November 2004

BLITZ ON WORKPLACE TRANSPORT ARRANGEMENTS IMMINENT IN WARWICKSHIRE
Posted Monday, November 22, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
A joint HSE/ North Warwickshire Borough Council operation to ascertain the prevailing standards of arrangements to control the risks presented by workplace transport, especially workplaces featuring private roadways, is about to begin. Industrial estates in Coleshill can expect an inspector to call to check on driver and vehicle safety and, interestingly, HSE says the inspectors will also visit estate landlords if they have concerns about the management of risks associated with transport on industrial estates as a whole.
During the visit officials from both organisations will additionally be looking at arrangements in place to control risks arising from the priority topics of working at height, manual handling and slips and trips.
To learn more about managing the risks of workplace transport, see HSE's website http://www.hse.gov.uk/workplacetransport/index.htm .

"Around 70 people in the UK die in workplace transport accidents each year and there are more than 1,000 major injury accidents. This is mostly due to insufficient driver training, poor workplace layout and inadequate separation of vehicles from pedestrians.
The vast majority of workplace transport accidents are preventable, and all companies need to assess the risks in their workplace thoroughly to make sure there are no accidents waiting to happen. We will be looking at issues such as reversing vehicles, driver training, loading and unloading, pedestrian safety and vehicle maintenance.
Although inspectors offer help and advice, we will not hesitate to take enforcement action to deal with matters that could affect the safety of workers or any other person." - the HSE official co-ordinating the inspections.

HSE REVIEWING OPINION ON ACOUSTIC SHOCK PHENOMENON
Posted Monday, November 22, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
HSE is reviewing recent research for the purpose of offering the best advice it can on the phenomenon of acoustic shock experienced by call centre employees, and others who use headsets, in the light of emerging evidence that 'noise of high intensity and high frequency might cause symptoms at exposure levels which are lower than was previously thought to be the case.'
In the meantime employers can access www.hse.gov.uk/noise/acoustic.htm to learn of HSE's current position and present guidance.

MISSING VESSEL MAY BE ON SEABED
Posted Monday, November 22, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
The vessel, Jann Denise II, missing since Wednesday, may now have been located on the seabed by a fishing vessel using its sonar equipment. The location, 5 miles off the mouth of the Tyne, is also showing diesel on the surface.
The commercial fishermen who crewed the missing boat are brothers from Co. Durham.

BAE SYSTEMS FINED £250,000
Posted Monday, November 22, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
At Norwich Crown Court, BAE Systems has admitted and been fined £250,000 with £20,000 costs for breaching s.3 of The Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 in the circumstances of the death of a 35-year-old employee of contractor, Ark Offshore International Ltd, on a North Sea platform during March 2001.
The accident victim fell to his death from a scaffolding platform, inadequate for the purpose and inexpertly constructed, which afforded him insufficient protection from falling 30 metres into the sea while working at a crane. The original intention of BAE was that a scaffolding company was to erect the structure but the contractor appointed others less well qualified for the task.
In mitigation, the conviction represented a lapse in an otherwise praiseworthy BAE health and safety record.

NORFOLK CONSTRUCTION COMPANY PROSECUTED OVER FATAL FALL FROM HEIGHT
Posted Monday, November 22, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
At Norwich Crown Court, Reads Construction Ltd, based in Harleston, Norfolk, has been fined £20,000 with costs of nearly £32,000 for breaching s.3 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 in the circumstances of the death of a self-employed contractor who sustained fatal injury in a 10-metre fall in February 2003.
The 43-year-old workman who died was replacing rooflights on an industrial building in Diss, 20 miles south of Norwich. He fell through the fragile surface on to concrete below in an accident attributable, in part, to failures in planning and preparation.

ANNUAL FIGURES DISCLOSE RISES IN FATALITIES, MAJORS AND OVER-3-DAY ABSENCES
Posted Monday, November 22, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
Disappointing figures relating to workplace accidents during 2003/04, when considered together, give little grounds for immediate optimism, with only the report of a small decline in new cases of work-related ill health marking progress in UK health and safety at work performance.
HSE, however, sees significant improvement in areas where health and safety inspection, enforcement, advice and partnership working have been most evident.
Health and Safety Statistics Highlights 2003/04 published yesterday show: 235 fatal injuries to workers (up 4% on 2002/03- 227); 9% of all fatal injuries to workers in 2003/04 occurred in a single incident when 21 people drowned while harvesting cockles in Morecambe Bay; reported major injuries to employees reached 30,666 (up 9%)
over 33% of all reported major injuries were caused by slipping and tripping; reported over-3-day injuries to employees totalled 129,143 (up 0.7%); an estimated 2.2 million people suffered from ill health which they thought was work-related; working days lost per 100,000 workers remained substantially constant; there was an 8% decrease in the number of dangerous occurrences reported to HSE in 2003/04, from 9,946 to 9,120; the number of fatal injuries relating to the supply and use of flammable gas fell in 2003/04, from 25 to 18; prosecutions by the HSE are up by 6%.
HSE says, when the figures are statistically analysed, there is no clear evidence of change in the incidence rate of fatal and major injury since 1999/2000, the base year of Revitalising.

COMMENT BY HEALTH AND SAFETY COMMISSION CHAIRMAN
"I believe that sensible health and safety is a cornerstone of a civilised society and, therefore, we must continue to attack these unacceptably high levels of occupational injuries and ill health. Our new Strategy, launched earlier this year, is key. It builds on initiatives successfully developed by HSE and local authorities over recent years and places emphasis on partnership working as the route to further improvements.
The messages that these statistics present are mixed. On the one hand, we still cannot point to clear evidence of progress against our Revitalising Health and Safety targets. On the other hand there are welcome signs on ill health: a downturn in musculoskeletal disorders and a levelling off in the earlier rise in work-related stress. But since ill health accounts for around three-quarters of working days lost, there is still a lot of work to do.
We remain committed to the Revitalising Health and Safety targets as representing the improvements we want to see. While the Commission and Executive have a pivotal role to play, we need to continue to work in partnership with others, including industry, unions and local authorities, if we are to substantially reduce the rate of workplace ill health and injuries.”

COMMENT BY DEPUTY DIRECTOR GENERAL OF HSE
“There are some very welcome indications that our various initiatives are beginning to bear fruit. In particular, I’m pleased to see reductions in the rate of major injury in the production industries, especially construction, the extractive industries and manufacturing. These are all industries that we have targeted and have worked to get the right mix of interventions – inspection, investigation and enforcement on the one hand, and information, advice and education on the other. Each sector requires a different mix of interventions to get the best results and one challenge we and our local authority partners face is getting this balance right.”

UKAEA INVESTIGATES DOUNREAY EXPOSURES
Posted Monday, November 22, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
A number of employees who worked on the decommissioning of a laboratory at the Dounreay nuclear site earlier this year are being biologically monitored following the discovery of indications of raised radioactive dosages absorbed by some of the group.
The exposures are not said to be health-threatening, however work has ceased in the area until the source of contamination is discovered.

DRAFT REGULATIONS GOVERNING PETROL TANKER LOADING AND UNLOADING
Posted Monday, November 22, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
The HSC is consulting on the proposed Tank Vehicles (Loading and Unloading of Petroleum-Spirit) Regulations governing the transport of petrol, the loading of tankers, carriage, and unloading, by road and rail.
The proposals will be of direct interest to the petroleum and rail and road haulage industries, the new legislation will replace existing regulations.
Currently, requirements for the transport of petrol by tanker are found in both the Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road Regulations 1996 (CDGRoad) and the Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Rail Regulations 1996 (CDGRail). Most of the requirements set out in CDGRoad and CDGRail were transferred to the Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment Regulations 2004, however this legislation only covers the general carriage of dangerous goods and does not include any specific requirements relating to petrol.
All comments must be received no later than 9th February 2005.

"The proposed changes will not be significant - we are merely finding a new home for existing requirements. Because the new regulations do not change any legal duties, we believe they will not have any impact on costs for industry." - HSC Chair

MORE INFORMATION ON HEALTH AND SAFETY CONVICTIONS PUBLICLY AVAILABLE ON THE WEB
Posted Monday, November 22, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
The latest manifestation of HSE's policy of making information on health and safety enforcement publicly available is its new-look 5th annual Offences and penalties report 03-04, which informs that prosecutions have increased by 6% on last year. All those companies convicted in HSE prosecution cases over the past year are named.
During this period HSE: made 206,000 regulatory contacts; investigated nearly 28,000 incidents and complaints; issued 11,295 improvement and prohibition notices; and brought 982 prosecution cases.
Examples of HSE working in co-operation with employers to help control risks are related, and video clips in which people recount their personal experiences of health and safety incidents are featured. The report provides something of a focus on agriculture, construction, fairgrounds and an NHS trust.

LEVERS TO MOTIVATE COMPLIANCE WITH HEALTH AND SAFETY LAW
The report aditionally contains findings on why businesses comply with health and safety legislation - 90% of the 1,700 respondents strongly agreed that health and safety is important for staff productivity and morale; 82% felt they must comply with health and safety regulations to protect their reputation; but only 45% would be more likely to act on the regulator’s advice because of its enforcement powers.

“Our new research indicates that there are many employers who understand the benefits of good health and safety management, and are willing to learn from the mistakes of others. We can form good working partnerships with these employers, and work together to improve health and safety management. But until every employee in Great Britain works in a healthy and safe environment, there will be a continued need for HSE to use fair, reasoned and sensible enforcement as a necessary and powerful tool in ensuring that employers comply with the law. The research shows that this is the approach employers expect from us. ” - HSE Director General.
“The real thrill of fairground rides is feeling scared, but knowing that really you’re safe. To make sure of this, the fairground industry and HSE work closely together to ensure high levels of safety are maintained.“ - HSE commercial and consumer services inspector.

CORGI OR COWBOY!
Posted Monday, November 22, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
CORGI's current 'CORGI or cowboy' safety campaign is being aired on commercial radio stations throughout the country to remind house owners and landlords that they must use a competent gas fitter when installing or servicing gas appliances and pipe work.
The campaign is receiving the active support of HSE, Hotels Association, Local authorities, and Trading Standards departments.

"We urge anyone having gas work done on their property to check that the person is registered by asking for their CORGI registration card. If they do not have the card, they should ring CORGI on 0870 401 2200 to check the installer's details. If they cannot produce their registration card and CORGI cannot confirm that they are registered, do not let them carry out any work. This is not only dangerous, but it is also against the law. Blackpool is a special area of concern, as unregistered installers undermine the work of CORGI-registered operatives by offering cheap quotes. Those people who take on their offers should consider the safety of their family. Is it worth the risk? - CORGI Northern Area Service Manager.
"I receive 2 or 3 complaints each week about possibly inadequate gas installations work, any one of which could ultimately lead to a serious incident.
Non registration is not just about not having the right card. It is a serious offence and often, those fitters cannot gain registration because they are not competent to do the work. This could have serious safety implications in the houses concerned.
Unregistered installers often carry out substandard or simply dangerous work. With the winter coming, gas leaks and carbon monoxide poisoning are a very real threat." - HSE gas safety inspector.

BP FINED £200,000 FOR INCIDENT ON NORTH SEA PLATFORM
Posted Monday, November 22, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
BP Exploration Operating Company has admitted, and been fined £200,000, at Aberdeen Sheriff Court for breaching health and safety legislation in the circumstances of a November 2002 incident in which an escape of an estimated 1.3 tonnes of hydrocarbon gases threatened the security of personnel on the Forties Alpha oil and gas platform.
No explosion or fire ensued, and no injuries were sustained, when debris from gas bearing pipework fell back to the platform after the catastrophic failure of the pressure system.
Investigation established that corrosion had been permitted to progressively weaken the pipework, leading to its failure.

OFFSHORE OIL SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH
Posted Monday, November 22, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
A new website providing information on offshore petroleum safety and environment research programmes is now available. The new resource launched last month is sponsored by members of the International Committee for Regulatory Authority Research and Development, (ICRARD).
The ICRARD site allows visitors: access to information about safety and environment research projects in member countries; to make contact with others in this field; find details of research programmes and publications; and use an advanced search engine, which indexes selected health, safety and environment websites.
ICRARD member countries include the USA, Canada, UK, Norway, Brazil, Mexico, The Netherlands, Australia and New Zealand.

“The offshore petroleum industry is a truly international industry which relies heavily on technology to enable safe and environmentally sound exploration and development of offshore reserves. The ICRARD website is the result of international collaboration on related research and will facilitate easier exchange of information on national research programmes, thereby promoting co-operation in research between Governments and other organisations.” - Head of HSE’s Offshore Division.

ABSENCE - PREVENTION BETTER THAN CURE
Posted Monday, November 22, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
The independent statutory body, Acas, who work to improve organisations and working life by encouraging better employment relations through the provision of information, advice, training and a range of services to prevent or resolve problems and improve performance, has developed a free online learning package to help small businesses and organisations manage workplace absence.
The new online course, which follows other online learning packages on Discipline and Grievances at work, provides practical advice to prevent and resolve problems, and covers: unplanned/unauthorised absence; handling a long-term absence; developing an absence policy and procedures; recognising patterns of absence; and handling frequent and persistent absenteeism; Users will then be able to set up procedures to suit their own organisation or revisit the website at any time for practical advice and information when dealing with a real absence issue.

"Acas believes that prevention is better than cure, which is why our good practice guidance helps thousands of businesses stay out of employment tribunals each year. Our good practice guidance helps employers keep up to date with employment law and have the right procedures in place to deal with problems promptly. Handling absence in the workplace can often be daunting. This online learning package will help employers develop appropriate polices and procedures to get it right. Using Acas' good practice will help stop problems developing in the first place." - Acas Chair

SAFER PLAY SURFACES - REWARDING THOSE WHO LEAD THE FIELD
Posted Monday, November 22, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) is promoting effort by those responsible for children’s play areas by establishing an award scheme that will publicise those who can demonstrate that extra commitment to safety and best practice management.
RoSPA's Play Quality Awards will recognise the provision of exciting high-quality play facilities which include provision for disabled people. There will be 2 categories:
Play Operator Awards - to be graded at gold, silver, bronze and merit levels, judges will consider issues such as commitment to stimulating play, competence of staff, maintenance and inspection procedures for local authorities and other organisations who operate play areas; and
Individual Site Awards - will use a star-rating scheme, with 5 stars for the best.
There is also an Enterprise Award for sites which may be prevented from meeting all criteria because of geographical limitations, for example, on disabled access.
The awards are open to parish and county councils, community groups, charities, education authorities, indoor play providers and commercial operations.

“Many of those accidents are unavoidable because of the way children play. Children need some risk in their play to help them to learn and to develop. But everything possible should still be done to ensure play areas are well managed and that equipment is safe to use. For instance, about 15% of all falls are due to children tripping over small projections and unevenness in surfacing, which is inexpensive to remedy.
We hope our new awards scheme will challenge local authorities, businesses and organisations with responsibility for playgrounds and indoor play areas to try even harder to prevent accidents.
One of the best ways to promote safety and encourage good management practice is to reward those who head the field and lead by example. These awards will allow authorities and organisations to prove to themselves and others that they take young people’s safety seriously.” - RoSPA’s Play Safety Manager.

STRESS, PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS AND THE INCIDENCE OF MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS
Posted Monday, November 22, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
A report funded by the HSE and prepared by the Robens Centre for Health Ergonomics has been published - The role of work stress and psychological factors in the development of musculoskeletal disorders, that sought by means of an epidemiological study of 8,000 workers from 20 UK organisations within 11 industrial sectors to determine the role of stress and other psychological factors on the development and reporting of musculoskeletal disorders.
The researchers established that, in general, individual factors such as neuroticism, rumination, job satisfaction, negative mood and demographics were not implicated in the causation of self-reported musculoskeletal complaints. Unsurprisingly, increasing age was a significant factor for both self-reported upper-limb and shoulder complaints, whilst being female was a significant factor for reporting shoulder complaints.
Role conflict, verbal abuse or confrontations with clients and public were psychosocial risk factors for high-perceived job stress. High-perceived job stress was an intermediate factor between high exposure to both physical and psychosocial work risk factors and self-reported low-back, upper-back and hands/wrists complaints.

WORKER FELL THROUGH FLOOR OPENING
Posted Monday, November 22, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
Earlier this year a worker sustained major injury when he fell through an inadequately protected opening in the floor of a property being refurbished in Tuckingmill, near Camborne, Cornwall.
Employer, Roger Tippet Property Developments Ltd, based in Redruth, was fined a total of £10,000 with £930 costs at a Cornwall Magistrates' Court for breaching the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

ILO OSH ENCYCLOPAEDIA AND CIS DATABASE FREE ONLINE
Posted Monday, November 22, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
The ILO Encyclopaedia of Occupational Health and Safety and the CISDOC bibliographic database on OSH are now available online free through the ILO Web site at www.ilo.org/encyclopaedia/ and www.ilo.org/dyn/cisdoc/index_html.
This invaluable resource is available through the enlightened policy of the ILO, the Encyclopaedia it describes as the centrepiece of its 'SafeWork Bookshelf', which also includes the ILO/WHO/UNEP International Chemical Safety Cards.

CIVIC AMENITY SITES - CONSULTATION
Posted Monday, November 22, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
A draft guidance document, Safety at Civic Amenity Sites, has been prepared and published for the purposes of consultation. It currently has only the status of a discussion document until comments and suggestions have been received, adopted and agreed in early 2005.
The deadline for submissions is 21st January 2005.

2 NUCLEAR INCIDENTS AT UK INSTALLATIONS
Posted Monday, November 22, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
The 2nd quarter 2004 Statement of Nuclear Incidents at Nuclear Installations made by the HSE under s.11 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 discloses information on 2 incidents during that period - one at British Energy's Hartlepool site, another at Magnox Electric's Bradwell site.
At the Hartlepool installation a leaking flange, part of a system holding tritiated water in the radioactive effluent treatment plant, allowed 900 litres of liquor to escape. Access to the area was restricted, the liquor remained within a bunded part, it being estimated that doses to workers were only a small % of the annual limits, with the off-site dose deemed insignificant.
No prosecution by the Environment Agency will arise, and is expected that the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate (NII) will not prosecute, but it is to report on the incident.
At Bradwell there was a release of radioactivity in the reactor building, the incident occurred while preparations were being made to lower a camera into the reactor which was to be used to observe some modified equipment for defuelling. The operation involved opening a set of valves and the wrong valve was opened which led to the release because, unexpectedly, the reactor was under pressure. The contamination alarm sounded but there was some delay before the area was evacuated. 6 members of staff received small doses of radiation below legal limits.

BUPA CARE HOMES PROSECUTED
Posted Monday, November 22, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
The tragic circumstances of an accident involving the use of patient care handling equipment serves to emphasise the importance of staff competence and training, supervision and adherence to controls derived from risk assessment.
During April 2002 a resident at Swaledale House in Wakefield was being lifted in a hoist after bathing when she fell, sustaining what eventually proved to be a fatal head injury.
Investigation established that the wrong sling was selected, used incorrectly and the lifting operation required more than the one inexperienced care assistant who was present at the exact time of the accident.
BUPA Care Homes, UK's largest care home operator, pleaded guilty to 2 breaches of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 for which it was fined £5,000 with £11,500 costs.
BUPA Care Homes, manage around 250 similar UK homes accommodating over 15,000 residents, has acted to prevent recurrence by reviewing its risk assessments and expects this will restore its hitherto good safety record.

THE ROUGH AND SMOOTH OF SLIP RISK ASSESSMENT
Posted Monday, November 22, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
Given the impact that slips have on most organisations' accident statistics, there is a guarantee of immediate interest in the new HSE online Slips Assessment Tool (SAT) that evaluates potential risks from floor slipping hazards in the workplace.
If you have or share responsibility for assessing slip hazards on smooth floors prone to contamination from substances such as water, food, oil and dust, you will be interested to learn of SAT's successful use by HSE and local authority enforcement officers.
Easy to use and with full instructions, the software package can be downloaded from HSE's slips webpage*, but you will have to acquire your own hand-held surface roughness meter to generate a 'slip-risk' rating to determine the risk of pedestrians slipping. Findings can be saved to file for further analysis or a hardcopy made.
SAT prompts the operator to consider a wide range of contributory factors such as: floor surface properties; cleaning regimes; and
recontamination rates, to determine the main causes of the slipping risk and identify the most effective remedial action to control it.

* Note that the slips webpage displays a disclaimer and a note explaining that the programme must not be used as the basis for floor surface specification or modification, but rather as a simple aid to identify generic levels of slip risk.

EMPLOYEE CAUGHT HER ARM IN INADEQUATELY GUARDED EQUIPMENT
Posted Monday, November 22, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
The consequences of a Hampshire company's failure to have equipment that was provided for work in its premises adequately guarded were serious injury and constant pain for employee *******, and eventual prosecution and fine for the business.
In July last year Ms *******, an employee of Vitacress Salads Ltd., St Mary Bourne, near Andover, sustained the injury when her right arm was pulled in between a roller and the conveyor-belt on a machine that she was working on. The machine should have been fitted with a safety guard to prevent access to its dangerous parts.
At Andover Magistrates' Court Vitacress Salads Ltd. were fined £1,500 after pleading guilty to breaching r.11(1)(a) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998, and £2,500 for breaching r.3(1) of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, with costs of £1798.20.

"Ms ******* suffered factures in her hand and wrist as a result of the accident. Over a year after the accident, she is still in consent pain and is unlikely to regain full use of her dominant right hand.
This is not the first time that Vitacress Salads Limited has been subject to enforcement action. In October 2002 the company received an improvement notice in relation to a missing safety guard on another conveyer line in.
In the company's defence, Vitacress Salads had purchased this conveyer line, as a CE marked machine, from a reputable supplier and assumed that it already conformed to all relevant standards, but it did not. This case highlights the need for employers to risk assess all tasks and processes, as well as plant and machinery, to ensure the safety of all their employees." - HM Inspector for Health and Safety.

GAS TURBINE SAFETY EXPLOSION HAZARD FROM GAS LEAKS
Posted Monday, November 22, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
A significant report, Outstanding safety questions concerning the use of gas turbines for power generation – Summary report, has been published by the Health and Safety Laboratory Science group summarising the work carried out in a Joint Industry Project concerning the use of gas turbines for power generation. The project focused on the potential explosion hazard from gas leaks in acoustic turbine enclosures. Usually the basis of safety in the event of a gas leak in a gas turbine enclosure is dilution ventilation.
The current safety criterion given in HSE’s Guidance note, PM84: Control of safety risks at gas turbines used for power generation, 2003, 2nd Edition, is believed to be both conservative and attainable, the project set out to define the criterion more accurately and less stringently. A new safety criterion has been introduced, to supersede that appearing in PM84, that is now more soundly based on the gas detector setting that trips the gas turbine.

WORKPLACE HEALTH PROMOTION - ENWHP
Posted Monday, November 22, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
For anyone with an interest in promoting health at work a visit to the European network for workplace health promotion (ENWHP) will reveal a fund of ideas for implementing policy in this area. It describes its resource as "a true European 'exchange pool' for WHP practitioners and decision makers in the fields of human resource management, occupational health & safety and public health."
One can learn from the experiences conveyed in contributions from organisations in EU states who have implemented WHP policies.
A toolbox, an inventory of methods and instruments, is also accessible, as are a number of briefings covering topics such as the ageing workforce, disability management, alcohol abuse, smoking, unhealthy eating habits, mental health and stress..
ENWHP says that the effectiveness and efficiency of health promotion measures depend on its integration into other parts of the corporate policy.

ABOUT ENWHP
Comprises 23 members from national institutions in occupational safety and health, public health, health promotion and statutory social insurance funds from the EU member states, the acceding countries and the states of the European Economic Area.
Permanent partner: European Commission.
Other partners: World Health Organisation WHO, European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions, European Agency for Safety and Health at Work.

CLEANING INDUSTRY TO BENEFIT FROM NEW LIAISON FORUM
Posted Monday, November 22, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
A number of significant parties are pulling together to participate in a new cleaning industry health and safety forum. The first meeting has taken place and was attended by HSE officials, employers, trade associations, trade unions, manufacturers and purchasers of cleaning services.
Commitments were made to bring about improvements through: developing training for employees; establishing and promoting best practice in cleaning; and providing information for the users of cleaning services so that they are aware of standards for professional cleaning and understand their obligations to employees and customers.
Detailed guidance on the cleaning industry is available in Caring for cleaners HSG234 ISBN 0 7176 2682 2, £9.50, from HSE Books.

"Cleaning touches everybody's life in some way or another. Whether you work in an office, go to school or shop in the local supermarket, you have an interest in safe, effective and professional cleaning. The forum is fortunate in having such a wide and knowledgeable membership. This will really help drive forward improvements in health and safety in the cleaning industry." - HSE Inspector.

SMOKING BAN FOR ENCLOSED PUBLIC PLACES IN SCOTLAND
Posted Thursday, November 11, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
The Scottish Executive has declared its intention that smoking will be prohibited in enclosed public places following the example set by many other states. The forthcoming ban, described as comprehensive, now means similar legislation in other parts of the United Kingdom becomes increasingly likely.
The regulations, to be effected by the Health Service (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, are to be enforced by Environmental Health and Local Licensing Officers.
It is proposed that fines will be instituted - licensees or employers who fail to comply could be fined up to £2,500; persistent offenders will face the ultimate sanction of losing their liquor licence; one possibility is a system of fixed penalty notices for those individuals who break the law.

"A comprehensive ban will be a clear signal that Scotland has changed. It will reduce smoking, save lives and help transform our national health. It will be easier to enforce and simpler to understand than other options that would fall short of that.
We will take the steps to implement this decision together with those affected, not simply to impose it on those who are addicted, or worried about their business.
I believe that there is no greater action we can take to improve the well-being of children and families in Scotland, for generations to come, than to secure this legislation and make Scotland's public places smoke free.
But more than anything, the reason why smoking in public places should be illegal is because of the message it sends about our nation.
No longer will Scotland be the place in Europe most associated with poor health, and no longer does Scotland need to wait for someone else to take responsibility for difficult decisions." - First Minister Jack McConnell.

NANOPOWDERS - EXPLOSION CHARACTERISTICS UNKNOWN
Posted Thursday, November 11, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
The demand for nanomaterials is growing as new applications are discovered, but while consideration is beginning to be given to any potential occupational health threat arising from the production and use of nanopowders, researchers report that a literature search for data concerning a physical hazard, propensity to dust explosion, has revealed no data for particles in size range from about 1 to 100 nanometres (nm)¹.
The phenomenon of dust explosion is well known and backed by freely available data for substances. Producers and users of nanoparticles or ultra fine particles have no scientific data upon which they can base the assessment of risks, eg concentrations, particle size, ignition energies, oxygen content, etc.
Work done by the Health and Safety Laboratory, and reported in Literature review – explosion hazards associated with nanopowders, HSL/2004/12, has identified this knowledge gap and recommend that explosion characteristics of a range of nanopowders be determined using the standard methods used for assessing dust explosion hazards. Comparison with data for micron-scale powders of the same materials will allow knowledge of particle size effects to be extended into the nanosize range.

¹ One nanometre is equivalent to 10-9 m

CHILD FREQUENTED WORKPLACE DESPITE WARNING
Posted Thursday, November 11, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
The 7-year old son of a company director who was permitted to frequent unsupervised a busy part of a workplace while work was in progress represented a danger to both the child and the workers who were distracted by his presence there.
Despite a warning by visiting HSE inspectors, and an undertaking by the company that he would be kept away, in August 2002 the HSE officials returned when a worker cut the end off his finger while the boy was back on the factory floor.
Wilfield Shopfitting and Exhibitions, Long Eaton, was fined a total of £10,000 with £11,800 costs by Derby Crown Court after admitting one charge of failing to ensure the safety of employees (fined £7,500), and one of failing to ensure the safety of non-employees (fined £2,500), under s.2(1) and s.3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.

"Children shouldn't be allowed on factory floors, or in any other dangerous workplace such as where there are chemicals. It's not only dangerous for the child, but for workers who are quite naturally distracted by their presence.
If parents do take children to work, there should be proper arrangements to make sure they're supervised and safe, such as a crèche or minder.
The employee wouldn't have lost part of his finger, and this case wouldn't have been brought in the first place, if the company had stood by the undertaking they made to HSE." - Samantha Winch, HSE Inspector.

CRANE TOPPLES AT PORTSMOUTH NAVAL BASE
Posted Thursday, November 11, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
Fatal injury was only narrowly avoided earlier this week when a dockside crane became unstable and collapsed onto aircraft carrier HMS Invincible alongside at Portsmouth Naval Base, Hants.
A number of Royal Naval personnel sustained major injuries, 2 ended up in the sea. The crane operator, an employee of contractor FSL, was trapped in his cab for over 1 hour and on release was taken to hospital with a head injury.
There has been speculation as to the cause of the incident, the crane was supporting a mobile elevating work platform being lifted from the ship when it fell across its deck.

DRIVERS' COMPANIES AND SITE OWNERS FAIL TO COMMUNICATE SAFETY INFORMATION
Posted Thursday, November 11, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
An HSE-funded study by PSL, just published - Safe sites: Driver’s perceptions, appears to confirm that many businesses in the logistics industry, and the operators of sites their employees visit, are failing to communicate safety information, giving rise to a higher rate of workplace transport accidents, some of which would be preventable given proper exchanges and other modifications. Such exchange of information is a requirement of r.11 (Co-operation and co-ordination) of The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.
Researchers interviewed drivers who completed questionnaires designed to elicit what the drivers reckoned contributed toward a safe site, arriving at 18 recommendations for HSE ranging from the need to 'promote procedures to ensure that loading is complete and that it is safe to leave,' to the need to 'promote public awareness as to the limitations and differences in Heavy Goods Vehicles in such areas as manoeuvrability and fields of vision'.

WORKING - RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS - EXPLANATORY LEAFLET PUBLISHED
Posted Thursday, November 11, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
HSE in collaboration with the TUC has published a succinct explanatory leaflet on its website - Your health, your safety: A guide for workers, informing on rights and obligations, what you should expect from your employer, what responsibilities you have and where to go for help.
It will be very useful for temporary, casual or agency workers, the employment business/agency, gangmaster, contractor or hirer you are working for who has a legal duty to ensure you receive the rights listed.

FISHERMAN FELL OVERBOARD
Posted Thursday, November 11, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
An inquest into the drowning of Richard Ransom, 28, a deckhand on the fishing vessel, Onward Star, who fell overboard just outside Bridlington Harbour in December 2003 has determined a verdict of accidental death.
It was probable that Mr Ransom had fallen overboard whilst putting out a heavy rubber fender, the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has so far not published its report into the accident but will likely make several recommendations in light of the circumstances of the tragedy.
The MAIB always advises commercial fishermen that the prevention of falls into water and the use of suitable buoyancy equipment is a key topic in the reduction of fatal accidents in the fisheries' sector. It is recommend that each person working on deck wear suitable constant wear buoyancy equipment (CWBE).

STFLS CAUSE ONE SERIOUS ACCIDENT EVERY 3 MINUTES IN UK
Posted Thursday, November 11, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
Slips, trips and falls on level ground (STFLs) are responsible for approximately 1 in 3 major injuries and more than 20% of over-3-day injuries in workplace areas throughout Great Britain.
Guidance is available to help you ensure that you are doing everything possible to prevent these events and applying the latest techniques. The assessment of pedestrian slip risk explains the approach favoured by HSE and covers: the use of pendulum meters and microroughness meters; sled and ramp tests; slips assessment tools;
manufacturers' data; and interpretation of results.

TRANSCO FALLS FOUL OF STREET WORKS LEGISLATION
Posted Thursday, November 11, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
Transco plc has been prosecuted over failures to meet the requirements of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991. The failures related to the adequate giving of notice to the Highway Authority and provision of qualified supervision, safety zones, signing, guarding and lighting of works at 2 locations in Devon during October last year. Transco was fined £1,310 in total with costs of £3,180.

UCATT SAYS REAL DETERRENTS TO CONSTRUCTION CRIME NOT IN PLACE
Posted Thursday, November 11, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
The construction allied trades and technicians union (UCATT) is despondent that progress in reducing the current level of construction deaths, running at 42 since April, will not be possible without deterrents to construction crime, such as corporate manslaughter legislation or increased resourcing for HSE, to permit it to properly police the construction industry.
Commenting on the perceived lack of progress in these two areas, Alan Ritchie, General Secretary of UCATT said last week: "This is particularly disappointing when you consider that the European focus on Health and Safety for this year is construction activities. There cannot be a starker indication that the government needs to introduce corporate manslaughter legislation as soon as possible so that a real deterrent exists for those employers who fail to protect their workers against well known hazards such as working at heights.
If this trend continues through to the end of March we will see yet another year where nearly 6 construction workers die at work every month. If this number of British soldiers were to be killed in Iraq there would be a public outcry."

DELIVERING SAFELY - A RESOURCE FOR SUPPLIERS, CARRIERS AND RECIPIENTS
Posted Thursday, November 11, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
HSE says 70 people are killed and 2,000 seriously injured annually by vehicles in and around workplaces. Guidance to prevent or greatly reduce the likelihood of these events at your workplace is available at the HSE website resource, Delivering safely: co-operating to prevent workplace vehicle accidents. Responsibilities of suppliers, carriers and recipients are explained, good practice described, as are detailed practical ways in which co-operation between the parties is possible.

LOAD DROPPED FROM FORKLIFT WITH FATAL CONSEQUENCES
Posted Thursday, November 11, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
Robert Fountain, 60, died following an industrial accident at his workplace, Parsons Engineering Ltd of Newark, Nottinghamshire.
In June Mr Fountain, a spray painter, sustained crush injuries when a steel grill supported on the forks of a forklift fell on him.
The inquest heard how after certain forklift trucks are switched off the tips of the forks on the hydraulically-operated equipment can drop.
The coroner at the inquest directed the jury that a verdict of accidental death was appropriate.

MAJOR HAZARDS - THE NEED FOR LEADERSHIP
Posted Thursday, November 11, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
Wherever you work or live you probably are not too far from a major hazard industry site. Major hazard industries are those in which a major incident would affect the health and safety of many people and include: railways; nuclear installations; chemical manufacture and storage; gas storage and transportation; offshore oil and gas extraction; and mining.
HSE believes that failures at managerial levels are at least as significant as technical failures and human error in causing accidents in major hazard industries. Subsequently, following consultation with these industries, HSE has published new guidance, Leadership for the major hazard industries INDG277, to help directors and senior managers improve the effectiveness of their leadership and encourage senior managers to reflect on their current approach and challenge them to continuously improve health and safety performance.
HSE says the guidance builds on the conclusions in the Turnbull Report on corporate governance, which supports its view of the importance of leadership in effective health and safety management.
Directors' responsibilities for health and safety (INDG343) can usefully be read in conjunction with the 'Leadership' publication.

"Senior management commitment and involvement are vital for successful health and safety performance. This booklet is intended as a guide for senior managers in the major hazard industries to help them achieve the continuous improvement in health and safety which should be a key objective of every organisation. The checklist format gives useful prompts in terms of some of the behaviours required to successfully lead for health and safety." - Chris Willby, Head of HSE's Hazardous Installations Directorate.

LEISURE COMPANY FINED OVER SERIOUS INCIDENT
Posted Thursday, November 11, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
The Brighton Marine Palace and Pier Company of Jarrow, Tyne and Weir has been prosecuted and fined £15,000 with £22,109 costs at Hove Crown Court for breaching S.3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work, etc., Act 1974 in the circumstances of an incident at Brighton Marine Palace Pier on 11th December 2002.
Eight passengers were sent around the Turbo Coaster on Brighton pier whilst the ride had a section of track removed for maintenance, fortunately the operator spotted the problem and brought the cars to an emergency stop just before the missing section.

"This was a serious incident resulting from a breakdown in communication and management procedures. There should have been signs and tape up to indicate that the Turbo Coaster was out of bounds, and it should have been mechanically and electrically locked off to prevent access by ride operators or the public.
Failure to control risks in fairgrounds is unacceptable, and this prosecution reinforces the message. Incidents such as this are uncommon, but the Pier attracts millions of visitors a year, and the public have a right to expect a high level of health and safety standards.
HSE continues to work proactively with the leisure industry in order to ensure that safety standards are maintained. The current safety regime is based on a sound framework of law and industry-specific guidance. If it is complied with fully, competently and diligently, the risks of injury and death will be minimised.
The responsibility rests with the duty holder to ensure that rides are built, reviewed, examined, maintained and operated in such a way that health and safety of their own employees and the general public is protected." - Russell Adfield, HM Principle Inspector for Health and Safety.

1,000,000+ TO RECEIVE HYGIENE TRAINING
Posted Thursday, November 11, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
More than one million NHS employees are to receive training to help curb hospital acquired infections such as MRSA. Nurses, porters, cleaners and healthcare assistants will be equipped with the knowledge needed to allow them to contribute towards reducing the risk of healthcare-associated infections.
The NHS Knowledge and Skills Framework, a tool providing a means of recognising the broad skills and knowledge that a person needs to apply to be effective in a particular NHS post, makes it clear that it is vital that everyone takes responsibility for promoting the health, safety and security of patients and clients, the public, colleagues and themselves.

"The proposed new Knowledge and Skills Framework - a key part of the Agenda for Change package - will help staff to recognise how they can play a part in maintaining high standards of cleanliness in the NHS.
Personal development plans will give staff and managers an opportunity to identify how to raise standards of cleanliness." - Chris Beasley, Chief Nursing Officer.

STRESS AT WORK - ACAS BOOKLET
Posted Thursday, November 11, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
ACAS has published Stress at Work, an advisory booklet to inform employers and employees of practical ways to avoid work-related stress, deal with the issues it raises and cope with the symptoms of stress, anxiety and ill health. Hard copies of the booklet will be available later this month.
Additionally ACAS has a helpline, see http://www.acas.org.uk/ .

"Stress is often a symptom of poor employment relations and can seriously affect productivity. Organisations who talk regularly with their employees and have sound systems and procedures in place for managing absence and sickness are much more likely to avoid work-related stress and to be able to deal with potentially stressful situations when they arise.
Our advisory booklet and the free confidential advice available from the Acas helpline will help employers and employees work together to minimise problems and improve employment relationships." - John Taylor ACAS Chief Executive.

RAILWAY MAINTENANCE CONTRACTOR CONTACTED 11KV CABLE
Posted Thursday, November 11, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
During June last year a maintenance contractor's employees working on the permanent way at Bargoed, Mid Glamorgan narrowly escaped serious injury when they contacted a 11kV underground cable.
HMRI investigation and prosecution followed, it being alleged that NRIL had failed to ensure that contractor's employees were not exposed to risks to their health and safety arising from the disruption of buried high energy cables while undertaking underground penetration works on land under NRIL’s control.
At Abertillery Magistrates’ Court, Gwent, NRIL pleaded guilty to breaching S.3(1) of the Heath and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 for which it was fined £20,000 with £6,519 costs.

“Following earlier enforcement action by HSE, NRIL had developed not only a company-wide procedure, but more specifically, a Great Western Zone procedure to minimise the risk of incidents of this nature. However, NRIL failed to apply this procedure to outside parties, such as contractors, to whom it granted strictly controlled access to its infrastructure.
If the procedure had been applied the contractor would have been better informed about the full extent of buried services. This would have provoked further, cautious investigation before any drilling commenced. Companies should ensure that safe working procedures are clearly communicated to all affected parties, and fully implemented, as failure could have potentially disastrous consequences.” - Wayne Miles, HMRI inspector.

NEW APPROACH TO WORKPLACE STRESS MANAGEMENT
Posted Thursday, November 11, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
A new approach advocated and developed by the HSE to tackle what is the biggest occupational cause of working days lost through injury or ill-health¹ is now available. Most employers are already aware they have a duty to ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of their employees at work and to assess for health and safety risks (Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999) - these duties apply to work-related stress
The Management Standards for work-related stress will help large organisations meet their existing duty of care and their duty to assess the risk of work-related stress; they meet with the approval of a variety of stakeholders and represent a new approach, defining the characteristics of an organisation where stress is managed effectively.
The Standards have benefited from input from the over 20 organisations who piloted them, professional bodies, unions, and other Government agencies, the HSE approach is based on a continuous improvement model featuring a benchmarking tool to help managers:
gauge stress levels; compare themselves with other organisations; and
work with employees to identify solutions.
Examples of good practice are also available in The Real Solutions Real People guide, from HSE books, priced £25.00. A free booklet, Stress at Work, by ACAS offers practical advice on handling stress issues in the workplace.

¹ Over 13 million days a year are lost to work-related stress. An average of 29 days lost per case. Society must meet the costs - approx. £3.7 billion a year. In 2001/2 over half a million individuals in Britain experienced work-related stress at levels that made them ill.

“This is a very practical example of what can be done to demonstrate how easy it can be to reduce the causes of work related stress. The Management Standards for Work-related Stress provide clear advice for employers to follow.” - Jane Kennedy, Minister for Work.
“This is an authoritative set of principles and a framework to help
employers and employees tackle stress at work. “ - Janet Asherson, CBI

"In the absence of legislation these standards are the most effective tool that employers can use to help end the epidemic of stress related illnesses. We hope employers will work with safety representatives and stewards to use the standards." - Hugh Robertson, TUC.

“Pressure is part and parcel of all work and helps to keep us motivated. But excessive pressure can lead to stress which undermines performance, is costly to employers and can make people ill. The Standards highlight the components of good organisation, job design and management that keep stress levels in check and enhance productivity.” - Bill Callaghan, Chair of the Health and Safety Commission.

HEATHER FOSTER TRAGEDY - INTEGRITY OF LINESIDE FENCING VITAL
Posted Thursday, November 11, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
Heather Foster, 8 was electrocuted in August 2000 by the electrified third rail on the permanent way near St Michael's Station close to her home in Aigburth, Merseyside. Her life would not have been lost if lineside fencing had been secure. A children's den had been established with a well-trodden path leading to it among scrub vegetation, the scene popular with children.
Investigation of the incident led to charges relating to the maintenance of lineside fencing in that area between 25th January 2000 and 15th August 2000 where Railtrack PLC (now NRIL) was the infrastructure controller, and Jarvis Facilities Limited (JFL) the maintenance contractor.
HSE alleged both companies failed to take all reasonably practical steps to reduce the risks to people such as and including Heather, by failing to maintain lineside fencing which would have prevented access to the electrified track.
Earlier this year NRIL pleaded guilty to breaching S.3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 at Liverpool Crown Court, as did JFL.
JFL of Watton at Stone, Hertford, was fined £200,000 with costs of £40,000. NRIL of Melton Street, London, was fined £85,000 with costs of £20,000.

"My investigation revealed shortcomings in the systems managed by both companies to ensure that lineside fencing in the area where Heather died was properly inspected and maintained. Such was the location around the railway in this area - dense, scrubby woodland - that visibility of the track and its protective fencing was limited. This meant that the usual site inspections - such as a track walk - would not readily reveal whether fencing was missing or damaged in such a way as to allow access to the electrified track.
Electrified third rail infrastructure in an urban area is a high-risk location in terms of its fencing and should be properly inspected and maintained. Remedial action was taken immediately and I can report that, in general, HSE has noted an improvement in standards of lineside fencing both locally and nationally since Heather's death. These standards must be maintained if we are to avoid another tragedy like this, and spare another family the loss of a child." - HSE's Stephen Turner, HM Railway Inspector.

SOUTH WEST WATER PROSECUTED FOR HIGHWAY OFFENCES
Posted Thursday, November 11, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
Meeting the requirements of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 appears to be causing problems for South West Water (SWW) and its contractors, given the spate of prosecutions instigated by one Highway authority.
Two recent prosecutions on behalf of Devon County Council were brought for breaches that occurred in Ashprington and Teignmouth, for which SWW was fined £800 in total with £710 costs at South Devon Court.
SWW say they rigourously monitor standards, a difficult task when over 50 excavations are in progress each day. Failures by SWW and contractors to satisfactorily guard, secure, light and sign works on the highways have led to scores of prosecutions already this year.

MAINTENANCE EMPLOYEE WORKED WITHOUT ISOLATING METAL CRUSHER
Posted Thursday, November 11, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
A Newark, Nottinghamshire, inquest jury has determined a verdict of accidental death in the circumstances in which Simon Teece, 45, lost his life at his employers, Briggs Metal, Newark, during January this year.
Mr Teece had the task of changing the cutting blades on a large scrap metal press and shearing machine and had probably taken up position on its bed when the press arms activated, inflicting what were ultimately fatal injuries.
Exactly what activated the machine is unclear, but the remote control device was found by the machine, and it is speculated that the automatic mode had been triggered by either an incorrect or inadvertent key press or when it dropped. This was only possible because the equipment had not been isolated.

"PERFECT JUDGEMENT, TOTAL ATTENTIVENESS AND FAULTLESS FORESIGHT ARE BEYOND HUMAN CAPACITY" - NASUWT
Posted Thursday, November 11, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
The National Association of Schoolmasters/Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT) is standing firmly behind its 'strong' recommendations to members not to participate in educational visits.
Before yesterday's House of Commons Education and Skills Select Committee oral evidence session, Chris Keates, General Secretary of NASUWT, explained that society has become "increasingly litigious and no longer appears to accept the concept of a genuine accident."
She continued: "It also fails to understand that perfect judgement, total attentiveness and faultless foresight are beyond human capacity. In the best ordered of activities things will occasionally go wrong."
NASUWT wishes to see a test of 'educational validity' applied to all organised excursions.

NUT CAMPAIGN FOR SPRINKLERS IN NEW SCHOOL BUILDINGS
Posted Thursday, November 11, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
The National Union of Teachers has joined the growing grouping of organisations who are lobbying national and local government for a provision to make the installation of sprinkler systems mandatory for new school buildings, extensions and refurbishments.
Already the Local Government Association, the Chief Fire Officers’ Association, the Fire Brigades Union, the National Fire Sprinkler Network and Zurich Municipal Insurance are of a similar mind.
The measure could become a requirement through a revision of the building regulations.
The viewpoint is understandable given the following facts: 20 UK schools are damaged or destroyed by arson every week; the number of major school fires rose by 55% in 2003; costs of damage run annually at over £100 million; 33% of school fires break out during school hours endangering the lives of staff and pupils.

ROSPA FEARFUL OF ANOTHER SHARP RISE IN FIREWORKS CASUALTIES
Posted Thursday, November 11, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
Last year saw a sharp rise in fireworks injuries. The biggest rise occurred in injuries sustained at domestic fireworks' parties, up 40%. The total number of injuries was up from 1,017 to 1136. Over 50% of injuries were sustained by under-18s, and this is a feature that concerns RoSPA.
The RoSPA firework code will advise on putting together a safe domestic display.
HSE's advice on organised displays can be found at its Fireworks web page, covering: organising a firework display; the law; sources of additional guidance; and enforcers’ guidance pack.
Another source of guidance can be found at the DTI Fireworks site .

“These figures are far too high and show why it is much safer to go to a properly organised public display. Many people let off fireworks at home without recognising that they are dealing with explosives and planning accordingly. Supervision of children is paramount if you are having a firework party.
A lot of people buy fireworks at the last minute and then rush home and start lighting them without reading the instructions and without considering the safety implications.
Far too often accidents happen because people fool around with fireworks. We hope the new curfew making it illegal to set off fireworks after 11pm (midnight on November 5) will stop some of the accidents with fireworks when people leave public houses.
And we hope the police will enforce the new law making it illegal for under-18s to possess fireworks in a public place.
RoSPA welcomes the news that category four fireworks – the large display fireworks - can only be used by firework professionals.” - David Jenkins, RoSPA Product Safety Adviser.

SELECTING MANUAL HANDLING CONTROLS
Posted Thursday, November 11, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
Advice on the many ways to reduce manual handling risks using a variety of equipment is contained in Are you making the best use of lifting and handling aids? recently published on the HSE website.
The advice is illustrated by: examples of solutions using lifting/handling aids; factors to consider when selecting lifting and handling aids & lifting and handling aids case studies.

The leaflet, INDG398, 09/04, is available in priced packs of 15, ISBN 0 7176 2900 7, single free copies are also available, from HSE Books.

RISK PERCEPTIONS OF MSDS
Posted Thursday, November 11, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
A recent study of the perceptions prevailing in the workforce of the risk faced of developing some sort of musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) show that it is relatively well informed, while experiencing a little confusion over terminology.
The HSE-funded research conducted by System Concepts Ltd and reported in Risk perception in relation to musculoskeletal disorders, RR284, sought to identify common misconceptions about the risk of experiencing MSDs, identify and develop strategies for influencing risk perceptions and, where necessary, how to change them through the transmission of targeted information.
Recommendations include a review of the terminology currently used by HSE to describe MSDs, providing support to help organisations develop and maintain a safety culture, promoting MSD awareness among a younger age group and targeting resource material and approaches to certain industry groups.
The study confirmed that: personal experience was the most convincing and powerful force for changing perception and taking appropriate action. Face to face training was overwhelmingly the preferred and most trusted method for learning about MSDs & the Internet is relatively unpopular as a source of information and learning.

CUMBRIAN COMPANY FINED
Posted Thursday, November 11, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
Alba Proteins Ltd have pleaded guilty to breaches of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 in the circumstances of 2 separate incidents which resulted in injury to 3 employees at its Penrith premises where it processes animal products.
During November 2003 a steel section fell and severely injured one employee's toes and caused another to dislocate a shoulder. The section was being supported by a forklift truck when it fell on them. In the other incident some weeks later, an employee fell 3 metres from an inadequately guarded scaffolding platform, fracturing his pelvis.
Alba Proteins were fined a total of £24,000 with £3,350 costs.

OPEN MEETING OF HSC DANGEROUS SUBSTANCES GROUP
Posted Thursday, November 11, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
There is an opportunity next month to attend an open meeting of the Advisory Committee on Dangerous Substances (ACDS), a group established to provide the Health and Safety Commission (HSC) with independent advice on issues concerning the control of risks arising from the manufacture, import, storage, transport and use of large quantities of dangerous substances. ACDS assists HSE in developing safety policy, and is actively involved in any proposals for draft regulations, guidance and Approved Codes of Practices.
In recent years ACDS has been occupied with several new major regulations e.g. the Control of Major Accidents Hazards Regulations 2000 (COMAH) and the Dangerous Substances in Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 (DSEAR).
The open meeting will be of interest to anyone concerned with the reduction of risk from work involving the handling of dangerous substances. For further details and information on how to obtain a free ticket to attend, visit the HSE website . The meeting takes place at the Palace Hotel, Manchester, 6.30-8.30pm, on Monday 22nd November 2004

ABERDEEN ENGINEERING COMPANY FINED FOR LIFTING ACCIDENT
Posted Thursday, November 11, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
Gavin Slessor, 27, lost an arm and one leg as a result of an industrial accident in May 2003 at ABB Vetco Gray UK Ltd, his employer's premises in Aberdeen. ABB pleaded guilty to breaching the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 in the circumstances of the accident that occurred when a 2-tonne sub-sea module fell on him, inflicting crush injuries to his limbs while it was being lifted.
Investigation found the wrong size of lifting adaptor was being used in the lifting operation and this had failed to support the load as it was being manoeuvred by Mr Slessor. Those involved were not fully trained in the selection of the correct adaptor and the system of work being implemented was unsafe.
The company was fined £17,500 at Aberdeen Sheriff Court.

NHSS OCCUPATIONAL INJURY FIGURES SHOW HIGH LEVEL OF VIOLENT ASSAULT
Posted Thursday, November 11, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
NHS National Services Scotland has published staff absence and occupational injury statistics generated by its workforce confirming that its employees continue to suffer violent assault at the hands of the public.
Significant statistical findings: of all occupational injuries recorded in 2003/04,
67.9% resulted from acts of violence and aggression (approx. 95 per 1,000 employees); in one group - nursing and midwifery employees - 75.3% of occupational injuries were attributable to violence and aggression; 11.1% resulted from needlesticks/ sharps incidents (approx. 15 per 1,000 employees).
"The figures issued today show an increase in physical abuse against health service workers and in particular nurses and midwives. It is not part of the health service worker’s job to be physically and verbally abused at work.
Last year a nurse in Perth nearly died as a result of a physical assault by a hospital visitor. This attack has so traumatised the nurse that she is still off work nearly one year later. We don’t want to wait until an NHS workers dies before concrete action is taken. These figures are horrific and it is time for the Executive to put their plans into action and to clamp down on the present culture which appears to prevail in hospitals throughout the country where health workers are seen as figures of abuse by members of the public." - Jim Devine, UNISON Scotland.

INSUFFICIENTLY TRAINED AND SUPERVISED 16-YEAR OLD INJURED BY MACHINE
Posted Thursday, November 11, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
Andrew Campbell, aged 16 in September last year, was given the task of working with an apprentice to cut panels using a wood sawing machine at the premises of his employer, VA Pedley Ltd, in Whittlesford, Cambridgeshire. Mr Campbell's fingers were crushed as he fed material into the machine which had incorrectly adjusted guarding. Investigation by the enforcing authority established that there was no formal record available showing the accident victim's training for work with the machine.
At Ely Magistrates' Court the company pleaded guilty to failing to ensure the health and safety of its employee and a breach of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 for which it was fined £1,500 with £2,535 costs.
The company's legal representative explained that it has since invested resources to restore its hitherto good safety record.

ROSPA SEEKS CLOCK-CHANGE 3-YEAR TRIAL PERIOD
Posted Thursday, November 11, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) is convinced of the case for adopting a new system of clock change that would mean lighter evenings and prevent more than 100 deaths and around 350 serious injuries annually in road traffic accidents.
A Bill from Nigel Beard MP is currently before the House of Commons proposing the advancement of time by one hour in England and Wales, with a decision on their domestic arrangements being devolved to authorities in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
RoSPA has approached the Department of Trade and Industry to persuade it of the case for such a trial period.

“We know nothing can be done this year, but in the meantime everyone can play a part in trying to ensure the expected rise in deaths and injuries is as small as possible.
Motorists should watch their speed as the nights become darker, and be aware that they are less likely to see vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists. People should check their lights and brakes and have their cars serviced for the winter.
Parents should ensure their children wear bright clothing, preferably with fluorescent or reflective strips. They should check cycles to make sure reflectors are clean and fit new batteries to lights.
Children should be reminded that it will soon be dark on their way home and that it will be difficult for motorists to see them.” - Kevin Clinton, RoSPA Head of Road Safety.

WORKPLACE SAFETY AND THE USE OF PSYCHOTROPIC MEDICATION
Posted Thursday, November 11, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
Psychotropic medications are commonly prescribed and taken by the UK workforce, perhaps to the extent of 10% during any one year. The preparations are used to treat relatively common conditions, such as depression, eating disorders, anxiety or sleep problems.
In an attempt to find out what side-effects these medications might have on work performance, human error and the incidence of workplace accidents, the HSE funded research by Cardiff University's Centre for Occupational and Health Psychology, the results of that work have been published in the report, The scale and impact of psychotropic medication use by workers.
One group of medications, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), induced slower reaction times and poorer recall. Those taking SSRIs with a low risk from other factors were more likely to be involved in a work-related road traffic accident.
The researchers believe:
psychotropic medication use may reduce performance efficiency with consequences for safety at work; there was no association between SSRI use or any other psychotropic medication and minor injuries at work; given the large number of working individuals taking psychotropic medication more should be known about how they affect performance and thus further research is advocated.

FARM DEATH PROSECUTION
Posted Thursday, November 11, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
Flintshire Magistrates have fined a farming company over a breach of health and safety legislation relating to an October 2003 accident in which Thomas Baybutt, 8, died while staying on a farm operated by his grandfather.
Thomas had just alighted from a forklift truck being operated by his uncle when he was struck by it and fatally injured
WT Banks and Co (Farming) Ltd of Birkdale, Southport was fined £17,500.

MANUFACTURING SECTOR TO FEEL IMPACT OF HSE'S NEW ENFORCEMENT LED CAMPAIGN
Posted Thursday, November 11, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
The current unacceptably high number of fatal and serious injuries occuring in the manufacturing sector (more than 40 fatalities in 3 years) is set to be remedied by a new 3-year nationwide enforcement-led campaign. HSE officials will especially target scrap metal, rubber, paper and wood industries over the next 3 years to ensure that correct procedures are in place for the use, repair and maintenance of work equipment.
Within manufacturing, lives were lost as follows:
recycling of scrap and waste (11);
manufacture of coke, refined petroleum products and nuclear fuel (3);
manufacture of basic metals (11);
manufacture of other non-metallic mineral products (10).
HSE says tragic incidents arise most commonly while cleaning machinery, freeing blockages or carrying out running repairs without the correct safeguards. In most cases properly managing isolation and lock off procedures to secure machinery and ensuring there is no power feed to the equipment will prevent serious or fatal injury.

STOP & THINK BEFORE WORKING ON A MACHINE
The campaign aims to:
raise awareness about the risks and standards required for safe isolation and lock off; ensure, through formal enforcement, that robust isolation and lock off procedures are implemented; and ensure that employers have, or put in place, sound risk control systems for managing these procedures.
Anyone wishing to find out more about the campaign and the issues inspectors will be raising on visits, and anyone interested in checking their own standards before an inspector calls, can request a questionnaire by contacting Anne Rayner at HSE, Marshall's Mill, Marshall Street, Leeds LS11 9YJ, Tel 0113 283 4354 or e-mail: rubiac.area14@hse.gsi.gov.uk

"Machines still kill people. HSE inspectors all too regularly investigate fatalities at machinery. It's not as if the risks of moving machinery are new - people need to stop and think before they work on a machine. It is not enough for managers providing safeguards and introducing a power isolation and lock off procedure and assuming employees will follow it. People need to be carefully trained in the procedure and supervised by a competent manager. Senior management must carry out regular checks to confirm the procedure is always followed. Anything less and people will continue to be killed." - Chris Flint, HSE's Manufacturing Sector.

MANAGING SICKNESS ABSENCE AND RETURN TO WORK - HSE GUIDANCE
Posted Thursday, November 11, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
HSE has published new guidance for employers to assist them to better manage sickness absence and hasten successful returns to work. It is known that work in the area of long-term sickness absence (defined as 4 weeks or more) can bring employers significant savings by reducing sick pay, recruitment costs and the adverse effect of high workloads on the colleagues of absent workers.
The longer the period of absence, the less likely is a return, for example 20% of those off sick for 6 weeks will remain off work and eventually leave the workforce. The CBI estimates that 33% of working days lost due to sickness are accounted for by long-term sickness absence yet it involves only 5% of employees, who tend to be not seriously ill, but have depression and anxiety, or musculoskeletal complaints.

ACTION EMPLOYER SHOULD TAKE
HSE's new guidance, HSG249, Managing sickness absence and return to work, ISBN 0 7176 2882 5, price £9.95, offers a practical step by step approach to managing sickness absence and getting people back to work quickly and is supported by a free leaflet for employees, Off sick and worried about your job?- steps you can take to help your return to work (INDG397),and a concise free desk aid, Managing sickness absence and return to work in small businesses (INDG399), all available via HSE Books. Further advice and help is also available at http://www.hse.gov.uk/sicknessabsence

ACTION EMPLOYERS SHOULD TAKE INCLUDES:
keep in contact with sick employees; involve employees in planning their return; enable people to resume work on a part-time basis rather than stay away completely; adjust or remove any aspects of the job that make return difficult, or offer an alternative job if necessary.

ACTION EMPLOYEES SHOULD TAKE INCLUDES:
keep in touch with your employer and ask for news from work to help you feel part of it; talk to your doctor about your job and about going back to work; tell you employer about specific problems that make your return difficult; make an informal visit to your employer to discuss your return to work plan.

HELPING PEOPLE STAY IN OR RETURN TO WORK - PUBLIC SECTOR SHOULD SET EXAMPLES
Posted Thursday, November 11, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
A DWP 'Framework' has been launched that should help people stay in work who otherwise would be lost to the workforce.
The initiative, which represents a governmental lead in the area of vocational rehabilitation (VR), expressed in the just published document, Building capacity for work - a UK Framework for Vocational
Rehabilitation, involves:
taking appropriate action to ensure Government initiatives related to VR complement each other and contain consistent messages;
setting up a Framework for VR Steering Group to enable stakeholders to contribute to the development of the new approach to VR;
establishing a Research Working Group and a Standards and Accreditation Working Group to take forward these important issues;
developing new guidance and additional tools in recognition that many stakeholders are already committed to VR and are looking for help, for example the HSE's new guidance Managing sickness absence and return to work; considering the issues that stakeholders have suggested need to be addressed as we work towards developing a new approach to VR; and highlighting that the public sector - particularly government departments and devolved administrations - has a significant contribution to make by setting appropriate examples in this area.
"We are embarking on a new approach to helping people who have developed a health condition, impairment or injury to maintain their employment rather than facing enforced withdrawal from the workplace.
Absence management is a critically important issue for many businesses - the CBI estimated the overall cost of sickness absence to the economy was £11 billion in 2002. And in the context of Employers' Liability Compulsory Insurance, more could be done to minimise the effects of illness caused or made worse by work activities.
The Framework will initially focus on how to help people in work to maintain their jobs. In the longer term, as we work to develop the new approach to Vocational Rehabilitation, we will look at addressing the separate, but related barriers to work individuals who are not in the workforce face.
The Government wants to enable more people with a health condition, impairment or injury to access, remain in or return to work for the benefit of all concerned, not least individuals themselves, and their employers.
We can do this by offering appropriate help to access and return to work. We feel strongly that vocational rehabilitation has the potential to contribute to helping us and others deliver these goals." - Jane Kennedy, Minister for Work.

ACCIDENTAL DEATH OF COUNCIL EMPLOYEE DURING TREE FELLING
Posted Thursday, November 11, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
A Chelmsford inquest into the death of Hadrian Robinson, 28, a park ranger employed by Essex County Council, has deemed he died accidentally when a tree felling operation went badly wrong in March 2003.
Mr Robinson, with 2 colleagues, was removing a 10-metre tall tree at the Council's Chalkney Woods site when it fell in an unexpected direction, striking Mr Robinson on the head.
An expert witness explained that the only escape route was blocked by a fence and how the operation to fell the tree was a challenging one for anyone not experienced in directional felling.

WORK AT HEIGHT REGULATIONS - 2M RULE
Posted Thursday, November 11, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
As a result of representations made by the industry, the Health and Safety Commission (HSC) has opened a period of consultation on a proposed regulation to be added to the draft Work at Height Regulations (WAHR) concerning what is an existing legal duty¹ requiring employers in the construction industry to provide particular work equipment and fall protection measures where work is undertaken at or above 2 metres.
The purpose of the exercise is to test the support for such an additional provision in the WAHR and gain a better understanding of whether it will impact on other industries.
Further details and an electronic reply form is at HSE's web site at http://www.hse.gov.uk/consult/letters/falls.htm, the consultation period elapses on Friday 3rd December, the results will be presented to the HSC on 7th December for a decision.

¹ The Construction Health Safety and Welfare Regulations 1996 (CHSWR) provides that for construction work above 2 metres employers should use specific measures to provide fall protection. Guardrails or similar work equipment should be used to prevent falls and sufficient working platforms to do the work. Where it is not practicable to do this, because of the nature or duration of the work, then personal suspension equipment should be used; and where neither of these is practicable other suitable and sufficient means for arresting a fall should be used.

"There has already been extensive consultation on these Regulations, although not on this particular point and because it may have implications for our stakeholders generally, we felt it was important to seek their views now on this issue.
We have already written to the 750 people and organisations who responded to our original consultation but we also want to make sure that everyone who has a view has the opportunity to tell us about it.
The Commission is keen to address this issue and make its recommendations to Ministers by Christmas. This is why the consultation period lasts only 6 weeks." - Bill Callaghan, Chair of HSC.

PLAY CENTRE PROSECUTED AFTER CHILD FELL THROUGH FLOOR
Posted Thursday, November 11, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
The Funtime Factory play centre in Norfolk and its proprietor have pleaded guilty and been fined at Swaffham Magistrates' Court for breaching the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 in the circumstances surrounding an accident at its premises in which Edward Warren, 6, fell down more than 2 metres through an opening in the floor.
Proprietor Darren Butler was fined £5,000 with £1,480 costs, his company was fined £3,700 with £1,482 costs. Investigation by South Norfolk Council, the enforcing authority for the premises, established that the child had entered the poorly lit area where he fell through the unsecured opening, fortunately escaping without serious injury.

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