warehouse, Peterborough, pleaded guilty to breaching S.3 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 for which it was fined £10,000 with £1,100 costs.
An employee of Caterquip pleaded guilty to breaching S.7 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and 3 breaches of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1988 (the GSIU Regulations), for which he was fined £500, with £200 costs. Another employee of the same firm pleaded guilty to one breach of the GSIU Regulations and was fined £140 and ordered to pay £100 costs.
DETERRENT
Between them, in breach of the GSIU Regulations, the men had:
carried out work, including repair of pan bottoms and adjustment of burners on the Frank Ford fish fryer without being competent to do so; installed the fryer in such a manner that it could not be used without constituting a fire risk, explosion danger or carbon monoxide poisoning to the persons using it or in the vicinity; and installed the fryer to a power-operated flue without wiring the electricity supply so as to effectively prevent the operation of the appliance in the event that the draught failed.
"The court has recognised the importance of ensuring that all gas work is conducted to rigorous standards. The level of fine reflects the risk to both the proprietors of the shop and its customers. Hopefully this case will act as a deterrent to others." - HSE inspector.
PLEASE NOTE:
The company referred to in this article (Caterquip (UK) Ltd) of Peterborough is not connected in any way with CATERQUIP (GB) LTD OF BLYTH, NORTHUMBERLAND.
WHITEBOARDS - GOOD PRACTICE ADVICE
Posted Friday, February 4, 2005 by Ahmed Khan
A variety of stories have appeared in recent days concerning the possible dangers to persons' eyes in the vicinity of whiteboards, these projecting devices which are becoming increasingly popular in education.
Several bodies offer very detailed advice, the HSE has published an advisory web page - Interactive whiteboards - with what it considers to be good practice in respect of the provision of these projectors by employers in the education sector. It has links to other bodies offering comprehensive advice on safe use.
STEVENAGE FIRE TRAGEDY
Posted Friday, February 4, 2005 by Ahmed Khan
Investigation by police, the HSE, and both the Herts Fire and Rescue Service and the Fire Brigade Union (FBU), continues into yesterday's fire at the Harrow Court residential tower block in Stevenage, Herts, which claimed the lives of a resident and two firefighters in their 20's as they attempted a rescue.
The fire broke out on the 14th level of the 17-storey tower at around 3am and developed a great intensity, of the 7 persons of the 70 evacuated who were taken to hospital, one is said to remain in a critical condition.
The FBU says almost 50 firefighters have died while tackling fires since the mid-70s.
FREE HEALTH AND SAFETY ADVICE INITIATIVE BACKED BY £20M FUNDING
Posted Friday, February 4, 2005 by Ahmed Khan
A ground-breaking pilot scheme, Workplace Health Direct, is to provide free expert health and safety advice to small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs). The scheme, announced by the Department for Work and Pensions, will be operated by the HSE and, additionally, will offer support on preventing work-related ill health and getting people back to work.
Workplace Health Direct pilots are to feature:
free telephone work-related health, safety and return to work advice for employers and workers; free workplace visits; a dedicated website; problem-solving advice, for example, on how to assess and manage workplace risks, including help with returning to work;
advice on specialist support from other professionals, such as physiotherapists and ergonomists;
a problem-solving service, which will signpost employers to specialist help; and a national free advice line.
Next month HSE will be seeking expressions of interest from organisations to deliver the pilots in up to 6 regions across the country, the pilots, to commence in early 2006, will be delivered locally, and supported by a national telephone helpline and website. Look out for information events for organisations interested in building partnerships to bid for running regional pilots.
"This is good news for British business and for people who need help getting back into work after ill health.
Work-related illness and injury accounts for around 39 million working days lost every year and more than 2 million people attribute their health problems to their work. Given the right support many conditions, such as back pain, can be managed before becoming a barrier to work.
Workplace Help Direct will play a vital role in helping people return to work quickly, reducing the burden on the NHS and lowering the chance of people ending up on incapacity benefit." - Secretary of State.
"The people best placed to manage risks to health in the workplace are managers and their staff. They do this best by working together and Workplace Health Direct will offer the support needed to achieve this." - Chair of the Health and Safety Commission.
MCA FOCUS ON COCKLING ACTIVITY
Posted Friday, February 4, 2005 by Ahmed Khan
The Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) says that during the 12 months passing since the Morecombe Bay tragedy, it has responded to dozens of incidents involving cocklers, co-ordinated by the Liverpool Coastguard, many have required services from rescue units, such as lifeboats and Coastguard Rescue Teams. Some resulted in the rescue of individuals, others proved to be false alarms, although well-intentioned; an inevitable consequence of the current high profile nature of this activity.
Some benefits have accrued - the raising of the public's awareness of the MCA's role as an emergency service and 999 organisation, a closer rapport with the more safety conscious cocklers, encouraging them to call the marine emergency service before going onto the beach, and early, if they foresee a problem.
The greatest effect has been in the area of multi-agency working, leaving all concerned in a better position to deal with any maritime/coastal emergency in Lancashire and Cumbria. This is enabled through the work of the Joint Liaison Group (facilitated by the North West and North Wales Sea Fisheries Committee) which has fostered the sharing of information and intelligence about daily activity on the beach and offshore.
HANTS TRANSPORT, STORAGE AND DISTRIBUTION SAFETY BLITZ IMMINENT
Posted Friday, February 4, 2005 by Ahmed Khan
Five local authorities in the Southampton area, and the HSE, are deploying scores of inspectors as they mount the largest ever campaign in the region to improve health & safety, targeting firms engaged in the following activities: transport; storage and distribution, including logistics and storage companies; parcel carriers; couriers; builders merchants; wholesalers; distribution depots for major retailers, drinks & food distributors; removal firms; and home delivery organisations.
Over 150 sites in Southampton and the surrounding area will be visited, especially sites handling large quantities of goods generating a great number of vehicles movements, but they say smaller operations will not be neglected.
HAZARDS
The inspecting officials will ascertain how well risks are being controlled in relation to the following:
workplace transport - lorries in the yard or fork lift trucks and other vehicles; the risk of back injuries etc. from the lifting and carrying of goods, either in a warehouse or depot, or when delivering building materials, furniture etc. to customers; falls from heights, especially from lorries during loading, connecting up and sheeting, and from high level storage systems; slips and trips from things left lying around, spillages & uneven floors, and in refrigerated warehouses etc.
Unfortunately considerable enforcement action will result from an exercise of this scale, in instances where dutyholders are discovered to be putting people at significant risk. The officials are also on the lookout for examples of best practice, to promulgate the latter.
"HSE and LAs share common goals to reduce the toll of injuries and ill-health at work. Though there are some differences in our backgrounds and responsibilities, we are increasingly seeking to exploit the many benefits of working together. In this initiative we will be able to follow the transport chain through and look at an organisation's activities from when it receives the goods until when it delivers them instead of HSE and LAs each dealing with each bit independently." - Head of the HSE's National HSE-LA Partnership Programme.
YOUNG ROMANIAN WORKER DIED IN AVOIDABLE WORKPLACE ACCIDENT
Posted Friday, February 4, 2005 by Ahmed Khan
The Principal Contractor, contractor and structural consultant engineer on a London construction project, have been prosecuted for failing to meet duties under health and safety law in connection with the death in an industrial accident of a 22-year-old Romanian worker in February 2001.
The young man was standing in an excavation beneath a section of wall at St Mary's Church, Bryanston Square, London, W1, while refurbishment work was in progress. Part of the work necessitated the lowering of the crypt floor, which required the foundations to be reformed below their existing level using underpinning. This was achieved by excavating beneath the existing foundations in short sections and casting concrete pins underneath the wall, but during this activity a 1.5 tonne section fell onto the accident victim from the underside of an unsupported wall.
FINES
At London's Southwark Crown Court, the structural consultant, Lindsay Barr Associates of Chesham, Buckinghamshire, was found guilty of breaching S.3(2) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 resulting in a fine of £45,000 with costs of £30,000.
Principal contractor David O'Keefe & Co Ltd, of Prince George's Road, London, was fined £25,000, with costs of £15,000, for breaching: S.3(1) and S.3(2) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974; S.16(1)(a) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 1994; and r.9(1) of the Construction (Health Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1996.
Contractor Britin Construction Ltd of Aylesford, Kent, was fined £25,000, with costs of £15,000, for breaching: S.2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974; r.3(1) of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999; and r.9(1) of the Construction (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1996.
"Whilst welcoming the verdict handed down by the court today, the fact remains that a young man died in an incident that could have easily been avoided, had appropriate and straight forward safety measures been in place.
The untimely death came about through the failure to take appropriate action in relation to a potential risk in the underpinning work, that had been brought to the attention of both the structural engineer and the contractors. The possible risks should have been addressed by uncomplicated measures including a detailed structural investigation, suitable and sufficient risk assessments and adequate protective measures, such as propping of the foundations." - HSE investigating inspector.
WHICH? - CONSTRUCTION FALL PREVENTION AND ARREST EQUIPMENT
Posted Friday, February 4, 2005 by Ahmed Khan
To assist you if you ever have to decide which type of available fall prevention and arrest equipment is appropriate for an activity or project, you can now access a critical appraisal of the following:
purlin trolley systems;
safety decking;
fall arrest mats;
safety netting;
cable and track-based fall arrest systems; and
NASC’s publication SG4:00: The Use of Fall Arrest Equipment when Erecting, Altering and Dismantling Scaffold
The information comes courtesy of HSE-funded work, reported on by the Glasgow Caledonian University School of the Built and Natural Environment - A technical guide to the selection and use of fall prevention and arrest equipment. The views and experience of others were sought by the researchers, the need to design out risk where possible, and the principles of the hierarchy of risk control, should always be heeded.
EVIDENCE OF SUCCESS OF REGIONAL WORKPLACE TRANSPORT SAFETY CAMPAIGN
Posted Friday, February 4, 2005 by Ahmed Khan
Last Autumn's largest ever workplace transport safety campaign conducted by HSE, the local authorities in Kent and Medway, and Kent Police, appears to have secured significant improvements in transport safety throughout the region and beyond.
The Safe site, safe driver & safe vehicle initiative targeted the food supply chain, as Kent contains a high concentration of food producers and consumers and has a role as a major transport gateway to the rest of England.
It comprised of: media coverage that reached around 1.5 million people; more than 80 inspectors/officers who accomplished 475 inspections; static and mobile police checks removing 50 dangerous vehicles from the highways; the serving of 108 enforcement notices on a wide range of transport safety issues requiring employers to segregate vehicles and pedestrians, adequately maintain vehicles, plan and organise their transport movements, and risk assess transport operations; and the gathering from HGV drivers of valuable information about dangerous sites, poor training, and lack of supervision, which were followed up by the agencies.
As a direct result of the agencies' work larger employers made improvements across other sites in the UK, tackling issues of segregation, physical separation features, access, training, lighting and signage.
OPEN MEETING FOR TEXTILES AND FOOTWEAR INDUSTRIES ON CONTROLLING NOISE
Posted Friday, February 4, 2005 by Ahmed Khan
The Textiles Industry Advisory Committee (TEXIAC) is to hold an open meeting in Leicester to offer the textiles and footwear industries practical advice and provide an opportunity to share best practice on the subjects of controlling noise from machines and managing a hearing protection scheme. The meeting takes place at Leicester Tigers Welford Road Ground, Welford Road, Leicester LE2 7TR, on Wednesday 16th March at 10.30am, anyone wishing to attend can email wendie.drammeh@hse.gsi.gov.uk.
HSE's Self-reported Work-related Illness survey in 2003/04 found an estimated 81,000 people in Great Britain who believed they were suffering from a hearing problem caused or made worse by their current or past work, read more general advice on the subject at its website at http://www.hse.gov.uk/noise/index.htm
MIDLANDS WORKER SUFFERED DISABLING WORKPLACE ACCIDENT
Posted Friday, February 4, 2005 by Ahmed Khan
Conway Packing Services Ltd of Tipton, Staffs, has pleaded guilty to breaching the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 in the circumstances of an April 2004 workplace accident at Wellman Robey engineering works, Oldbury, in which an employee sustained multiple fractures while handling a 400Kg packaging crate which fell on him.
The company was fined £12,000 with £800 costs.
INSURERS BACK CONSTRUCTION OH SCHEME WITH MONEY
Posted Friday, February 4, 2005 by Ahmed Khan
The Association of British Insurers (ABI), the trade association for Britain's insurance industry whose member companies provide over 97% of the insurance business in the UK, is to give £100,000 this year to Constructing Better Health (CBH), the construction industry's occupational health pilot scheme.
CBH is an HSE facilitated initiative to pilot a regional occupational health support service that offers free advice and support to construction projects in Leicester, offering both employees and employers in the Leicestershire area: best-practice management solutions to reduce exposure to key health risks; free on-site risk assessments for construction employers; a source of free advice and guidance; and a gateway to further specialist support, if required.
HSE says a similar sum may be forthcoming from ABI for 2006. The CBH Board of Directors seeks to raise a further £450,000 to fund the project, any organisation wishing to contribute can make a donation direct to B&CE Charitable Trust (fund holders for the project) or directly through CBH.
Sums donated are classed as charitable donations and therefore an allowable expense against net profits.
Prior to the ABI's pledge, £650,000 had been raised or pledged through B&CE Benefit Schemes (£200K); Department of Work and Pensions (£200K);HSE (£200K); Department of Trade and Industry (£25K); UCATT (£20K); and Edmund Nuttall (£5K).
"This is fantastic news, this project is probably one of the most important initiatives that the industry has undertaken in recent years. The ABI's generous offer of support shows the commitment to improving occupational health across our industry." - CBH Chair
"The CBH Board of Directors will be approaching the construction industry appealing to their strong sense of corporate social responsibility. Contributing to this project will not only have long-term benefits for the industry as a whole, but will enhance the contributors' reputations as exemplary contractors, employers or suppliers." - speaking on behalf of the CBH Board.
"The insurance industry remains committed to encouraging improvements in occupational health. This contribution reflects the importance of the pilot scheme. We hope that other contributions will soon be forthcoming so that the project can quickly progress." - Head of General Insurance at ABI.
WELSH FARM WORKER - ACCIDENTAL DEATH VERDICT
Posted Friday, February 4, 2005 by Ahmed Khan
An inquest jury has determined a verdict of accidental death in an accident during March 2003 in which a farm worker was crushed by a trailer when it fell 7 metres into a gravel pit while he and a colleague were feeding sheep. The pair were working, one on the tractor the other standing on the trailer which it pulled, when the tractor wheel ran over a loose embankment above the pit on the land they farmed at Llithfaen, Gwynedd. The embankment failed beneath the weight of the tractor's wheel, both vehicles and men dropped into the pit, the dead man sustained fatal head injuries when the falling trailer crushed him.
HSE OFFICIAL ASSAULTED ON BUILDING SITE
Posted Friday, February 4, 2005 by Ahmed Khan
The owner of a Hartlepool building company has been found guilty of assault and criminal damage in a September 2003 incident in which an HSE inspector received facial injury when he approached the man with advice concerning a scaffolding structure on his site, a structure he believed to be unsafe.
The prosecution evidence conveyed to Hartlepool Magistrates' Court described how the builder, who maintains his innocence but now faces a possible custodial sentence next month, reacted aggressively to the approach, striking the inspector about the head and upper-body.
EMPLOYEE PROSECUTED FOR BREACH OF HEALTH & SAFETY REGULATIONS
Posted Friday, February 4, 2005 by Ahmed Khan
A local authority instigated prosecution has resulted in a fine of £1,000, with £500 costs, for a former employee of Lion House Park, Hailsham, Sussex.
Investigation by officials of Wealden District Council established that the man, who operated a mini-excavator, did so contrary to the express instruction of his employer, and without the benefit of adequate training or risk assessment, on unsuitable rubble-strewn land, as a result of which the machine became unstable and overturned. The man sustained injury in the incident, his reckless actions were considered to have placed two colleagues in immediate danger of serious injury.
He pleaded guilty at Eastbourne Magistrates' Court to breaching S.7 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.
WORK OF BRADFORD AREA OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY FORUM RECOGNISED IN HIGH PLACES
Posted Friday, February 4, 2005 by Ahmed Khan
An occupational health and safety forum was presented with a top award at the House Of Lords last week.
The work of the Bradford Area Occupational Health and Safety Forum, a partnership of HSE and public, private, voluntary and Trade Union organisations, has earned it the National Health and Safety Group Council's Alan Butler Award for the best seminar for their Securing Healthy Occupations Together event held during October's Safety Week.
More than 160 attended the Bradford Forum's seminar held to raise the awareness of the dangers on construction sites, featuring workshops on construction safety, rehabilitation, occupational health and the NHS, corporate social responsibility and the occupational health of ethnic minorities.
In the eyes of the judges, the Forum's choice of subject matter, content, calibre of speakers, attendance numbers and value for money, earned it the accolade of The Alan Butler Memorial Award For Excellence 2004, that aims to encourage high standards of work in individual Health and Safety Groups through the National Health and Safety Groups Council, an affiliated group of RoSPA (The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents).
Group representatives attended the House of Lords as guests of Lord Braugham & Vaux CBE.
"This award reflects all the hard work that everybody has done in organising the seminar" - Chair of the Bradford Area Occupational Health and Safety Forum
"HSE is delighted to have been involved with this event, we are committed to being a good partner and to working with others to improve health and safety" - HSE.
NI CONTRACTOR AND OPERATOR OF CRANE FINED OVER SITE DEATH
Posted Friday, February 4, 2005 by Ahmed Khan
J. Kennedy and Co (Contractors) Ltd has been prosecuted and fined over the death during 2001 in a construction site accident of a man struck by a falling load of steel reinforcement.
The Antrim building contractor pleaded guilty and was fined £25,000 for breaching health and safety legislation in the circumstances of the lifting operation, HSENI was critical of the arrangements for establishing a safety zone and slinger training.
The tragedy occurred during the construction of Coleraine's Diamond Shopping Centre, the crane operator, who was self-employed, was also prosecuted and fined £10,000.