LONDON UNDERGROUND REPORT SPELLS OUT KEY AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT
Posted Sunday, November 30, 2003 by Ahmed Khan
The London Underground Final Investigation Report into the derailment of a Piccadilly line train at Hammersmith station on October 17 caused by a broken rail has outlined key areas for improvement to be addressed by LU and Metronet, who maintain the Piccadilly line track at Hammersmith.
The report's Executive summary states that "it is clear that the current patrolling, ultrasonic inspection and testing regime would not have found the initiating crack."
Underlying root causes have been identified and are being addressed.
Areas for action include: improvement of the technology and inspection regime for ultrasonic testing, improvement of the track inspection regime which must be risk-based, the underlying Track Asset condition needs to be addressed as quickly as possible - asset management systems supporting maintenance teams being brought up to best practice, track maintenance organisation needs to be reviewed and enhanced to feature appropriate technical skills and resources, the current organisational culture has been identified as having two major deficiencies that need to be addressed by the following - the fostering of a learning culture to learn and address root causes of incidents and put actions in place to ensure that this happens, as key lessons have not been learnt from previous similar incidents; and the improvement of safety leadership by all parties to ensure best practice.
"This Report acknowledges, candidly and openly, that the Piccadilly line track had been in a poor condition for some years. A broken rail was the cause of the derailment, but had the track been maintained to modern standards, the derailment may have been avoided.
I will be working with Metronet to ensure that we implement the recommendations from this Report & accelerate the work we are doing to improve our track, especially on this stretch of the Piccadilly line.
This Report is a big step forward in coming to grips with the underfunded Tube system that we inherited. The Mayor and Bob Kiley have stressed that they expect me to uncover and resolve the issues such as those that led to the Hammersmith derailment." - Tim O'Toole London Underground Managing Director.
OCHEN PORAZITELNY!
Posted Sunday, November 30, 2003 by Ahmed Khan
The recent HSE blitz visits to growers operating along the M62 corridor last month resulted in little enforcement with only 3 Prohibition Notices relating to the use of a chain saw without protective equipment, unsafe machinery -power harrows, and a broken ladder.
4 Improvement Notices were required relating to pesticide storage (2), machinery guarding, and examination of lifting equipment.
7 inspectors were deployed for one month, 104 sites were visited and 69 preventative inspections conducted.
The blitz was the third of a rolling programme being carried out in Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire.
The next target will be sheep farms in the region during January 2004.
"The range of sites visited included small family firms supplying garden vegetables, soft fruits and plants for sale at local markets, florists and garden centres. Unfortunately, some had gone out of business but others had only recently attended our successful Safety Awareness Day at Wigfield Farm (Barnsley College) on 7 October. I believe that this resulted in the relatively low number of enforcement notices that we served. At the top end of the range were some very large growers who have major contracts for raising plants for export and who supply salad crops to large supermarket chains. Some were using novel approaches to deal with the potentially hazardous problems of working on glass house roofs and for moving dutch trolleys of plants. - Rosemary Bricis HSE inspector who organised the blitz.
"Our blitz took place at the end of the growing season but nevertheless it revealed the extent to which some of our growers now make use of workers from overseas. At one site alone one of my Inspectors found employees from Poland, Russia, Bielorussia, Kosova and Iraq. Other nationalities were found elsewhere and most were on government sponsored schemes, although some had come via local employment agencies.
It came as a pleasant surprise to one of my Inspectors when he was presented with a firm's health and safety policy statement and risk assessments that had been translated into Russian. This is the sort of positive response we are expecting from growers who employ foreign workers. Our health and safety law applies equally to them, and it also extends to the provision of appropriate standards of fire safety when accommodation is provided for these guest workers." - Keith King HSE Principal Inspector who led the team of Inspectors.
UV IRRADIATION MIGHT BE ANSWER TO OFFICE SICKNESS
Posted Sunday, November 30, 2003 by Ahmed Khan
Research led by Dick Menzies at McGill University in Montreal would appear to demonstrate that there may be considerable value in irradiating the air-conditioning systems of workplace accommodation within so called 'sick buildings' with UV-light.
The researchers found that the installation of UV germicidal irradiation (UVGI) lamps in the air-conditioning of office blocks produced a reduction in reported symptoms of respiratory irritation of 40%.
Read more at the New Scientist - Ultraviolet light can cure 'sick buildings'.
JOINT HSE/LA INSPECTION BLITZ TOMORROW IN TEWKESBURY'S INDUSTRIAL ESTATES
Posted Sunday, November 30, 2003 by Ahmed Khan
Inspectors from the HSE, working with Tewkesbury Council's Environmental Health unit colleagues, will visit Tewkesbury's industrial estates on the 1st and 2nd of December. The aim is to make an impact on business health and safety performance by advising and perhaps resorting to enforcement to assist companies with improvements. Hundreds of workplaces in the area are being targeted.
It is estimated that in the Gloucestershire manufacturing and services industries in the last statistical year there were 946 reported workplace injuries of which 218 were serious. Inspectors will be reminding Tewkesbury's employers that failure to report major injuries and over-three-day injuries is a criminal offence which could lead to prosecution.
HSE's aim is to reduce the number of incidents by advising businesses, inspecting workplaces and enforcing the law.
"We will be specifically focusing on the main killers in the workplace: falls from height; workplace transport; and unsafe machinery. We will also be looking at the other main causes of absence and ill-health in the workplace, mainly caused by slips and trips, manual handling, excessive noise and exposure to substances that can cause asthma. Nine times out of ten, we simply find ourselves offering helpful advice and guidance. However, depending on the risks we come across, we may decide to serve an Improvement Order asking for a rectification of the problem. If we think that there is a serious risk of injury or harm we will not hesitate to serve a Prohibition Order to stop the work until improvements are made." - Nigel Chambers Principal Inspector.
CHILD KILLED IN SCHOOL GROUNDS CAR ACCIDENT
Posted Sunday, November 30, 2003 by Ahmed Khan
North Wales Police, Gwynedd Council and the HSE are investigating the tragic death of Huw Emyr Roberts, 2, in the grounds of Ysgol Cymerau primary school in Pwllheli. The child died after his pushchair was struck by a teacher's car as the school was opening for the day.
In common with most schools, parents delivering children, employees arriving for work and school buses can create serious hazard inside and outside schools unless physical segregation is provided and enforced.
ROYAL COLLEGES AND THEIR FACULTIES CONFIRM NEED FOR BAN ON SMOKING IN PUBLIC PLACES
Posted Sunday, November 30, 2003 by Ahmed Khan
The UK’s medical Royal Colleges and their Faculties say the time has come for the government to legislate to make public places smoke free.
The case is presented in the Royal College of Physicians publication Tobacco Smoke Pollution: The Hard Facts and publicised in a letter from College President Carol Black and others published in today’s Times newspaper.
It cites: the damage caused by passive smoking - an estimated 1,000 deaths in adults each year plus asthma, lung infections and middle ear disease in children & how, if all workplaces currently permitting smoking in Britain became smoke free, an estimated 300,000 people would quit smoking eventually saving more than 150,000 lives.
Concern is expressed for the plight of workers in the hospitality industry where smoke exposure is still very high and poses a particular risk. The highly respected medical body maintains that most public places are somebody’s workplace, and that "all have a right to freedom from tobacco smoke pollution."
FALL FROM HEIGHT ACCIDENT
Posted Sunday, November 30, 2003 by Ahmed Khan
HSE is investigating an accident that occurred in the early hours of Sunday 16th November at the former GPO building in Edinburgh's Waterloo Place where it is reported that a construction worker sustained major injury in a 10-metre fall from scaffolding, landing on the permanent way below.
According to one account, the injured man was not an employee of main contractor Balfour Beatty, but was employed by a contracting organisation.
DO YOU HAVE A LPG-FUELLED MOTOR VEHICLE?
Posted Thursday, November 27, 2003 by Ahmed Khan
There are increasing numbers of LPG- fuelled vehicles on our roads. To assist operators and owners new safety guidance - Safe working with LPG-fuelled motor vehicles, INDG 387, has been published by the HSE to help those working on them to do so safely.
The leaflet, produced by the Motor Vehicle Repair (MVR) Health and Safety Forum, explains the main safety and health risks associated with work on these vehicles fuelled with liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and is aimed at employers, the self-employed, and employees in the motor vehicle repair, recovery and breaking industries who are likely to carry out any work which may affect the LPG fuel system. It does not cover work on the fuel system itself.
The leaflet folds out so it can be used as a poster for display in MVR garages and other places where anyone is likely to work on these vehicles.
Further information about health and safety in motor vehicle repair can be found on HSE's website www.hse.gov.uk/mvr .
Copies of Safe working with LPG-fuelled motor vehicles, INDG 387, can be ordered free of charge online at HSE Books .
"There are currently over 80,000 vehicles on our roads fuelled with LPG. It is important that those concerned have been fully trained to understand the risks and the precautions to be taken". - John Powell, Head of Engineering in HSE's Manufacturing Sector and Chair of the MVR Forum
SEARCH FOR ALTERNATIVE TO GLUTARALDEHYDE GAINS AWARD
Posted Thursday, November 27, 2003 by Ahmed Khan
Essex Rivers Healthcare NHS Trust in common with others has used glutaraldehyde as the chemical sterilant of first choice to clean principally endoscopy instruments in its hospitals. Unfortunately its long-term use and exposure can result in asthma, and the Trust set out to find a safer but effective alternative.
The Trust now uses an oxidised saline solution system to sterilise its endoscopes and its efforts along the way have earned it a major European award for good practice in safety and health at work for removing the hazardous chemical and replacing it with a far safer non-toxic alternative.
INNOVATIVE CONTRIBUTION
Essex Rivers Healthcare NHS Trust Risk Manager, Nigel Holt, collected the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work award this week in Bilbao. This and other awards recognise organisations that have made outstanding or innovative contributions to the protection of workers from dangerous substances.
Two British companies were similarly recognised by the Agency - Commendations were made to: Kent Art Printers of Chatham, for their removal of alcohol from the lithographic print process & to Baggeridge Brick plc of Kidderminster for their installation of water suppression units.
For more information visit www.hse.gov.uk/campaigns/ and www.osha.eu.int/ew2003/ .
"The Trust started to look for a safer alternative to glutaraldehyde when it became clear that long term exposure could pose health problems to staff. Meanwhile, using glutaraldehyde safely was creating ever-increasing costs. Its removal was unanimously welcomed by staff, who noticed an immediate improvement in their working environment. Patients also benefit as the equipment used during surgery is now subjected to high-level disinfection, meeting all microbiological requirements."- Nigel Holt, the Trust's Risk Manager
"This is an excellent example of a hospital trust protecting its staff from the serious health risks caused by using glutaraldehyde - a major cause of occupational asthma. I warmly congratulate them. Their decision to change from glutaraldehyde to a safer substitute was taken after looking carefully at the alternatives.
They made sure that the alternative would sterilise the examination instruments as effectively, so they are protecting both their patients and their staff. Essex Rivers Healthcare are signalling that the days of nurses and other staff suffering the serious side effects of occupational asthma caused by breathing in the fumes from this hazardous chemical are numbered." - John Thompson, Head of HSE's Chemical & Flammables Policy Division
"Dangerous substances need to be handled with care - this has been the main message of this year's European Week for Safety and Health at Work. As the awards clearly demonstrate, the potential risks can be successfully transferred to other countries and help make workplaces more safe, healthy and productive."- Director of the European Agency, Hans-Horst Konkolewsky said
LONDON PARTNERSHIPS HELPING BUSINESSES RAISE SAFETY STANDARDS
Posted Thursday, November 27, 2003 by Ahmed Khan
The successful London-wide campaign of HSE/local authority action involving a co-ordinated and streamlined programme of workplace visits is continuing to improve the health and safety standards of businesses visited.
Recently HSE inspectors and colleagues from the London Borough of Ealing visited 43 workplaces to check standards and also identified 40 new premises requiring inspection. Notices were issued in response to unguarded machinery, lack of edge protection for mezzanine floors and exposure to isocyanates and styrene. A free leaflet giving basic advice Improving Workplace Health and Safety in Ealing was provided to those businesses visited. The initiative contributed to the planned programme of inspections in London to take place over the year covering both specific industries and general businesses.
COMMENT ON THE LONDON PARTNERSHIP CAMPAIGN
"The Council is keen to help businesses in Ealing and make sure they provide safe and healthy working environments. Initiatives like this one help us achieve that aim. The cooperation between HSE and Ealing Council ensured businesses were only visited by one regulator dealing with workplace health and safety." - Helen Wilkie, Head of Ealing Council's Business Regulation and Support Section.
"In general, we found good standards. However there were some significant deficiencies that required action and inspectors issued three prohibition and four improvement notices.
As part of each visit we gave businesses a new leaflet produced jointly by HSE and Ealing Council. This provides advice on local sources of information on health and safety issues and was well received." - Mike Gibb, HSE Principal Inspector
"This is one of many initiatives HSE are taking to improve working standards in London. Increasingly we are taking a strategic approach by working in partnership with local authorities and business organisations to improve health and safety standards. Poor standards of health and safety cost firms a lot of money. Initiatives such as the joint inspection programme are designed to assist small firms in understanding and complying with legal requirements, and helping them avoid accidents and ill health." - Charles Horsefield, Head of Operations for HSE London.
SITE ACCOMMODATION EXPLOSION INJURES 2
Posted Thursday, November 27, 2003 by Ahmed Khan
An explosion suspected to have been caused by a build up of gas from a heater has injured two men and destroyed their portable accommodation on Tuesday at Cupar Trading Estate, Cupar, Fife.
Both men required treatment for burns but are not badly injured, although they have been described as fortunate to have escaped without serious injury.
PROHIBITION NOTICES MUST BE COMPLIED WITH
Posted Wednesday, November 26, 2003 by Ahmed Khan
During April 2000 David Jowett, Tony Laughton and Shaughan Walsh were killed, and Andrew Wicks injured after a parapet wall collapsed during refurbishment of the five-storey mill building at 71 Cleveland Street, Hull. Developer of the site, Marketing Exchange for Africa Ltd (MEFA), and a Director, Murli Motiram Thadani, were fined £79,000 and £20,000 respectively at Sheffield Crown Court with costs of £95,000 for the breaches of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 listed below.
MEFA pleaded guilty to the following offences:
HSW Act, S.2(1) between 14 and 22 February 2000;
HSW Act, S.2(1) between 28 February and 2 April 2000;
HSW Act, S.2(1) 3 April 2000;
HSW Act, S.3(1) between 14 and 22 February 2000;
HSW Act, S.3(1) Between 28 February and 2 April 2000;
HSW Act, S.3(1) 3 April 2000;
HSW Act, S.33(1)(g) between 28 February and 2 April 2000.
Mr Murli Motiram Thadani pleaded guilty to the following offences;
HSW Act S.37(1) and S.2(1) between 14 and 22 February 2000;
HSW Act S.37(1) and
HSW Act S.3(1) between 14 and 22 February 2000.
"Construction is a priority for HSE. The dangers associated with refurbishing old buildings, particularly when demolition is involved, are well known. This case should serve as a warning to others who may be tempted to cut corners and who fail to comply with a Prohibition Notice." - Hugh Davies, Head of Operations who lead the HSE investigation.
HSW S.33(1)(g) states that it is an offence for a person to contravene any requirement or prohibition imposed by an improvement notice or a prohibition notice (including any such notice as modified on appeal). S.37(1) makes provision for the prosecution of a company director where an alleged offence by the company is shown to have been committed with the consent or connivance of that director, or to have been attributable to neglect on their part.
ENGINEERING COMPANY PROSECUTED
Posted Wednesday, November 26, 2003 by Ahmed Khan
Weir-Houston Engineers Ltd, based in Glasgow but using premises in Dyce, Aberdeen, has been prosecuted over a workplace accident in September 2002 in which employee Christopher Spencer sustained injury from a projected part of equipment he was using while carrying out a hydrostatic pressure test.
Its failure to fully, suitably, and sufficiently assess the risks to which Mr Spencer was exposed in the work, its failure to implement controls for the risk of ejected parts, and the failure to provide a safe system of work constituted a breach of health and safety legislation for which it was fined £12,000 at Aberdeen Sheriff Court.
HOTELS AND RESTAURANTS INDUSTRY GET SEPA HELP
Posted Wednesday, November 26, 2003 by Ahmed Khan
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has launched online guidelines to help smaller hotels, restaurants, B&Bs and bars in Scotland improve environmental performance.
The NetRegs website – is being developed by the UK’s environmental regulators and provides free, anonymous and clear guidance on environmental legislation in plain language. The site aims to help small businesses in the industry better understand and comply with their environmental obligations. Advice extends to the recently revised packaging regulations, water efficiency, storage and disposal of waste, and land contamination.
“SEPA recognises and welcomes the efforts made by businesses in this industry to reduce the impact of their activities on the environment. However, improvements can always be made and I am confident that the NetRegs Hotels & Restaurants Guidelines is a significant step towards helping them identify their statutory obligations.
We are all keen to improve environmental performance by preventing pollution before it happens and SEPA will continue to work in partnership with the business community to raise awareness of these issues.” - Sir Ken Collins, Chairman of SEPA.
SEPA OFFICERS KNOCK DOORS
Industrial sites in Dumbarton and Milngavie are to benefit from visits from Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) officials this month. Units in Broadmeadows and Cloberfield Industrial Estates will hear from them to ensure that organisations working there are aware of current legislation that may affect their activities. The visits start on the 26th November, if anyone has any concerns about the visits or wants to talk to a SEPA officer before then, they should call the SEPA Glasgow office on 0141 945 6350.
“We are not visiting the estates to catch anyone out. Environmental legislation is always evolving and it can be difficult to keep up with changes and how they affect you. This is particularly the case with smaller, local businesses and organizations. By making these visits we hope to build a working relationship with the business owners and help guide them through the legislation that is relevant to their activities and make sure they comply with any that are relevant to them. Our main priority with these visits is to answer questions and to provide advice to those working in the units on each site.
The areas that we will be focusing on during these visits are drainage from the units and waste disposal and storage facilities.” - Pete Murray, SEPA Team Leader for the Dumbarton area.
PUNCHED, KICKED, STABBED OR SHOT - AFTER ALL …. IT’S CHRISTMAS!
Posted Wednesday, November 26, 2003 by Ahmed Khan
Around 10% of the UK's working population is employed in the retail sector.
The Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers (Usdaw) says shopworkers across Britain approach their working weeks before Christmas with some trepidation because of the usual doubling of retail crime accompanied by genuine fears of being physically assaulted or verbally abused. It is reckoned that from mid-November to Christmas 80,000 shoplifters will be arrested and £447million will be stolen. Many assailants are desperate people trying to avoid capture.
Retail industry figures in Britain reveal that 16,200 shopworkers were physically assaulted, 48,600 threatened with attack and 70,000 verbally abused in 2002. Usdaw calls for greater awareness of this hidden issue through its high-profile Freedom From Fear campaign.
"Christmas is a busy time for shopworkers, but these figures clearly show that thieves increase their activity considerably as well. Shopworkers are on the frontline, facing real danger in the retail workplace.
Retail crime is often viewed as a victimless crime but that is untrue. Behind many cases of crimes in shops are distressing stories of physical attack, violent threats and verbal abuse. It is a daily occurrence for many Usdaw members. Shopworkers should always leave the crime fighting to the police or security staff but, through no fault of their own, they often become victims.
Usdaw is determined that these victims get their voice. The union is committed to working with the police, retailers and the Government to achieve greater safety for shopworkers." - John Hannett, Usdaw Deputy General Secretary.
LOOKING EAST TO HELP REDUCE MSDS
Posted Wednesday, November 26, 2003 by Ahmed Khan
Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are the most common cause of occupational ill health in Great Britain with around 1.1 million people suffering from MSDs caused or made worse by work in 2002/03. On average each sufferer took 19.4 days off in the same period.
Could this problem be partly resolved by adopting practices relatively easily observed in the Far East, perhaps your company encourages staff to do warming up (or stretching) exercises before starting work?
A research project is about to commence to consider the potential of engaging in such activity for reducing injury. The project will be carried out by ergonomics consultancy Human Engineering Ltd, working in partnership with Waseda University in Japan, where many people believe that limbering up exercises help to prevent pain, discomfort or damage to the joints and muscles.
LOOKING FOR EVIDENCE
A review of the scientific literature regarding the benefits of limbering up exercises prior to starting work will be conducted to seek evidence that particular kinds of limbering up exercises are useful in tackling particular forms of ill health - such as back pain or the various kinds of upper limb disorders. Cultural differences between British and Japanese workplaces are an added consideration, with certain obstacles to be overcome.
The researchers would especially like to hear from any companies or individuals who have first hand experience of introducing or participating in limbering up exercises as a way of preparing for work - contact Nick Colford at Human Engineering Ltd, tel 0117 962 0888. Any information provided can be kept confidential.
For more information about HSE's MSD Priority Programme see the MSD webpages on the HSE site.
INADEQUATELY SUPERVISED WORKER DIED UNDER COACH
Posted Wednesday, November 26, 2003 by Ahmed Khan
Duchy Travel Ltd of Newton Abott, Devon, has pleaded guilty to and been fined £50,000 with £25,000 costs at Exeter Crown Court for breaching the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 in the circumstances of the death during August 2002 of Craig Potter, 26, who was crushed under one of its coaches he was inspecting.
Mr Potter sustained the head injury when the coach slipped off the inspection ramp, trapping his head between the coach chassis and a steel member. Investigation confirmed that Mr Potter was not a fully qualified mechanic and required supervision and appropriate instruction for the work. The company is no longer trading.
CHEMICALS ABANDONED
Posted Wednesday, November 26, 2003 by Ahmed Khan
Two recent incidents have occurred where, for whatever reason, potentially very hazardous substances have been abandoned in public places.
A drum of concentrated hydrofluoric acid was left on the public footpath in Elland Road, Leeds, where a passer-by alerted the authorities.
On Friday evening emergency services in Somerset had to remove several pesticide containers left by the side of the A378 near Illminster.
SNAPSHOT OF FENLANDS WORKPLACE HEALTH AND SAFETY STANDARDS
Posted Wednesday, November 26, 2003 by Ahmed Khan
The surprise visits last week by HSE inspectors to companies in the Fenlands found reasonable standards at many places, but in some companies there was still room for improvement.
More than 30 companies mainly engaged in manufacturing in March, Chatteris and Wisbech were visited, and while standards at many were reasonable, some companies were not adequately controlling risks to staff using machinery or transport equipment and working with hazardous chemicals.
During the past year the same inspectors have investigated incidents in the region involving vehicle movement, lifting and slipping or tripping. As well as causing considerable pain and suffering to the injured persons, these incidents led to the loss of many working days at a considerable cost to the employers. Such incidents can be prevented by more attention to risks in the workplace.
"We were encouraged to see that many firms take the issue of health and safety in the workplace very seriously and had good standards. However, during one visit we were disappointed to find a piece of machinery in use without adequate guarding - an activity so dangerous that a prohibition notice was issued to stop this immediately. In total, inspectors issued one prohibition notice, for the unguarded machinery and three improvement notices: one for working at height without sufficient protection, one requiring transport equipment to be properly maintained and one for the lack of adequate safety equipment when working with hazardous chemicals." - David Head, HSE Principal Inspector, Cambridgeshire.
LOWERING THE RISK OF DUST EXPLOSIONS
Posted Sunday, November 23, 2003 by Ahmed Khan
The HSE has published fully revised and updated guidance - Safe Handling of Combustible Dusts - aimed at advising industries dealing with combustible dusts, informing them of the safest way of handling them to lower the risk of a dust explosion.
The advice is relevant to a number of industries and activities where the risk is present such as in:
FOOD PRODUCTION (SUGAR, FLOUR, CUSTARD POWDER)
ANIMAL FEED PRODUCTION
PLACES HANDLING - SAWDUST, MANY ORGANIC CHEMICALS, PLASTICS, METAL POWDER & COAL.
DUST EXPLOSIONS
Dust explosions occur when fine materials are disbursed to a certain concentration and an effective ignition source is present. If dust deposits around premises form a cloud an initial small explosion is often followed by a much larger one. Much can be done at the design stage to prevent such explosions, but some risks usually remain. There are many ongoing precautions that need to be followed by those who work in the plant.
PRECAUTIONS
The booklet is targeted at those who operate plants handling dusts which can explode, describing in simple language the tests used on dusts to assess their explosive properties, the precautions used to control the risks and an outline of the health and safety law that applies. It takes account of European Directive 99/92/EC on the Protection of Workers Potentially at Risk from Explosive Atmospheres (The ATEX Directive) which is implemented in the UK by the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations.
The guidance describes how the requirement for hazardous area classification, brought in by the Regulations, applies to dust handling plants, and explains which types of new equipment need to be ‘ATEX compliant’ ie be properly marked after undergoing specified tests and checks for their use in hazardous areas.
Copies of Safe handling of combustible dusts: precautions against explosions, HSG103, ISBN 0 7176 2726 8, price £10.95 are available from HSE Books .
“Large dust explosions in the UK are fortunately few and far between, but the risk is present in many industries. Much research carried out over the last ten years by groups across Europe underpins this guidance, but very simple failings can still lead to a major explosion if the risks are not understood at the workplace. Earlier this year two incidents at polymer processing plants in the USA resulted in 13 fatalities and over 50 injured employees which shows the potential devastation resulting from a dust explosion”. - Alan Tyldesley of HSE’s Hazardous Installations Directorate.
HOSPITAL BEDS MODIFIED FOLLOWING TRAGIC ACCIDENT
Posted Sunday, November 23, 2003 by Ahmed Khan
A decision has been taken by Lothian University Hospitals NHS Trust to modify hundreds of its hospital beds following the tragic accident this week at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary in which an elderly patient is believed to have fallen and accidentally activated the lowering mechanism of a bed which inflicted a fatal head injury.
In response electric foot control of the equipment is being deactivated by the manufacturers of the Hill-Rom beds, effectively isolating the foot pedal from the height adjustment mechanism. Hand control will remain unaffected and policy will be that beds should only be raised for moving and handling patients, following which beds are to be lowered fully.
CONTRACTOR FAILED TO ADEQUATELY PROTECT RISK FROM FLOOR OPENING
Posted Sunday, November 23, 2003 by Ahmed Khan
On 7th May 2002 during reconstruction of the Hackney Empire Theatre in London, agency worker Lasha Davitaia was clearing debris, including a number of large sheets of plywood, from the surface of a newly-constructed first floor slab. As he lifted one sheet he fell nearly 5 metres to the ground floor through a service opening concealed underneath, sustaining a broken leg, concussion, loss of teeth and cuts. Investigation revealed the loose plywood had been covering the 1.1 x 0.9m hole for several weeks. Because it was neither fixed nor marked with a warning Mr Davitaia assumed that the plywood was to be removed with the other debris.
ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN
Principal contractor on the site, Sunley Turriff Construction Ltd, a Northwich-based company, was charged with breaching s.3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. At the hearing before the City of London Magistrates’ Court, Sunley Turriff Construction Ltd was fined a total of £8,000 yesterday as a result of HSE prosecution.
Sunley Turriff is in administration and was not present in court.
After finding the firm guilty the court heard that it was prosecuted in 1999 following an almost identical accident.
"The loose board was over the hole for several weeks so this was an accident waiting to happen. It is remarkable that Mr Davitaia’s injuries were not more severe – he could well have been killed. The precautions for safeguarding floor openings are well known and include conventional guard-rails and toe boards, the use of properly marked secured covers and the use of robust mesh cast into the concrete. Contractors must make sure they manage this obvious risk.” -HSE Inspector Andy Beal.
REDUCING PSYCHOSOCIAL RISK AT CALL CENTRES
Posted Sunday, November 23, 2003 by Ahmed Khan
A further research report in the area of call centre studies - Psychosocial risk factors in call centres: An evaluation of work design and well-being, RR169 - has been produced by the Health and Safety Laboratory (HSL).
It offers the findings of a large scale quantitative (questionnaire-based) study posing the questions:
Is working as a call handler more stressful than working in other jobs?
Is working as a call handler equally stressful for everyone who works as one?
What is it that makes working as a call handler stressful?
What can be done to reduce the psychosocial risks associated with working as a call handler?
The report recommends several work design improvements to reduce psychosocial risks.
CALL HANDLING
The research indicates that working as a call handler is more stressful than working in other jobs, although not all staff are affected equally, or by the same factors. The research recognised that working in some call centre environments - such as telecommunications and IT business sectors - more directly affected their well-being. Other contributing factors included:
LARGER CALL CENTRES (EMPLOYING 50 OR MORE STAFF)
THOSE ON PERMANENT CONTRACTS
THOSE FOLLOWING STRICT SCRIPTS
THOSE STAFF WHO HAD THEIR PERFORMANCE MEASURED.
COMMUNITY SHARING
The report supports the view that psychosocial issues are a major contributory factor to poor mental health among call centre employees. HSE says this first major study of call centre working suggests a new approach of 'community sharing' in the industry could improve its occupational health record and benefit UK industry overall. Employers can share information to identify existing problems, assess risks and share best practice as a means of addressing this problem.
Researchers recognise that there are encouraging signs of action by call centre managers and owners to reduce poor psychosocial performance through a variety of measures. Copies of Psychosocial risk factors in call centres: An evaluation of work design and well being, RR169, ISBN 0 7176 1973 7. Price £15, is available from HSE Books .
"No two workplaces are the same and no two workforces are the same. It is not possible to prescribe a set of solutions for all causes of work related stress. But there are some common themes, and there will be some similarity of experiences. The new guidance we have published is designed to enable employers to work with their employees to identify and devise workplace solutions that address specific issues identified in specific workplaces. The guide does include a specific case study from a call centre and the lessons available from the other case studies could equally apply to this work environment." - Chris Rowe, Head of HSE's Psychosocial Policy Unit responsible for work related stress.
"HSE hope the new research will provide local authority environmental health officers (EHOs) with useful information to help call centre managers and employees overcome some of the psychosocial difficulties and problems they may encounter." - Allan Davies, Head of HSE's Local Authority Unit.
HOSPITAL PATIENT DIES IN ACCIDENT
Posted Sunday, November 23, 2003 by Ahmed Khan
A 95-year-old female patient has died of her injuries after she fell from her hospital bed at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.
It has not yet been reported how she sustained the fatal head injury but there has been speculation that the bed's adjustment mechanism may have in some manner been accidentally activated, inflicting the crush injury.
COSHH ESSENTIALS ON PAPER
Posted Sunday, November 23, 2003 by Ahmed Khan
A paper version of COSHH essentials: easy steps to control chemicals has been issued to help employers, particularly smaller businesses, control exposure arising from the use of hazardous substances at work.
This relaunched version now includes 70 new control guidance sheets launched on the Internet version of COSHH essentials in October 2003, the new sheets offer practical solutions for a range of tasks or services in:
CRAFT BAKERIES
SMALL FLOUR MILLS
FOUNDRIES
MOTOR VEHICLE REPAIR
RUBBER MAKING
WOODWORKING
THE SERVICE & RETAIL SECTOR
(INCLUDING: HAIRDRESSERS, BEAUTY SALONS, DRY CLEANERS, EMBALMERS & RESTAURANTS).
COSHH essentials: easy steps to control chemicals, ISBN 0 7176 2737 3, Price £30, is available from HSE Books, PO Box 1999, Sudbury, Suffolk CO10 2WA, tel: 01787 881165 or fax: 01787 313995.
”While COSHH essentials is already available on the Internet, we recognise the need to give people a choice of format. Some prefer to have a reference copy and others will not have access to the Internet but would like help in controlling chemicals. Putting the advice into practice will help to prevent ill-health including respiratory disease, skin disease and cancer.
There is a checklist for doing your own assessments and new sheets where this has been done for you. In line with HSC’s strategy, the new advice covers three key causes of occupational asthma – isocyanates (vehicle spray painting), flour dust and wood dust.” - John Thompson, Head of HSE’s Chemicals and Flammables Policy Division.
NO REASON WHY APPRENTICE PLACED HIMSELF IN DANGER
Posted Sunday, November 23, 2003 by Ahmed Khan
An inquest jury has arrived at a unanimous verdict of accidental death in the circumstances of the workplace transport accident in March at the Newmarket premises of Turners of Soham in which Ben Taylor, 18, sustained severe head injuries to which he succumbed some days later.
The inquest heard how he was struck by a shunter vehicle used to move trailers as he somehow positioned himself between the air tank and rear mudguards of the shunter. He was struck to the ground by the mudguards and run over.
NESTING JACKDAW CAUSES DEATH
Posted Sunday, November 23, 2003 by Ahmed Khan
A coroner who conducted the inquest into the death of Mavril Jones, 85, of Swansea, who was poisoned by a build-up of carbon monoxide in her home caused by a jackdaw nesting on her solid fuel fire flue, is calling for relatives of the elderly to fit CO detection equipment which could be a life saver.
Coroner Phillip Rogers recorded a verdict of accidental death.
HSC WANTS YOUR VIBES ON CVWR
Posted Thursday, November 20, 2003 by Ahmed Khan
A period of consultation has commenced during which the HSC wants your views on implementing the European Physical Agents (Vibration) Directive in the UK before July 2005. HSE has published two consultative documents on proposed new regulations and guidance aimed at reducing the hand-arm vibration exposure which represents a major cause of occupational ill-health for the British workforce.
Currently it is estimated that around 3,000 new claims for Industrial Injury Disability Benefit are made each year in relation to vibration white finger alone, 5 million people are exposed to hand-arm vibration with some 2 million being exposed at levels where there are clear risks of developing diseas, 800,000 people in Britain had some symptoms of vibration white finger & in 300,000 of these the symptoms were advanced (MRC Environmental Epidemiology Unit and the Institute of Sound and Vibration Research). Large sums of compensation have been awarded for the disease in recent years including an estimated £3 billion for 165,000 ex-miners and £212,000 for a railway employee.
“We believe that the proposed Regulations and accompanying guidance will provide a practicable and effective framework for eliminating vibration-related diseases. We have set out in the Consultative Documents some important questions on what the Regulations and guidance say. We want to get this right and are keen to hear what employers, unions and others think. I hope people in the many industries affected by vibration will let us have their views on these proposals.” - HSC Chair, Bill Callaghan.
CVWR
The legislation has special significance for construction/demolition, mining, quarrying, forestry, shipbuilding/repair, motor vehicle manufacture and repair, foundries, public utilities (gas, electric, telecoms, water), railways and aircraft manufacture.
The Control of Vibration at Work Regulations will require employers to take action to prevent their employees from developing diseases caused by exposure to vibration at work from equipment, vehicles and machines.
Two distinct types of vibration hazard are covered by the proposed Regulations:-
1. HAND-ARM VIBRATION - affects people who use hand-held or hand-guided power tools and those workers holding materials that vibrate when fed into machines. Long-term exposure to high levels of hand-arm vibration can lead to a range of disabling conditions including vibration white finger, permanent loss of feeling in the fingers and painful joints in the hands, wrists and arms.
2. WHOLE-BODY VIBRATION - occurs when people are sitting or standing on industrial machines or moving vehicles which transmit vibration and shocks into the operator. Long-term exposure to high levels of whole-body vibration is associated with low back pain.
The link between long-term exposure to high levels of whole-body vibration and back pain is generally supported by research, although a dose/effect relationship has not yet been established. It is found in a wide range of vehicles and industrial machines and it is estimated that around 9 million people are exposed to it at work with the risk being greatest from operating off-road vehicles used in agriculture, construction, mining and quarrying. Most road-going vehicles are not likely to cause high enough levels of whole-body vibration to pose a risk.
GUIDANCE
Substantial HSE guidance is a feature of the consultation and reiterates messages in HSE’s existing publications stressing the importance of simple, common sense control measures to reduce exposure. The two separate Consultative Documents relate to the two forms of vibration that affect distinctly different work activities
Proposals for new Control of Vibration at Work Regulations implementing the Physical Agents (Vibration) Directive (2002/44/EC) Hand-arm Vibration (ref no CD190); and
Proposals for new Control of Vibration at Work Regulations implementing the Physical Agents (Vibration) Directive (2002/44/EC) Whole-body vibration (ref no CD191)
Comments are invited by the closing date of March 31st 2004.
UK INFLUENCE ON THE DIRECTIVE
The proposed Regulations will specify daily levels of vibration exposure where employers will be required to take action to control risks (the exposure action values); and where they must prevent further daily exposure (the exposure limit values).
UK negotiators played a significant role in developing a much more practicable Directive than was originally proposed. In particular:-
The original proposal included a whole-body vibration exposure limit value which would have placed severe restrictions on industry. The UK negotiated a substantial increase in the exposure limit value to a more acceptable and workable level. HSE is working with industry to collect more data on whole-body vibration levels but initial indications are that most agricultural and industrial work activities should be able to comply with the exposure limit value.
The UK also negotiated a transitional period for the exposure limit values up to 2010 (with a further four years to 2014 for the agriculture and forestry sectors), for work activities where older machinery may be an obstacle to compliance.
The UK also insisted on an option for averaging exposure over a week to allow high exposure on one or two days to be offset by low exposure on others.
WASTE OFFENCES PROSECUTION
Posted Thursday, November 20, 2003 by Ahmed Khan
The Environment Agency has prosecuted a Director for breaching terms of a permission relating to a waste exemption. Mr David Taylor, Director of Port Medway Marina, Rochester in Kent, pleaded guilty to the two waste offences. Originally, the Marina was granted permission to use suitable waste to construct a country park on the banks of the River Medway at Cuxton, under the Waste Management Regulations 1994, however this specifically stated the only materials to be imported to the site were sub soil, topsoil and solid inert waste. Visiting officials of the Environment Agency found that unsuitable waste comprising tarmac, tyres, piping, plastics and paint tins had been deposited there.
SENSITIVE LOCATION
Mr Taylor was fined £1,000 (£500 for each offence) with costs of £1,000. He pleaded not guilty to failing to take all such measures applicable to him in that capacity as are reasonable in the circumstances to prevent any contravention by any other person of s.33 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 which is an offence under s.34. The two offences committed were contrary to s.34(1)(a) and (6) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
"On the occasions mentioned when Environment Agency officers inspected the site it was clearly obvious the terms of the permission relating to the waste exemption had been breached. Due to the sensitive location of this site right next to the River Medway it was important for those responsible to comply with the terms of the permits. All individuals and companies handling waste must operate within the regulations, or they will face the risk of prosecution and incur all the costs of rectifying any damage caused." - Paul Bennett, Area Environment Management Team Leader.
LATEST STATISTICS (2002/03) ON WORKPLACE SAFETY
Posted Thursday, November 20, 2003 by Ahmed Khan
The HSC has published the latest statistics on workplace safety, work-related ill-health and enforcement action in Great Britain in summary form - Health and Safety Statistics Highlights 2002/03 presenting the top-level statistics – including reports on progress against the targets set in the Revitalising Health and Safety strategy.
More detailed data and commentary are available on the HSE website at http://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/index.htm
GOT YOUR NUMBER .... !
Posted Thursday, November 20, 2003 by Ahmed Khan
The government is stepping up efforts to publicise the 1st December 2003 change in legislation that will mean a £30 fine for motorists caught holding a mobile phone and driving. The new advertising campaign to remind motorists of the new offence has commenced with radio adverts and will appear in the printed media nearer the date.
The Government is planning to legislate to make it an endorseable offence, so that drivers will get 3 points on their licence each time they are caught holding a phone - the fixed penalty fine would then increase to £60.
The new offence will take effect from 1st December 2003. Initially offenders will be subject to a £30 fixed penalty fine, which can be increased to a maximum of £1000 if the matter goes to court (£2,500 for drivers of vans, lorries, buses and coaches).
ACCIDENT 4X MORE LIKELY
Research has shown that you are 4 times more likely to have an accident if you drive and use a mobile phone. Using a mobile whilst driving affects the ability to concentrate and anticipate the road ahead, putting the driver and other road users at risk.
A list of frequently asked questions about mobile phones and driving is available at the Department for Transport's website
"Driving whilst using a mobile phone is dangerous - you are risking your own life and those of other road users. It's hard to concentrate when you are doing two things at once and any driver will be distracted by a phone call or text message.
By making it an offence to hold a mobile phone when driving - we will make the roads safer for us all. I urge drivers to remember: missing a call won't kill you - an accident quite possibly could." - Road Safety Minister David Jamieson
SMOKE-FREE WORKPLACE POLICIES FOR CAMBRIDGESHIRE & PETERBOROUGH
Posted Monday, November 17, 2003 by Ahmed Khan
Smoke-Free Cambridgeshire & Peterborough (the local Tobacco Control Alliance) was launched last week with the aim of raising awareness of tobacco control and to consider what action can be taken locally to reduce the impact of tobacco smoke.
The Tobacco Control Alliance aims to tackle a broad range of issues:
reducing exposure to second hand smoke (passive smoking) in enclosed public places and workplaces; reducing the sale of cigarettes to young people; reducing the uptake of tobacco use, with a particular focus on young people & supporting smokers who wish to quit.
"We need to work with a number of organisations to achieve our aims. Tobacco control is not just a health issue. The membership of the tobacco control alliance reflects the broad range of issues we aim to tackle and includes not just health professionals but the local District, City Councils and County Council, Trading Standards, Environmental Health Departments, Education Departments, Customs & Excise, Fire Service, Chamber of Commerce and local community programmes. - Jenny Weston, Tobacco Control Co-ordinator.
SECOND HAND SMOKE
Exposure to second hand smoke has health and financial implications, containing over 4,000 chemicals of which 50 are known to cause cancer, prolonged exposure can increase the risk of lung cancer by 20-30%.
Reducing exposure to second hand smoke in the workplace can also be good for business - a smoker taking 9 breaks of 10 minutes each during the working day will be spending around one day per week smoking - a significant productivity loss.
If you would like more information about developing smoke-free workplace policies or other issues around tobacco use in the region please contact Jenny Weston, Tobacco Control Co-ordinator on 01480 398585.
"Cambridge City Council is pleased to be associated with the Smoke Free Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Initiative. The Council is keen to make sure its own employees have a smoke free environment to work in and to that end, all the buildings in which City Council employees work are no smoking areas. The Council recognises the importance of public places, including new and existing shopping centres, having a clean smoke free environment for the citizens of Cambridge and its visitors. Finally the Council would encourage all local businesses to take effective steps to protect their workforce from second hand smoke. Everyone has the right to clean air". - Roger Coey, Head of Environmental Health and Waste Strategy at Cambridge City Council.
INCONCLUSIVE OUTCOME TO CANARY WHARF CRANE ACCIDENT INQUEST
Posted Monday, November 17, 2003 by Ahmed Khan
HSE says the exact causation of the accident at the Canary Wharf HSBC tower construction site on a Sunday in May 2000 may never be determined despite extensive investigation. Three workers were killed in a fall precipitated by conditions that resulted in the top of the luffing jib tower crane overturning and falling to the ground at Canada Square, East London, in a catastrophic failure of the 150- metre tall structure.
The crane's operator Peter Clark, 33, and Michael Whittard, 39, and Martin Burgess, 31, all died. The Coroner at St Pancras Coroner's Court recorded an open verdict.
The collapse occurred as the Hewden Tower Cranes' (a subsidiary of Hewden Stuart) employees raised the crane's operating height by the addition of new sections.
Mike Williams, Principal inspector, gave a statement following the inquest explaining that the HSE investigation is not yet complete and it will be reviewing all the evidence in the light of the inquest before deciding what formal action should now be taken.
Mr Williams's statement explained the actions taken by HSE to reduce the risk of further incidents:
"HSE has already taken a number of steps to improve the management of risks associated with external climbing frames with the aim of reducing the risk of future accidents. HSE believes that during the assembly, use and dismantling of any external climbing frames there is potential for serious accidents to occur & this may not have been fully recognised by the designers, manufacturers & users in the past.
Shortly after the accident, HSE took action to ensure that external climbing frames in the UK were being thoroughly examined as our intelligence suggested this had not been happening. Earlier this year, HSE published a discussion paper following a wider review of external climbing frames. HSE received 13 substantive responses; these were generally supportive of the arguments given in the paper and provided more useful information. These responses have been made available in summary form to the relevant British Standards Institute (BSI) committee. BSI have given HSE a commitment that they will reflect the discussion paper in the planned revision to that British Standard on tower cranes (British Standard 7121 Part 5). The British Standard covering the thorough examination and testing of cranes has already been revised to include a section on climbing frames (British Standard 7121 Part 2). Also, the recommendations on design contained in the discussion paper will be taken to the relevant European CEN committee and international ISO committee for crane standards.
Although these efforts should reduce the risk of any further incident occurring with external climbing frames, we acknowledge that it can't replace the loss of three lives or lessen the grief of their families and loved ones. Their grief has been at the front of our minds throughout the investigation and our thoughts are with them at this difficult time."
QM2 SAINT NAZAIRE TRAGEDY!
Posted Monday, November 17, 2003 by Ahmed Khan
To date, 15 visitors, including several children, to Cunards' Queen Mary 2 cruise liner berthed at Saint Nazaire, have lost their lives following the recent gangway collapse. Another 30 have sustained injury as the gangway fell 15 metres on to the dry dock surface where the vessel's construction was nearing completion. According to one account the gangway was installed by Endel, part of utilities company, Suez.
CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY DUTY HOLDERS ALERT - HEALTHY HANDLING INITIATIVE ON HORIZON!
Posted Monday, November 17, 2003 by Ahmed Khan
Are you involved in some capacity in the construction industry in London, the East of England and the South East? Are you responsible for procurement, design and planning of future construction work?
The HSE Construction Division London, East and South East England wishes to give notice of an initiative to commence early in 2004 in which blitz activity throughout the region will focus exclusively on the four topics - housekeeping and organisation; lifting and carrying; wet cement; and hand-held vibrating equipment.
HSE Construction Division Inspectors will be carrying out the Healthy Handling blitz designed to determine on an individual site/ case basis if adequate steps are being taken by duty holders to prevent the long-term disability that can arise during the handling and use of tools, materials, articles and substances resulting in fractures, strains, musculo-skeletal disorders, dermatitis, cement burns, hearing loss and hand arm vibration syndrome.
RISK ASSESSMENT AND PLANNING
HSE reminds duty holders that these matters should be considered in designer and contractor risk assessments and covered in the project health and safety plan that is accepted by the client before work starts.
HSE say enforcement action may be taken where adequate precautions are not in place. Inspectors will follow up any deficiencies with clients, designers and planning supervisors where appropriate.
Free information is available from the HSE Infoline on 08701 545500 and from the HSE construction website.
Site visits will focus exclusively on the topics below unless other matters of evident concern are discovered. Inspectors will expect to see the following measures in place if dutyholders are to avoid the harm identified: housekeeping and organisation - fractures and strains - clean, tidy and well organised sites with access routes free from obstructions; materials safely stored and placed near where they are needed.
LIFTING AND CARRYING - musculo-skeletal disorders - mechanised where possible and clear assessment of all significant manual handling tasks; handlers instructed and trained in both general and specific safe handling techniques.
WET CEMENT - cement dermatitis and burns - control of exposure to wet cement and simple health surveillance procedures; hot and cold running water, adequate sized basins and means of washing and drying hands.
HAND-HELD VIBRATING EQUIPMENT - hearing loss and hand arm vibration syndrome - information obtained on noise and vibration levels and risk assessments carried out to determine safe periods of exposure; maintenance systems for all hand-held equipment that produces noise and vibration.
SPRING MANUFACTURER PROSECUTED OVER EMPLOYEE'S FINGER AMPUTATION
Posted Monday, November 17, 2003 by Ahmed Khan
Simpson Springs and Pressings Ltd of Wokingham, Berkshire, has been fined £20,000 with £4,466 costs at Reading Crown Court for breaches of health and safety legislation that permitted an employee to injure his finger while operating a mechanical bench toggle press in August 2002. Employee Jonathan Austin amputated his left hand index finger because the machine was unguarded.
The company was fined £7,500 for breaching r.3(6) of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, in that it failed to record the significant findings of its risk assessment. It was also fined £12,500 for breaching r.11(1) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998, in that it failed to ensure that the measures under r.11(2), which were effective to prevent employees access to dangerous parts of machinery, were taken.
In breaching the above Regulations, Simpson Springs and Pressings Ltd was guilty of an offence under S.33(1)(c) of the Health and Safety at Work etc., Act 1974, and liable to a fine under S.33(3). .
WORKPLACE TRANSPORT ACCIDENT IN ABERDEEN
Posted Monday, November 17, 2003 by Ahmed Khan
An employee of Biffa Waste Services sustained crush injuries at its premises in Tullos, Aberdeenshire, on Friday when he was pushed against a waste skip by a van his colleague was reversing.
There are no reports concerning the injured man's condition.
WINDOW CLEANER FATALLY INJURED
Posted Friday, November 14, 2003 by Ahmed Khan
An as yet unnamed window cleaner has died in a fall while working on a Derby city centre building on Wednesday morning. According to one account he fell from a 4th floor level as he cleaned a window of commercial property in St Peter's Churchyard.
RECENT CARBON MONOXIDE INCIDENTS - REVIEW AND ANALYSIS
Posted Friday, November 14, 2003 by Ahmed Khan
The study A review of carbon monoxide incident information for 2001/02 has been conducted to identify common causes of CO incidents in relation to appliance, maintenance, installation type and design. It covers both piped gas and LPG.
This report covers the period 2001/02 during which period there were 55 domestic incidents reported. It draws on the national data collection scheme, and analysis was conducted by Advantica, who compiled the report, the sixth of a series.
The report reveals:
13 domestic-related CO poisoning deaths, the lowest for many years;
incidents took place more often in terraced properties;
the majority of all CO incidents involved open flued, natural draught appliances; central heating appliances were responsible for the majority of fatal and non-fatal casualties; the most common incident causes were a lack of servicing and flue/terminal faults; flueing and ventilation faults were common in many domestic incidents; 10 LPG incidents produced 8 fatalities; there were no non-domestic incidents reported during 2001/02.
WWT AWARDS PRESENTED
Posted Friday, November 14, 2003 by Ahmed Khan
This year's Working Well Together (WWT) 4C awards for organisations and individuals displaying the best approach to the 4C’s of health and safety: co-operation, communication, competence and commitment, were presented last week.
“Everyone who has entered this competition is a winner. They have risen to the challenge of improving performance within their own workplaces and demonstrated their determination to pursue real and lasting health and safety achievements.” - Minister for Work, Des Browne presenting the awards.
The winners were:
CO-OPERATION supported by Hays Montrose, Carillion Building North, Merseyside; Highly Commended: Parker Merchanting, Leeds. Carillion Building North, winner of the large firms Co-operation Award, displayed a ‘definitive study for how Construction Design and Management Regs ought to work’. Co-operation was a keynote feature during its development of an £18m office complex in Liverpool with work taking place up and down Carillion’s supply chain to deliver measurable improvements.
COMMUNICATION supported by Scafftag, Channel Tunnel Rail Link, London (CTRL); Highly Commended: HBG Construction, London. CTRL has been running a Target Zero Accidents campaign during the construction of the £5.2bn new railway line, judges were impressed by the wide range of communication methods used and the evidence that these methods had proved effective.
COMPETENCE supported by Construction Industry Training Board (CITB); AKE Scaffolding, Kings Lynn; Highly Commended: North Ayrshire Council, Ayrshire; Edmund Nuttall & Cleveland Bridge UK, Sheffield. AKE Scaffolding’s safety record is outstanding and employees are encouraged to go to school at company expense to achieve the highest level of advanced scaffolding
COMMITMENT supported by Norwest Holst, Controlled Demolition Group, Cleckheaton; Special Mention: Lend Lease, Middlesex; AMEC, SSE Project, Slough; Bluestone, Manchester. Controlled Demolition Group has demonstrated its commitment to health and safety in numerous projects it has undertaken, judges recognised their clear commitment to investing in people and technology, and investing in people to make demolition a more professional industry.
SMALL FIRM £3,000 cash prize for COMMITMENT sponsored by Birmingham Health, Safety and Environment Association; Quadric, Uckfield. Quadric has taken the unusual step of appointing a full time health and safety officer, a costly investment for a company of its size which had improved the company’s understanding and application of the CDM Regulations in particular is now much more focussed.
SMALL FIRM £3,000 cash prize sponsored by Demolition Services Midlands, Birmingham. As there are two joint winners DSM have sponsored an additional £1,000, making a total of £4,000. Each joint winner will receive £2,000; Joint winners: Austins, Hampshire; AKE Scaffolding, Kings Lynn; Highly Commended: Alumet Systems, Warwickshire
Jomaro, Ery; Northern Cladding, Yorkshire; Workwell Rowley Regis and Tipton PCT, West Bromwich. Austins got in touch with four local schools to communicate to children the dangers of playing on and attempting to break into building sites and set up a poster competition with a top prize of £50.
NUMBER ONE WORKER sponsored by Lincsafe; Eddie Lubarsky of George Wimpey, South Wales. Mr Lubarsky is said not to walk by problems. One example that impressed the judges was the innovative solution to a communication problem on site with two bricklayers who were deaf and mute. Unable to shout instructions to them, someone had to stop what they were doing and climb up to which ever floor the bricklayers were working on. By developing a system of coloured cards, Eddie enabled staff to communicate visually, no matter what floor they were on. This resulted in less climbing up and down and a 25% increase in production.
WWT SPECIAL AWARD for 2003 goes to Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS); collected by Tony Merrick and George Brumwell. CSCS has risen to the challenge of developing a single competence card for health and safety that is recognised across the construction industry. The CSCS health and safety test is now recognised as a first step towards improved knowledge about on-site health and safety. Over half a million people now hold a card.
MANUFACTURER'S FAILURES LED TO FUNFAIR RIDE ACCIDENT
Posted Friday, November 14, 2003 by Ahmed Khan
Nottingham UK, of Ilkeston, Derbyshire, has admitted and been fined £15,000 with £12,550 costs for breaching the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 in connection with new funfair ride cars designed and manufactured by the company that were implicated in an accident to a passenger in May 2000.
Designers had not considered to specify a minimum age/size of passenger, such information would require to be passed on to the operators.
A nine year-old girl fell and was rendered unconscious from the orbiter ride at Knutsford Common.
CARLISLE SHAD THIS WEEK
Posted Thursday, November 13, 2003 by Ahmed Khan
Smaller construction firms (fewer than 16 people, sole traders and the self-employed) can attend a special safety event at Carlisle racecourse on Friday 14th November. The free, day-long event is to be attended by over 100 delegates from around the North West and Cumbrian firms and is the latest in a nationwide series of Construction Safety and Health Awareness Days (SHADs), part of the Working Well Together programme. The seminar has been organised by The Federation of Master Builders, AJS Safety Services, Allenbuild, Volker Stevin Ltd, Story Construction Ltd, Thomas Armstrong (Construction) Ltd, Cubby Construction, S.D.L. Health and safety Services Ltd, Cumbria Training, Cumbrian Industrials, H M B Alliance, Ken Hope, and Metcalfe Plant Hire.
If you would like to know more about the event, contact Florence Chen at HSE on 0161 952 8315.
OFFICE ENVIRONMENT ACCIDENTS ANALYSED
Posted Thursday, November 13, 2003 by Ahmed Khan
An HSC report Statistics of workplace fatalities and injuries - office-based industries has been published on the HSE website.
It relates the features and trends over the period 1996/7 to 2001/02. For the 4 million or more persons working in the environment, the commonest injuries resulted from falls from height and being struck by vehicles.
CITY COUNCIL & HIGHWAY COMPANY FINED OVER TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT FAILINGS
Posted Thursday, November 13, 2003 by Ahmed Khan
On 20th April 2000 Jeremy Watson, 42, and his wife Lina, 34, died when their car was involved in a three-car accident on the eastbound A15 Paston Parkway. The carriageway ahead of them had been closed off using cones following an earlier accident. These had been placed just beyond the exit slip road with no advance warning to motorists and resulted in a multiple vehicle road traffic accident.
Peterborough City Council and Ringway Highway Services Ltd, of Horsham, were charged with contravening Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, in that they failed to ensure that users of the A15 Paston Parkway were not exposed to risks to their health and safety arising from the closure of the road.
Peterborough City Council pleaded guilty and was fined £14,000 with £14,000 costs. Ringway Highway Services Ltd also pleaded guilty and was fined £150,000 with legal costs of £42,000.
"The tragic deaths of Jeremy and Lina Watson illustrate the dangers of poorly planned traffic management. It is essential that such operations are meticulously planned and implemented. All organisations involved should work closely together with robust procedures and lines of communications. Failure to do so, could result in a risk to both road users and the work force. The City Council and Ringway Highway Services Ltd immediately reviewed their procedures and have improved staff training, communications and their systems of work. I would urge other contractors and highways authorities to consider their traffic management procedures and take any improvement action necessary." - Trevor Tollervey, HSE investigating Inspector.
HSE DIRECTOR GENERAL LAMENTS LOW FINES FOR SAFETY CRIME
Posted Thursday, November 13, 2003 by Ahmed Khan
The HSE has published its Offences and Penalties report providing details of enforcement action for 2002/03.
It discloses that:
933 companies, organisations and individuals were convicted of health and safety offences; there were 1,688 separate charges; the average fine for health and safety cases across the UK fell by 21%, from £11,141 in 2001/02 to £8,828 in 2002/03 - partly because there were fewer of the larger fines.
In England, average fines fell by 29% from £12,416 in 2001/2002 to £8,806 in 2002/2003. HSE visited nearly 219,000 employers and other health and safety duty holders, carrying out planned inspections, or investigating reported incidents or complaints. These visits resulted in 13,263 improvement and prohibition notices. HSE issued a much larger number of improvement and prohibition notices in agriculture and construction.
Timothy Walker, Director General of the HSE, comments on what it observes to be disappointing levels of fines published in the fourth annual Offences and Penalties report.
"More enforcement action in higher risk industries through the HSE's more targeted inspection regime, aims to reduce instances of ill-health, serious injuries and needless fatalities. Why then do general levels of fines - the foremost deterrent - remain too low to deter companies from committing more serious breaches?
It is incomprehensible that fines for especially serious big company breaches in health and safety are only a small percentage of those fines handed down for breaches of financial services in similarly large firms. I understand that financial service breaches can affect people's wealth and well-being, but breaches in health and safety can, and do, result in loss of limbs, livelihoods and lives.
We said last year that we hoped the increase in last year's fines was the start of an upward trend, but this has sadly not been the case. There has been no substantial change to reflect the seriousness of health and safety cases since the Court of Appeal said in 1998 that fines for health and safety were too low.
The report shows the special attention HSE inspectors give to preventing serious risks in industries with poor records. Much of what HSE does is aimed at prevention, but enforcement has an essential part to play. In especially serious breaches, HSE will prosecute."
SETTING PREMIUMS
HSE points out that the Offences and Penalties Report arms stakeholders with the information that can be used to influence others, for example: main contractors who are properly concerned to comply with the law and to provide a quality service overall will want to know about the health and safety management record of businesses who submit tenders. Similarly, insurers should also be able to consider the health and safety record of a business before setting premiums for compulsory employers' liability insurance; and
investors may want to consider all aspects of management competence before putting money into a business.
"The Government and HSC have set ambitious targets in the Revitalising Health and Safety strategy - designed to cut injuries, ill-health and deaths, by promoting partnerships with employers and others. The marked increase in improvement and prohibition notices shows HSE is pursuing the Commission's targets, which aim at preventing accidents and ill-health. However, society is poorly served, by inadequate fines that fail to mark the seriousness of health and safety convictions. Above all it is unfair to the businesses that are managing risks and safeguarding the health and safety of their workforce." HSC Chair Bill Callaghan.
WHAT IF I'M IN THE S**T?
Posted Thursday, November 13, 2003 by Ahmed Khan
A reprint of the advisory card Working with sewage- the health hazards , INDG197, a guide for employees, is now on the HSE website.
It is principally for workers whose activities bring them in to contact with sewage or sewage products, and who as a consequence may contract mild gastroenteritis, leptospirosis and hepatitis. It explains how to protect yourself and recognise signs of ill-health.
WELDING SETS & RISK ASSESSMENT
Posted Thursday, November 13, 2003 by Ahmed Khan
Welders tend to have to move heavy equipment and often the welding sets they are supplied with bring the risk of musculoskeletal injury. A recent study found that 51% of welders suffered at least one period of sickness over a two-year study due to disorders of the muscles, joints and tendons.
Welding sets are becoming smaller and lighter in weight involving more individual manual handling, which can lead to injury if the risks are not properly assessed and managed. The leaflet Choosing a welding set , INDG390, can help you identify the risks and manage them effectively. It contains an illustrated ergonomic checklist to help you make the right choice when selecting welding equipment.
FORKLIFT TRUCK KILLS LEEDS WORKER
Posted Thursday, November 13, 2003 by Ahmed Khan
A man aged 20 has died in an accident while clearing up after a fireworks display at a site in Roundhay Park, Leeds. According to one account he was employed by a contractor engaged by Leeds Council and was helping to remove fencing erected for the event when the forklift fell on him.
BA CREW STOPPED AFTER ALCOHOL TEST!
Posted Thursday, November 13, 2003 by Ahmed Khan
It is reported that the flight captain, his first officer and purser of a British Airways flight ready to depart Oslo for London yesterday morning were stopped from flying their aircraft by police following an alcohol test.
According to one account police had acted after an anonymous caller provided information, British Airways await results of blood analysis tests on three of the seven crew.
ENVIRONMENT AGENCY MODIFIES ABLE UK LTD LICENCE
Posted Thursday, November 13, 2003 by Ahmed Khan
The Environment Agency has modified the conditions it will impose on the storage of US naval vessels on Teesside to effectively prevent dismantling. The Agency is modifying the conditions of the waste management licence held by Able UK Ltd for its Teesside Environmental Reclamation and Recycling Centre (TERRC) at Hartlepool where the vessels 'Canisteo' & 'Caloosahatchee' were expected to be dismantled.
On arrival the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) will ascertain the integrity of the vessels' structures and safety systems following their passage from the US to ensure, in conjunction with Environment Agency assessments, that the vessels pose no risk to the environment.
The Environment Agency has acted to require floating containment booms to be put in place which will be subjected to daily and weekly inspections to ensure their integrity. A baseline survey of the estuary waters has also been completed and a weekly programme of monitoring of both dock and estuary waters will be implemented.
"The Environment Agency is imposing strict conditions to ensure the vessels are secure, no dismantling can take place, and no environmental risk arises during storage. Descriptions of the vessels as ‘toxic’ and ‘poisonous’ are not based on fact. While they do contain elements that would, if removed, require special disposal to avoid any hazard, the stored vessels expose neither the environment nor the public to any greater risk than much of the shipping going in and out of UK ports on a daily basis." - Barbara Young, Environment Agency Chief Executive.
LEAD SOLDER STILL USED ILLEGALLY IN SCOTTISH DOMESTIC WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS
Posted Tuesday, November 11, 2003 by Ahmed Khan
The Scottish Centre for Infection and Environmental Health (SCIEH) has published its Scottish Executive commissioned 2nd stage comprehensive survey into the illegal use of lead solder in domestic plumbing.
It confirms that the lead detected in the water of these homes was derived from lead solder - the 1st stage published in 2000 produced evidence of lead solder contaminating water in 15% of a sample of 661 homes built in Scotland between 1997 and 2000.
Although no illness resulted, people living in these houses were potentially at greater risk because of exposure to lead, but the results also show that this illegal practice was more widespread than previously identified.
The Executive has issued advice to the public on the safe use of drinking water in order to minimise the risk of exposure to excess lead levels. It also took action to allow Scottish Water to strengthen its Water Bylaws and issued advice to the building and plumbing industries on the need to avoid the use of leaded solder on drinking water plumbing.
NATURAL RUBBER LATEX CAUSES OCCUPATIONAL ASTHMA
Posted Tuesday, November 11, 2003 by Ahmed Khan
The 7 top causes of occupational asthma result from exposure to: isocyanates, flour and grain, glutaraldehyde, wood dust, latex, solder/colophony and glues & resins.
Des Browne MP, Minister for Work and Pensions, has launched new HSE website pages aimed at raising awareness of reactions to natural rubber latex which for health service workers represents a serious cause of occupational asthma.
The Minister launched the resource at an Asthma Workshop organised by the Professional Organisations in Occupational Safety and Health (POOSH) chaired by Sandra Caldwell Head of HSE’s Occupational Health Policy.
The specific web page on latex is at the suggestion of a group of asthma sufferers and its advice it is hoped will help health care professionals avoid getting occupational asthma from their use of natural rubber latex products.
“Too many health care staff have not been aware of the potentially life threatening side effects of using some types of natural rubber latex gloves – gloves which are intended to protect them. In the most serious cases it can result in a potentially fatal anaphylactic shock.
It is estimated 7,000 cases of asthma are caused or made worse by work each year. Allergy to the proteins in natural rubber latex is the fifth largest occupational cause of asthma. Raising this issue is important because for many people once sensitised, their lives are a misery and they have to give up work.” - - Head of HSE’s Occupational Health Policy, Sandra Caldwell.
BPCA WARNS OF FUMIGATION RISK TO WORKERS ENTERING CONTAINERS
Posted Tuesday, November 11, 2003 by Ahmed Khan
The British Pest Control Association is warning Port organisations and others in the transport chain who may require their workforce to enter containers that there is a danger that these confined spaces may harbour phosphine or methyl bromide residues following fumigation.
It says imported containers are frequently subject to fumigation without proper declaration etc as specified by the International Maritime Dangerous Goods code, but a recent incident involved a container for export that was opened and registered a very high phosphine reading when tested by stain tube.
Visit the British Pest Control Association for further information.
LIKELY OUTBREAK OF LEGIONNAIRES' DISEASE CENTRED ON HEREFORD
Posted Tuesday, November 11, 2003 by Ahmed Khan
In recent weeks five cases including two deaths have occurred in what is feared may be an outbreak of Legionnaires' Disease in Herefordshire that appears to be located in the central area of Hereford. All five victims of the disease are either senior citizens or middle-aged, and Environmental and public health officials are investigating to determine the source of the outbreak.
HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY NEEDS TO KEEP PROPER CONTROL OF CHEMICALS
Posted Monday, November 10, 2003 by Ahmed Khan
A new HSE information sheet aimed at all working in the hospitality industry relates what can happen, using real life case studies, when adequate control over cleaning chemicals is not maintained.
The sheet relates to chemicals including: cleaning chemicals including washing-up liquids; heavy-duty drain cleaning products;
oven cleaners; toilet cleaners/bleaches & offers practical advice on how the risks may be avoided or reduced by ensuring control measures are in place such as having safe handling and storage arrangements. It highlights the need to provide information and training for staff that use cleaning chemicals.
CASE STUDIES
Safe use of cleaning chemicals in the hospitality industry also contains several real life case studies highlighting the risks people may encounter without proper controls, such as: coming into contact with the skin or eyes; breathing in or swallowing; dermatitis or other skin irritations, asthma and breathing problems.
Free copies of Safe use of cleaning chemicals in the hospitality industry Catering Information Sheet no 22, are available from HSE Books . For more information on easy steps to controlling chemicals in the workplace see COSHH essentials on the HSE web site.
STRESS GUIDANCE PACK PROVIDES PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS
Posted Monday, November 10, 2003 by Ahmed Khan
Over half a million people in the UK are currently experiencing work-related stress at a level they believe is making them ill. Now a new practical guidance pack to enable employers and employees to develop solutions to workplace stress has been launched by Des Browne, Minister for Work.
Speaking of the guidance - Real solutions, real people - A managers' guide to tackling work- related stress, Mr Browne said: "The Government's approach is based on encouraging supportive organisational cultures where employers work with staff and their representatives to identify and address real employee concerns in a positive way. I am delighted that HSE has developed this practical tool which encourages people to get on with the serious business of facing up to addressing this widespread issue. I would encourage people to look at this as it does offer positive benefits for the individual, the business and Britain."
HSG218
The new guidance will cover each of the stressor areas identified in HSE's publication Tackling work-related stress - A managers guide to improving and maintaining employee health and well-being, which are:
Demands; Control; Support; Role; Relationships & Change.
It contains: an introduction on how to use it; examples of clear, practical measures which provide a starting point for the workforce to agree how to tackle the findings of a stress risk assessment;
learning points; prompt cards & an action plan to record and monitor what needs to be done.
HSE's draft Management Standards relate to the 6 main stressors outlined above, see the Management Standards pilot . Standards are currently being piloted by 25 organisations, the pilot process is now being evaluated, and the management standards will be revised and developed for further public consultation by HSE in Spring 2004.
For information on HSE's work on stress, including links to purchasing the guidance visit www.hse.gov.uk/stress.
"Real solutions, real people provides a tool to help managers & staff develop solutions to tackle work-related stress that are specifically relevant to their organisation. It then encourages them to tailor their energy to the particular needs identified by risk assessment. The launch of this guidance today, and the innovative stress management standards pilot, already well underway, are fine examples of how the HSE is seeking to help organisations reduce the incidence of occupational ill health." Bill Callaghan, Chair of the HSC
"The Real Solutions, Real People guide will help them to identify and introduce solutions targeted specifically at the causes of stress in their individual organisations. The guidance complements the risk assessment approach outlined in HSE's current guidance for managers about work-related stress 'Tackling work-related stress - A managers' guide to improving and maintaining employee health and well-being' (HSG218)" - Elizabeth Gyngell, Head of HSE's Better Working Environment Division.
THE HAZARDS OF TYRE RETREAD WORK
Posted Monday, November 10, 2003 by Ahmed Khan
Guidance on good practice for employers in the tyre retread industry, enabling them to achieve and maintain safe and healthy working conditions, has now been published. Tread safely: a guide to health and safety in the tyre retread industry , a loose-leaf publication, also provides safety representatives with a source of information, explaining the principal hazards encountered in the tyre retread industry, indicating the measures that should be taken to ensure the risks are properly controlled.
It covers: training; machine safety; health hazards; fire & explosion risks as well as other risks.
Tread safely: a guide to health and safety in the tyre retread industry.
HSE, 2003. (INDG380), free from HSE Books .
HSE STATEMENT ON CORUS FURNACE EXPLOSION
Posted Saturday, November 8, 2003 by Ahmed Khan
The HSE believes that the incident at the Port Talbot works when blast furnace No 5. exploded on 8th November 2001 resulting in 3 fatalities and 12 injuries was caused by water contacting hot materials in the furnace.
Terry Rose, HSE's Director for Wales, said: "Our sympathies remain with the families and we have kept them informed regularly on our progress. We recognise that they want as much information about the event as is possible and we have tried to share with them what we can, but we also have to make certain that we do not compromise any criminal legal process that might arise."
The ongoing investigation, described by HSE as complex, has involved over 400 statements, the analysis of over 600 other documents and contributions from a wide range of UK and international experts.
NEW BUILDING REGULATIONS
Posted Saturday, November 8, 2003 by Ahmed Khan
This week's new building regulations launch will ensure that all new and existing buildings are built and improved to standards that will make them more accessible to disabled people.
The Building Regulations 2000: Approved Document M: Access to and use of buildings, 2004 edition will ensure new buildings meet reasonable standards of accessibility. Access to existing buildings will be considered when undergoing renovation or improvement. The Regulations will enable developers and property managers to address the October 2004 duties introduced under Part III of the Disability Discrimination Act covering physical features that make it impossible or unreasonably difficult for disabled people to access goods, facilities, services and premises. Achieving accessibility for disabled people is the responsibility of the provider.
"Not only can we achieve buildings that people can get into but, if we consider the needs of disabled people within the building, such as by providing wider doorways, good signage, unobstructed walkways and accessible facilities, we make using those buildings easy for everyone." - Peter Barker OBE, Lead Member on the Built Environment.
11 PROHIBITION NOTICES SERVED IN NORFOLK FARM BLITZ
Posted Saturday, November 8, 2003 by Ahmed Khan
During the recent blitz of Norfolk farm inspections 36 enforcement notices were served, 11 of these requiring equipment to be withdrawn from use or work activities to cease. The agricultural inspectorate is also taking the view that the gap between the best and worst performing farms is widening.
HSE inspectors visited a total of 123 farms throughout the week in a region of England that accounted for 4 of the 41 fatal accidents recorded from April 2001 to April 2002. Forklift truck cages that lift employees to work at height had inadequate edge protection and damaged floors. The cages must be constructed to standard, regularly checked and certified safe. Work was also stopped on inadequately guarded machinery.
Farmers were warned of the need to train operators of quad bikes and the need to store pesticides properly. It was also noted that many grain silos and bins did not have sufficient edge protection.
"We were very impressed by the high safety standards we found on most of the Norfolk farms we visited. These inspections reveal that a significant effort has been made within the industry to improve safety over the last number of years. However, not all standards were satisfactory. In a minority of cases, farmers were guilty of poor compliance with safety regulations, putting themselves and their workforce at risk.
On the worst farm we visited, for example, 4 prohibition notices requiring the farmer to stop work immediately, were issued. In some cases, farmers were unaware of the standards expected of all individuals who operate agricultural forklift trucks (telescopic handlers). Many had not used the local agricultural training groups as a source of information and guidance and didn't know that an Approved Code of Practice requires training and certification for forklift operation." - Frank Sykes, HSE Principal Inspector for agriculture, Norfolk.
FALLING SCAFFOLDING STRUCTURE INJURES 2 IN BIRMINGHAM
Posted Saturday, November 8, 2003 by Ahmed Khan
Two women have been injured by falling scaffolding at the junction of New Street/ Ethel Street in Birmingham. One woman, believed to be a teenager, sustained a serious head injury, the other was able to leave hospital after treatment.
The sheeted access scaffolding structure was erected last weekend and there has been speculation that winds may have made it unstable.
RSR 1999 EXEMPTION FOR NETWORK RAIL
Posted Saturday, November 8, 2003 by Ahmed Khan
Following consultation, HSE has accepted Network Rail’s case that the risk of trains overspeeding at certain junctions is low and adequately controlled, and has granted it an exemption from a provision of the Railway Safety Regulations 1999 concerning some fitment of the Train Protection and Warning System (TPWS) as a speed mitigation measure.
Instead, Network Rail will bring forward a programme of fitment of TPWS+ that will provide protection against SPADs for trains travelling at higher speeds. This means Network Rail need not fit TPWS at certain sites on its infrastructure, specifically where permanent speed restrictions (PSRs) are in place at diverging junctions with approach controlled signalling.
Over the last four years, the Railway Safety Regulations 1999 have required an extensive TPWS programme across the rail network. TPWS+ is a development of TPWS that extends the range of speeds over which TPWS is effective (typically up to 100 mph) by installing additional speed traps further back from the controlling signal. TPWS+ was not available at the time the Railway Safety Regulations 1999 were established.
REAL-LIFE MINI-PROGRAMMES ON HEALTH & SAFETY TARGET ASIAN VIEWERS
Posted Saturday, November 8, 2003 by Ahmed Khan
HSE-sponsored Worksmart is a new television series airing in November intent on bringing health and safety communication to the UK Asian audience. Worksmart has already run in its more general form on ITV television networks across the country in 2001 and 2002 and is now to appear on satellite channels with Asian participants. First time around it achieved a 250% increase in awareness of health and safety issues among viewers in the target audience, this time the series will run for 6 months on Star Plus, Star News and Sony Entertainment, and from January on ZeeTV. Each programme lasts just 45 seconds and features a personal story about a health or safety incident in the workplace.
Chris Bisson, star of ‘East is East’, and formerly Asian taxi boss Vikram in Coronation Street, supports the campaign and says: “Health and Safety issues are a vital part of everyone’s life. I’m delighted to be able to help in getting the message across to the Asian community in Britain.”
STUDY INDICATES EXTENT OF ASSOCIATION BETWEEN ASTHMA AND OCCUPATION
Posted Saturday, November 8, 2003 by Ahmed Khan
A recent American Journal of Industrial Medicine published study by Ahmed A Arif and Dr. George Delclos of the University of Texas, that considered data collated in an earlier Health and Nutrition Survey, has arrived at an estimate of the association between occupation and the condition of asthma. It suggests that in 26% of adult asthma sufferers their occupation either caused or made the condition worse, with an estimated 4% of the U.S. workforce having asthma related to their working environment.
Typical of the 'more-at-risk' occupations include cleaners and cleaners of equipment and those working in agriculture, entertainment, construction, textiles, material movement and motor vehicle operators/ repairers.
It is believed around 3,000 people each year in the UK contract occupational asthma due to exposure to airborne contaminants at work
RISK ASSESSMENT GUIDANCE FOR FISHING INDUSTRY
Posted Saturday, November 8, 2003 by Ahmed Khan
A factsheet for one of the most dangerous of occupations has been published to assist those with health and safety duties reduce the risk to workers on small vessels in the fishing industry by carrying out a risk assessment and taking preventive actions.
The factsheet RISK ASSESSMENT FOR SMALL FISHING VESSELS provides guidance on:legislation, prevailing hazards, the process of risk assessment, causes of and factors that increase accident likelihood,
good practice examples, sources of information on occupational safety and health & includes a risk assessment checklist
PEOPLE JUST DON’T NOTICE OVERHEAD POWER LINES
Posted Saturday, November 8, 2003 by Ahmed Khan
A new version of Shock Horror – Safe Working Near Overhead Power Lines in Agriculture has been issued to try and prevent any more deaths to agricultural workers - on average two people are killed in this way each year. Most victims did not understand fully the serious dangers that could arise when working near high voltage power lines. Typically, tall tipping trailers or long irrigation pipes are used too close to power lines with potentially fatal consequences for nearby workers and rescuers.
The leaflet also acts as a trainee’s summary guide and is aimed at agricultural college students and farm workers. It is supported by a video showing reconstructions of the type of events that typically lead to accidents. The video and leaflet are intended to provide resource material for college lecturers and trainers.
Copies of Shock Horror – Safe Working Near Overhead Power Lines in Agriculture INDG389 (formerly MISC049) are available from HSE Books . Shock horror:The dangers of electrocution by overhead power lines video is available from HSE Books ISBN 0 7176 1973 7, Price £30 + VAT.
“If a piece of equipment gets too close or comes into contact with an overhead line, the electricity will be conducted and it can pass through anyone who is on the equipment or touching it. A jet of water, liquid slurry or a fishing rod can also cause a discharge of electricity and a high risk of a fatal or severe shock.
One of the biggest problems is that people just don’t notice overhead power lines. Lines which are obvious can blend in to the scenery and it is useful to get hold of this pamphlet and remind yourself about minimum clearance distances from different sorts of pylons and lines.
The video message is hard hitting and dramatic. The leaflet re-emphasises the points made in the video but in greater detail. It should act as an aide-memoire for students and farm workers. The overall message for anyone working in agriculture is to remember to ‘Look out - Look up’ for overhead power lines." - Frank Perkins, Head of HSE's Agricultural Safety Section.
NEW WORKPLACE TRANSPORT SAFETY ADVICE CENTRE
Posted Saturday, November 8, 2003 by Ahmed Khan
The HSE and Freight Transport Association (FTA) have launched a new workplace transport safety advice centre designed specifically to give information and advice on all aspects of the subject. The FTA represents the transport interests of its industry members and is the source of a wide range of safety related services, part of FTA's Centre of Excellence for Road Transport Law.
The launch means FTA transport advisors are now on hand to give guidance and advice to vehicle operators, drivers and those responsible for site safety on this major cause of British workplace injury and fatality.
The new dedicated number for the service 0870 099 0099 is open between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday and will run for 12 months as part of an initiative/project to identify areas of most concern to employees and employers using and involved with workplace transport, and to help HSE target resources in this area more accurately. It will be reviewed towards the end of this period.
FTA COMMITMENT
The majority of workplace transport incidents fall into four common types:
VEHICLE STRIKES
OVERTURNS
FALLING PEOPLE
FALLING OBJECTS
HSE's workplace transport risks in specific industries are dealt with by staff in one of its Field Operations Directorate's (FOD) five Sectors, each of which specialises in a different employment sector.
"I look forward to working closely with FTA. The information that we get will complement information already received from HSE Infoline and will help us target more closely the problems that industry has involving workplace transport." - Bill Gillan, Project Manager of HSE's Workplace Transport Priority Programme.
"FTA is totally committed to helping reduce the number of fatalities and injuries which result from workplace transport incidents. This joint initiative is designed to assist with this important safety related objective and FTA is pleased to have such an important role to play in the project." - Rodger Bird, FTA's Issue Manager for Workplace Transport.
DECEMBER 1 MOBILE PHONE LEGISLATION PUBLISHED
Posted Monday, November 3, 2003 by Ahmed Khan
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) has campaigned for many years to outlaw the use of mobiles while driving, citing 20 deaths on Britain’s roads where mobile phones have been implicated, and it believes thousands more road accidents have been caused by people talking on the phone. It is now warning employers not to fall foul of the new offence banning the use of hand-held mobile phones while driving, a regulation states that no one shall cause or permit another person to drive a motor vehicle on the road when using a hand-held phone.
RoSPA recommends employers introduce a policy along the following lines:
You must not make or receive a call on a mobile phone (whether hands held or hands free) as the driver of a vehicle unless it is parked in a safe place.
No line manager shall require an employee to receive a call on a mobile phone while driving. Contravention of these requirements will be regarded as a serious disciplinary matter.
“This will apply to employers who will be guilty of an offence if they require or permit their staff who drive for work, to use a hand-held mobile phone while driving.
Employers would be unwise to respond to the ban on hand-held phones by supplying their staff with hands-free kits. Even if the use of these while driving does not contravene the specific ban on hand-held phones, employers could fall foul of health and safety laws if an investigation determined the use of the phone contributed to an accident.
Recent guidance from the HSE makes it clear that employers have a duty under health and safety law to manage the risks faced by their employees on the road. And one of the biggest risks they face is when using mobile phones while at the wheel.
Research clearly shows that using a hands-free phone while driving is just as dangerous as using a hand-held phone – there is little point in having both hands connected to the steering wheel, if the brain is not connected to the hands." - Kevin Clinton, RoSPA Head of Road Safety.
NURSE'S METHOD OF LIFTING INDUCED BACK INJURY
Posted Monday, November 3, 2003 by Ahmed Khan
Joyce Rowe, 59, who worked for decades as a nurse, has succeeded in winning damages against her former employer, Gwynedd Community Health NHS Trust, in respect of injury to her back induced by the manual handling element of her duties, the method in which she was trained and instructed, she maintained, was likely to lead to injury. Ms Rowe already suffered from a spinal condition when she damaged her back as she adopted a particular method of lifting and dressing a patient in 1995. That incident led to an acceleration in Ms Rowe's spinal condition leading to a degree of disability
The Trust contended that she was never given instruction in that particular method of lifting, however Judge Gareth Edwards QC deemed that she had been instructed in this fashion and the Trust should have been aware of the hazards of lifting patients, and because Ms Rowe was following instruction the Trust was liable for her loss.
Ms Rowe was awarded a sum of almost £50,000 plus legal costs.
SHETLAND ISLANDS INSPECTION FINDS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT
Posted Monday, November 3, 2003 by Ahmed Khan
HSE's recent awareness raising week of inspection and events on the Shetland Islands concerned mainly with construction and agriculture health and safety found much in the way of good practice but working at height was not always being conducted safely.
The main event of the week - a Safety and Health Awareness Day - was attended by over 100 construction workers, farmers and crofters who were given practical advice on working at height, workplace transport, manual handling and the dangers of electricity.
The week's activities received the assistance of the Federation of Master Builders; Shetland Island Council; Garriock Bros, Irvine Contractors and Thulecraft.
"Everyone we met was very positive and welcoming and, when we were out and about, it was encouraging to see lots of good practice especially access scaffolds, edge protection and the wearing of personal protective equipment. I only hope that this was the normal standard and not just provided for our benefit! However, falling from height is the biggest killer across all industries, so we were disappointed to find during our inspections that work at height was being carried out without appropriate safety measures to prevent falls. And inadequate attention was being given to how new buildings and structures will be safely maintained; a crucial issue if we are to improve the safety record of the construction industry in the long term." - Pam Waldron Head of Operations (Construction) for HSE Scotland.
"The fish farming industry is maintaining its standards although commitment to formal health and safety training of senior managers is still an area that needs to be improved." - Gary Miller, HSE inspector.
INADEQUATELY GUARDED CONVEYOR TRAPPED WORKER'S LEG
Posted Monday, November 3, 2003 by Ahmed Khan
During May 2002 Gareth Twigg, 21, an employee of Solaglas Ltd at its premises at Binley Industrial Estate, Coventry, entered an inadequately fenced danger zone of an energised automated glass-cutting machine's conveyor system to clear a blockage. In the act of doing this, his leg became trapped in the equipment and he sustained very serious leg injuries and required to be freed by emergency services.
Solaglas admitted failing to meet duties under the Health and Safety at Work etc, Act 1974, the accident revealing failure in the areas of risk assessment and machine guarding, and it was fined £35,000 in total with £7,500 costs.
The company has since acted to prevent recurrence and remedy its self-acknowledged shortcomings in certain aspects of its health and safety management.
MERSEYSIDE LORRY DEATH TREATED AS LIKELY INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENT
Posted Monday, November 3, 2003 by Ahmed Khan
Merseyside police are currently assessing a recent incident in which a man lost his life at Sefton Lane Industrial Estate, Maghull, as a likely industrial accident.
According to one account a heavy goods vehicle with no one behind the wheel rolled forward crushing the accident victim who, it has been speculated, may have been trying to stop it moving.
An HSE spokesman said it is investigating jointly with the police.
DAYCARE NURSERY CHAIN FINED £60,000
Posted Monday, November 3, 2003 by Ahmed Khan
Jigsaw Day Nurseries Ltd nursery chain has been fined £60,000 over the death during April last year of Thomas Egan, 5 months, who suffered a severe allergic reaction at its Milton Keynes premises when he was given a portion of a Farley's Sunrise cereal by an employee.
The severe reaction was caused by a dairy product ingredient about which Thomas's mother had explicitly warned the nursery.
Jigsaw Day Nurseries Ltd had previously pleaded guilty at the Magistrates' Court to breaching the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, and was fined £60,000 with £19,000 costs at Aylesbury Crown Court
NOISE LEAFLETS PUBLISHED
Posted Monday, November 3, 2003 by Ahmed Khan
The following noise advisory guidance leaflets have been published on the HSE website:
A Top 10 noise control techniques based on engineering controls are illustrated and described in the areas of: damping; fan installations; duct work; fan speed; pneumatic exhausts; pneumatic nozzles; vibration isolation pads; existing machine guards; chain and timing belt drives; electric motors.
Noise control - determining the best option explains the procedure to determine the dominant noise source within noisy plant with a view to selecting cost-effective measures.
Noise assessments - getting what you need describes what you should expect if you have commissioned a noise assessment.