OWNERS OF CITY ROVERS WARNED ABOUT POSSIBLE WHEEL AND TRIM PROBLEM
Posted Wednesday, May 25, 2005 by Ahmed Khan
The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA), on behalf of the Secretary of State for Transport, is informing all registered keepers of City Rover models of a potential safety risk.
The Administrators of the MG Rover Group Limited have informed VOSA that some City Rover models fitted with steel wheels were supplied with a wheel trim/embellisher that can, under certain operating conditions, rub on the tyre sidewall, resulting in consequential damage to the tyre outer casing.
As a consequence, VOSA advises keepers to arrange to have their vehicle tyres inspected for damage, and for any necessary remedial action to be taken as soon as possible.
VOSA says MG Rover have indicated that, in their view, removal of the wheel trims is all that is necessary to address any potential problem.
HERITAGE/CHARTER TRAIN COMPANIES GAIN SLAM DOOR EXEMPTION
Posted Wednesday, May 25, 2005 by Ahmed Khan
Following consultation, 12 heritage/charter train companies, and other operators of their Mark 1 rolling stock, have been granted exemption from the Railway Safety Regulations 1999 (RSR) to continue to run stock without central door locking (CDL).
The companies - English Welsh and Scottish Railways Ltd (EWS); Fragonset Railways Ltd; Hastings Diesels Ltd; North Yorkshire Moors Railway Enterprises plc; Riviera Trains Ltd; Scottish Highland Railway Company Ltd; Princess Royal Class Locomotive Trust Ltd; Railfilms Ltd; Venice Simplon-Orient-Express Limited (VSOE) - Northern Belle; Scottish Railway Preservation Society Railtours Ltd; Wessex Trains Ltd; West Coast Railway Company Ltd; and Network Rail as infrastructure controller in respect of such rolling stock operations - can now continue to operate this stock but subject to conditions.
The train companies must put in place robust risk mitigation measures before and during operation of the stock, such as on-board supervision of passenger behaviour and door safety, and a manual arrangement of secondary door locks.
A short-term exemption, also subject to conditions, is also granted to Dartmoor Railway Ltd until 12th August 2005 in respect of their Mark I rolling stock operations on their own infrastructure.
TRAGIC DOUBLE FATALITY ILLUSTRATES DANGERS OF OXYGEN DEFICIENT ATMOSPHERES IN TANKS
Posted Wednesday, May 25, 2005 by Ahmed Khan
Hazards associated with entry into confined spaces each year account for too many occupational fatalities, and this has been tragically illustrated by the deaths of a contractor's two employees, stepfather and stepson, who, during March 2003, entered a tank for inspection purposes at Lake Lothing, Suffolk. The older of them entered the disused ballast tank, the other man lost his life when he entered, probably in a rescue attempt.
The deceased, employees of Small and Company Marine Engineering Ltd, Lowestoft, were inspecting the tank within which, over many years and without ventilation, the oxygen levels had become depleted.
HSE investigation and prosecution established that neither man had been specifically trained for confined space entry, and the owners of the tank, Edmund Nuttall Limited, had not assessed the risks to those who could access it, both men were in peril because of failings of others to have risk controls implemented that would have prevented the tragedy.
At Ipswich Crown Court last week, Edmund Nuttall Limited was fined £25,000, with £30,000 costs, Small and Company Marine Engineering Ltd was fined £100,000, with £30,000 costs, each for breaching the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.
FAILURE TO MAINTAIN VEHICLE LED TO TRAGEDY
Posted Wednesday, May 25, 2005 by Ahmed Khan
United Biscuits has admitted breaches of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 and the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 for which it has been fined a total of £150,000, with costs exceeding £20,000, at Leicester Crown Court, relating to a fatal accident in October 2002 at its Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire, premises in which an employee fell from the door of a warehousing vehicle used to move materials.
The prosecution was instigated by the enforcing authority, NW Leicestershire District Council, whose investigation revealed a systematic failure to properly maintain vehicles to the necessary schedule, the deceased falling from a door, the fastening of which had become defective, permitting the fall in which the driver sustained a head injury to which he later succumbed.
United Biscuits states that it has acted to prevent recurrence.
DIVING BUSINESS PROPRIETOR FINED
Posted Wednesday, May 25, 2005 by Ahmed Khan
The HSE wishes to impress on the recreational dive training industry the need to ensure that it is adequately controlled and managed, its message coming after the prosecution of a dive training company owner.
On 6th August 2002, a diving instructor employed by Diventure Salcombe suffered decompression sickness during an Advanced Open Water Course at Hope Cove, Devon. A student in the party began a rapid ascent to the surface, but the employee managed to catch him and slow him down, but subsequently required treatment for decompression sickness.
Investigation established that participants on the dive were exposed to unnecessary risk through diving to a depth significantly greater than that stipulated by the Professional Association of Diving Instructors' (PADI) guidance, and that the employee possessed no approved medical certificate of fitness to dive.
Additionally, the proprietor failed to report the incident under RIDDOR.
The business proprietor, trading as Diventure Salcombe, was fined £2,000, with costs of £2,000, at Totnes Magistrates' Court having pleaded guilty to 3 offences of failing to: adequately plan, manage and conduct a diving project; to ensure the safety of those taking part in the diving activity; and report a dangerous incident to HSE.
The charges were brought under r.6(1) and 10(1) of the Diving at Work Regulations 1997 and r.3(1)(e) of the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR), respectively.
COMMENT
"The message to the diving industry is clear: under the law, people who organise recreational dive training have a duty to ensure the safety of those taking part. In particular, it is vital that before any dive, a suitable risk assessment and diving project plan are prepared that identify potential health and safety risks and then a suitable system of work is put in place to manage them.
HSE has produced an Approved Code of Practice that provides advice and guidance on ensuring dives are carried out safely. Our diving inspectors are also happy to provide similar advice. If in doubt, diving providers should contact us." - HSE Diving Inspector.
"You have been found to have been reckless and negligent in that you failed to adequately plan, manage and conduct the dive and thus put at risk not only ______ but all the participants on it." - Chairman of the Bench on sentencing.
IOSH CONFIRMS CHARTERED STATUS MILESTONE
Posted Friday, May 20, 2005 by Ahmed Khan
The Institution of Occupational Safety & Health has confirmed that it has been successful in its efforts to secure chartered status for its members who, from November, can be designated Chartered safety and health practitioner should they qualify for this under the Institution's rules.
Visit IOSH to view details of its new Continuing Professional Development (CPD) arrangements.
NHS TRUST FINED FOR HEALTH CARE ASSISTANT'S DEATH
Posted Friday, May 20, 2005 by Ahmed Khan
South West London Primary and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust have been fined £28,000 with £14,000 costs over the avoidable death of a junior member of staff working alone at the John Meyer Ward of Springfield University Hospital.
During June 2003 the deceased sustained multiple injuries from a psychiatric patient, he did not have the benefit of clear procedures nor were adequate measures in place to check on his safety.
The Trust admitted that the significant management failure put it in breach of S.2 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 in the circumstances of the incident and was subsequently fined at the Central Criminal. St George's NHS Mental Trust had not implemented risk assessments until after the tragic event.
COMMENT
"By pleading guilty the Trust has acknowledged that it has fallen short of the standards required. Health and safety is not an unnecessary extra, nor should it be a burden on employers. We simply ask for a sensible approach to the identification and management of risks. In this case such an approach would have prevented a tragic and unnecessary loss of a young father, who was simply doing his job as a health care assistant. We want to send a strong message to other hospital trusts and organisations who have to manage potential violence at work." - HSE's Field Operations Director for London.
BUILDING WAS NOT MADE SAFE BEFORE WORKMEN ENTERED
Posted Friday, May 20, 2005 by Ahmed Khan
At Aberdeen Sheriff Court Riverside Construction (Aberdeen) Ltd has admitted and been fined £34,000 for breaching the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 in the circumstances of the death during January 2002 of an employee of another company who was crushed when an unsafe building collapsed on him in Aberdeen.
On sentencing, the Sheriff described the man's death as avoidable, so little control did the company exercise over the building, its structural integrity, and the systems of work adopted, that it was several hours after the partial collapse of several floors before emergency services were summoned, and 3 days before the deceased worker, who had been salvaging fittings from the burnt out former retail premises in Union Street, was recovered.
Technical and procedural errors, such as weakening load bearing walls, precipitated the building collapse, the company effectively failed to ensure the safety of any person entering by allowing access to it while it was in an unsafe condition.
ADVERSE EFFECTS OF SHIFT PATTERNS ON HEALTH - UNISON CONCERN
Posted Friday, May 20, 2005 by Ahmed Khan
Certain shift patterns required of employees may well be taking a toll on their physical and mental health. This is concluded by researchers funded by the HSE who point to the potential for rotating shifts to undermine wellbeing.
The study, Effect of shift schedule on offshore shiftworkers’ circadian rhythms and health, by the University of Surrey sought to establish a basis for advice on the matter for the HSE as to the most appropriate schedules for industry to operate, and for the development of strategies for improving tolerance to shiftwork schedules and curtailment of the effects of desynchrony.
At recent conference UNISON called for all shift patterns to be thoroughly risk assessed and carefully planned and implemented to minimise potential health risks.
WAREHOUSE WORKER FELL TO HIS DEATH
Posted Friday, May 20, 2005 by Ahmed Khan
A jury sitting at Hatfield has returned a narrative verdict in the inquest into the death last August of an employee of DPT (Wear) Ltd to the effect that he fell 4 metres while trying to access a badly stacked container in a warehouse at its premises in Welwyn Garden City, Herts. He sustained a severe head injury, it is believed he physically climbed up the structure from which he fell, the enforcing local authority investigation suggesting that no health and safety law breach was involved.
A jury can return a narrative verdict, which is a short, factual statement setting out the circumstances of the death if this better and more accurately relates the manner the deceased came to his death, an alternative to the standard verdict phrases.
NORTHAMPTON CLINIC IGNORED HEALTH AND SAFETY DUTIES
Posted Friday, May 20, 2005 by Ahmed Khan
A fire last September at the Northampton premises of Cheyne Walk Clinic Ltd brought to light an apparent disregard for health and safety, the incident resulted in burns to the hands, arms and legs of a female employee. The nail technician was instructed to extinguish candles and to decant acetone for nail varnish remover over a sink, however, because of the solvent's vapour where the lit candles had been placed, the vapours were ignited and inflicted the injuries.
The event attracted the attention of the enforcing authorities, a senior environmental health officer at Northampton Borough Council inspected the clinic and found no risk assessment had been conducted, in contravention of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, both Prohibition and Improvement Notices were served in relation to this and an unsafe system of work.
An officer of Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service inspected the premises and found no fire emergency plan or evacuation procedure, no records of testing fire alarms or emergency lighting were kept, and fire exits were unusable.
At Northampton Magistrates' Court, Cheyne Walk Clinic Ltd was fined £10,000, with costs of £950, after pleading guilty to failing to provide and maintain a safe system of work and ensure the health, safety and welfare of the company's employees.
COMMENT
"The fire exit door leading from the office area was fitted with a mortise lock and a key in the door. The fire exit door from the crèche area could also not be opened. Both doors should be easily and readily opened in the case of fire without use of a key." - Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service.
"Given the severity of the incident and the potential for serious harm I issued a prohibition notice under S.22 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 prohibiting the work activity as I believe it to be an unsafe system of work." - Northampton Borough Council Senior environmental health officer.
"This council is committed to ensuring the places people work in Northampton are safe. The seriousness of this incident that highlights the importance of the need for an effective health and safety system within a company. Most employers are very conscious of their obligations and always cooperate with our officers, however this case clearly demonstrates a lack of concern." - Northampton Borough Council's Environmental health manager.
MOVES TO IMPROVE SITE SAFETY IN PLYMOUTH AREA
Posted Friday, May 20, 2005 by Ahmed Khan
A joint agency initiative is shortly to begin in the Plymouth area which is intended to bring improvements to the standard of health and safety prevailing on the areas construction sites. HSE, with Plymouth Council, is participating in the pilot initiative which will see Plymouth Building Control Officers recommending small building firms to attend free health and safety training being offered by HSE's Working Well Together (WWT) campaign. HSE construction inspectors will increase the number of unannounced visits to small sites, beginning this week, and will take enforcement measures where they are warranted by the conditions or activities. The training offered aims to equip small contractors with the knowledge and skills to manage the risks, WWT SW group members have developed a programme of targeted training events in Plymouth to be delivered in small packages to avoid significant disruption to their working day, subject matter includes: avoiding slips and trips; ill health; working at height; manual handling; COSHH; safe site traffic management; and identifying and working safely with asbestos.
HSE says delegates completing the course will be offered free training to help them produce risk assessments and method statements, and will also have the opportunity of free assessment leading to registration with the Contractors Health and Safety Assessment Scheme (CHAS) which many local authorities require contactors to hold for admission to their 'preferred contractor list'.
For more information telephone 0117 973 6891.
COMMENT
"Since October last year, 6 people from the South West have been killed as a direct result of work on construction sites. 6 groups of families and friends have to live without a loved one. Many more workers were seriously injured or continue to suffer ill health.
Sadly, a small percentage of the industry, still pay scant regard to the health and safety of their colleagues or the public. This is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. HSE is providing help for those who are willing to help themselves, but we will take a robust approach with those who don't. Inspectors have been instructed to use the full extent of their enforcement powers during the blitz.
Unfortunately, I have little doubt that some contractors will have formal legal enforcement action taken against them and may even be prosecuted. However, if contractors demonstrate a commitment to improve their health and safety standards by attending training we will take this favourably into account." - HSE Principal Inspector for Construction.
"We welcome this opportunity to work with HSE to engage small contractors, encouraging them to take action to improve their health and safety performance. By taking this course contractors will be confident they are working safely and meeting minimum legal requirements." - Plymouth City Council's Chair of Corporate Health and Safety Committee.
PRINCIPAL CONTRACTOR FINED OVER FALL FROM HEIGHT ACCIDENT
Posted Friday, May 20, 2005 by Ahmed Khan
A principal contractor has been prosecuted and fined following HSE investigation of an accident during January 2003 on its site at Squarehouse Farm, Tattenhall, in Cheshire.
The project comprised of the conversion of a barn into 4 dwellinghouses. One morning a bricklayer was removing mortar from his spot board through a window on the 2nd floor, having first checked there was no one working below. As he turned to make his way to his workplace, he fell 2.5 metres down through an unprotected opening onto the concrete floor below, sustaining a broken collarbone. A contributory factor may have been the accident victim's failure to notice the opening because of the low level of natural light entering the room in January.
At Chester Magistrates' Court Hawk Facilities Ltd of Wem, Shropshire, pleaded guilty to a breach of r.5(2) of the Construction (Health, Safety & Welfare) Regulations 1996¹ for which it was fined the maximum penalty of £5000, with £11,336.44 costs.
¹ R.5(2) of the Construction (Health, Safety & Welfare) Regulations requires employers to ensure that every workplace is, so far as is reasonably practicable, kept safe for, and without risks to the health to, any person.
COMMENT
"Companies need to ensure that appropriate safety measures are implemented on site to prevent falls and to provide a safe working environment. Those managing sites need to competent - that is to have the appropriate level of training and experience - to ensure that such measures are implemented, and once implemented, that they are maintained appropriately.
Falls from height remain the biggest cause of fatal accidents and major injuries in the construction industry. There is a significant amount of guidance on the subject published by HSE and other bodies such as the CITB. I would urge all those in the Industry to ensure that they are aware of the relevant standards to meet the requirements of the law.
The accident victim suffered serious injuries as a result of his fall, but it could have been worse. The Magistrates have shown how serious they consider this incident by imposing the maximum fine." - prosecuting HSE Inspector.
CARAVAN INDUSTRY MEETS TO SHARE IDEAS ON HEALTH AND SAFETY
Posted Friday, May 20, 2005 by Ahmed Khan
A gathering of caravan manufacturers from Yorkshire and Humberside took place at an HSE safety event in Hull, on Wednesday 4th May.
15 companies were represented at Willerby Holiday Homes in Hull, the UK's largest manufacturer of static caravans.
HSE speakers addressed health and safety issues, such as falls from height, musculoskeletal injury and other risks encountered in the activity.
COMMENT
"The event will bring together key industry players in the region for the first time and we hope the event will lead to a regional safety forum and the creation of a benchmark health and safety standard for the industry. Although caravan manufacturers face similar health and safety issues to other manufacturing sectors, a safety forum will be an important outlet for discussing industry specific issues, such as fall prevention during roofing work and back injuries. Caravan manufacturers must also ensure that they take action to prevent the other major causes accident and ill health in British industry, such as slips and trips and asthma caused by chemicals." - HSE inspector.
EUROPEAN TRADE UNION INSTITUTE FOR RESEARCH, EDUCATION AND HEALTH AND SAFETY FORMED
Posted Friday, May 20, 2005 by Ahmed Khan
The European Trade Union Technical Bureau for Health and Safety (TUTB) merged last month with the European Trade Union Institute (ETUI) and the European Trade Union College (ETUCO), who will now collectively operate as the not-for-profit organisation, the European Trade Union Institute for Research, Education and Health and Safety (ETUI-REHS), and will employ around 60 persons.
COMMENT
"The new institute will provide the kind of research, expertise and support needed by decision-makers to maintain the impetus for Social Europe. It will promote international solidarity, justice and well-being by giving protection to workers both in the EU Member States and the countries preparing to join". - Director, ETUI-REHS.
"There are many overlaps between these areas of knowledge which, when united in one organisation, will bring a real value-added to the work of our movement"- General Secretary ETUC.
CASE STUDIES PROVIDE VALUABLE FUND OF GOOD PRACTICE IN CONSTRUCTION
Posted Friday, May 20, 2005 by Ahmed Khan
Case studies provide valuable fund of good practice in construction
It has never been easier to find examples of, and attempt to emulate, good practice in health and safety demonstrated by others in your industry.
HSE's latest Worker engagement case studies offer numerous ways to enlist the active participation of employees who are well placed to observe and suggest better ways of working: how Allison Homes, part of the Kier Group, promotes worker engagement to encourage each member of staff to feel that they are valued members of the company, whose input and action is just as important as that of the board of directors;
Vange Scaffolding and Engineering Co Ltd fosters an environment where 2-way communication and commitment to health and safety is possible, and a robust H & S management systems approach which is easily understood by management, supervision and operatives;
Alfred McAlpine’s street lighting team, part of its Infrastructure Services business, worked with the Union of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians (UCATT) to encourage all company employees to be proactive in getting involved in health and safety with assistance from H&S consultants. A works council was established and training provided for elected representatives.