HSE GRANTS DECOMMISSIONING CONSENT AT SIZEWELL A POWER STATION
Posted Friday, May 26, 2006 by Ahmed Khan
Following an application by the licensee, Magnox Electric Ltd, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has granted consent for a decommissioning project at Sizewell A nuclear power station in Suffolk. The station is due to cease operation this year, after 40 years of electricity generation.
HSE’s decision follows extensive consultation and takes into account factors such as the adequacy of information provided by Magnox Electric Ltd, the conclusion that environmental benefits will far outweigh any detriments and the prediction there will be no significant effects on other countries.
As required by law, HSE has published a report describing the reasons and considerations behind its decision, the conditions attached to the consent and the measures Magnox Electric Ltd will take to control any significant environmental effects. It also provides information on the legal framework for nuclear safety, in particular the regulations under which the consent was granted.
Copies of 'The decision on the application to carry out a decommissioning project at Sizewell A power station under the Nuclear Reactors (Environmental Impact Assessment for Decommissioning) Regulations 1999: A report prepared by the Health and Safety Executive’are available from: HSE Knowledge Centre , Building 1 , Redgrave Court , Merton Road , Bootle L20 7HS. Tel: 0151 951 4000; knowledgecentre@hse.gsi.gov.uk
LANCS CONSTABULARY WINS PUBLIC SERVANT OF THE YEAR AWARD
Posted Friday, May 26, 2006 by Ahmed Khan
Bill Callaghan, Chair of the Health and Safety Commission (HSC) announced Lancashire Constabulary as the winner of the HSE sponsored ‘improving workings lives – putting people first’ public servant of the year award.
The award recognises and rewards those who have achieved significant success in their role as public servants, and have demonstrated commitment, endeavour and innovation in a crucial role serving their local community.
The safety and welfare at Lancashire Constabulary team created a healthy police plan including reviews of sickness absence, this established the need for early intervention by line managers to secure effective medical support. The results of their efforts was that by September last year sickness rates were down 17% on the year before, putting 25 more officers on the streets each day. Sickness rates for the support staff fell by 20% and long-term sickness absence cases more than halved.
Congratulating the finalists Mr Callaghan said, "The HSC was impressed with the calibre of the work undertaken by safety and welfare team at Lancashire Constabulary to reduce reducing sickness absence for both front line and support staff. The runners up, Causeway Health and Social Services Trust Northern Ireland, the Occupational health and the Voice care team, Stevenson College Edinburgh, through their work have benefited their local community immensely. The work they and their organisations do to promote better health and safety through improved literacy and IT skills, health screening and early intervention to provide medical support has been exemplary"
"This shows that the public sector can lead by example in tackling workplace health issues. If more organisations follow this lead we will have a healthier and more productive public sector. Too often, public sector performance is compared unfavourably with that of the private sector. These awards show what can be done with efficiency and productivity gain from relatively modest investment."
More than 35 million working days are lost each year to occupational ill health and injury. Health and safety has a crucial role to play in reducing this enormous burden, preventing work-related illness and injury and improving rehabilitation and return to work support."
A FIFTH OF BRITISH WORKERS CONCERNED ABOUT WORK-RELATED STRESS
Posted Friday, May 26, 2006 by Ahmed Khan
A recent report published by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) shows that just over a fifth of British workers are concerned about work-related stress. The survey report can be downloaded from: www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/books.htm#whass
Figures derived from the Labour Force Survey in 2004/05 indicate that around 13 million working days were lost due to work-related stress in this year. Stress along with Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) accounted for around 70% of all work-related working days lost in Great Britain.
HSE Chief Executive Geoffrey Podger said, “Stress is a major problem in British workplaces and this survey underlines that. Stress can occur in any workplace and it is important that both employers and employees recognise the symptoms at an early stage. We have produced guidance for employers and the stress management standards can help employers tackle the issue.”
Around 40% thought that the risk of stress in the workplace could be realistically reduced and less than a third said that their employers had taken preventative action to reduce stress levels in the workplace.
The Workplace Health and Safety Survey (WHASS) was conducted between August and December last year surveyed just over 10,000 workers. The survey concerned employee perceptions of workplace risk and covered a number of different risk categories.
The report released today covers the initial findings of the survey. Further analyses will provide more detailed patterns by industry and assessments of preventive measures within the different risk categories.
The data obtained from the survey will give the HSE a better understanding of how health and safety is being managed in Britain’s workplaces and will help to identify what is working and what isn’t and why, from the perspective of the workers.
When employees were also asked which risks they thought could realistically be reduced, slips and trips topped the list. Slips and trips cost employers around £512 million every year.
Other significant findings in the report surrounded health and safety training that employees received. Around 73% of employees received training in manual handling but only half of employees surveyed received training about working around moving vehicles.This is significant as 35 workers were killed last year after being struck by a moving vehicle.
CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES FINED FOLLOWING FATALITY ON A LONDON BUILDING SITE
Posted Friday, May 19, 2006 by Ahmed Khan
John Doyle Construction Limited of Welwyn Garden City, Herts and Exterior International Plc of London, EC2 were fined a total of £350,000 following the investigation into a fatal incident on a building site on 6 August 2002, at Albion Riverside Development, Hester Road, Battersea, London SW11.
Jack Tangney, a 29 year old from New Zealand died when a large timber panel called a ‘shutter’, which fell to the ground whilst it was being lifted from the ground to the 9th floor, from the north west corner of the site, struck him.
Speaking after the case, investigating inspector Emma Davies went on to say;
"The risk of serious injury, or worse from badly planned lifting operations is well known in the industry; as are the measures needed to manage them. Had these construction companies carried out an appropriate risk assessment, Mr Tangey would be alive today. This avoidable incident is an example of how badly things can go wrong when lifting operations are not planned or supervised properly. When carrying out lifting operations on site, three key elements must be in place to ensure the safety of the lift - a competent person is involved in planning the lift - the lift is adequately supervised - and the lift is carried out in a safe manner. "
John Doyle Construction Limited, Mr Tangey’s employer, was fined £200,00 for contravening section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and £50,000 for contravening section 3(1) of the same Act.
Exterior International Plc were fined £100,000 for contravening section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.
NEW GUIDANCE ON WORKING WITH DANGEROUS PATHOGENS
Posted Friday, May 19, 2006 by Ahmed Khan
The Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens (ACDP) has published new health and safety guidance on how to control the risks posed from infections at work.
Biological agents: The principles, design and operation of containment level 4 facilities is aimed at those responsible for working with the highest hazard pathogens.
It is based on the principles contained in the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH) 2002. These regulations place a duty on employers to identify the hazards in the workplace, assess the risk posed and put control measures in place to control these risks.
The guidance, which has been developed in partnership with experts from ACDP, the biotechnology industry, HSE and other Government Departments, is intended for all laboratories in which high hazard human pathogens may be handled; prevention of exposure and potential infection from these highly pathogenic organisms is important for both workers health and safety and public health.
Professor George Griffin, Chair of ACDP, said: “This guidance is aimed at providing employers, users and designers of containment level 4 facilities with the information needed to assess, understand and control the infection risks to their staff arising from work with high hazard pathogens.’’
CONSULTATION ON NEW GAS SAFETY BODY
Posted Friday, May 19, 2006 by Ahmed Khan
The HSE has started a consultation exercise following an application from The National Association of Professional Inspectors and Testers (NAPIT) to set up a new gas safety registration body.
HSE is actively consulting key stakeholders. Those interested in commenting should visit the HSE website at www.hse.gov.uk/gas/domestic/issues.htm where a consultation document can be found, including NAPIT’s application.
The application will be assessed against well-established criteria for evaluating a new registration body, developed by HSE for this purpose. To date CORGI have been the sole successful applicant for this role. This consultation looks at the pros and cons of two services existing for consumers and the domestic gas industry.
In assessing a new application HSE will be looking at matters such as whether the proposed approach by NAPIT would be able to meet the following aims: to register efficiently any business which comes within the scope of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 (The Regulations), and to promote the need for registration; to ensure that businesses entering or remaining on the register are able to demonstrate their competence to undertake safe gas work; to positively promote the use of registered businesses by the public, and thoroughly investigate all complaints alleging unsafe workmanship; to establish, maintain or improve standards for gas work that contribute to gas safety; and for monitoring the continuing competence of registered businesses and individual operatives.
The consultation document was published on 10 May 2006. Comments should be mailed to napit.consultation@hse.gsi.gov.uk by the close of the eight-week consultation period on 5 July 2006.
Every year about 20-30 people die from carbon monoxide poisoning associated with domestic gas appliances, mainly due to these appliances not having been properly installed or maintained. HSE enforces the legislation aimed at preventing such tragedies.
BACK TO LADDERS DUE TO DROUGHT - ADVICE TO WINDOW CLEANERS
Posted Friday, May 19, 2006 by Ahmed Khan
"If you decide to go back to using ladders and a bucket for window cleaning during a drought, remember to make sure you have assessed all the risks."
This is the message from Dr Elizabeth Gibby, Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) Director of Injury Reduction Programme, in response to questions from the window cleaning industry clarifying how the Work at Height Regulations (WAHR) apply to window cleaners in any areas where water companies operate Drought Orders.
The WAHR, which came into force on 6 April 2005, introduce a simple hierarchy of risk management and equipment selection. The first step is to avoid work at height where reasonably practicable; changes in the industry in recent years have encouraged window cleaners to adopt waterfed pole systems.
Some water companies in the South of England are now seeking to restrict the non-essential use of water in their areas, including the cleaning of windows by hosepipes and other similar apparatus – which could include waterfed poles.
Considering the possible impact of Drought Orders, Dr Elizabeth Gibby, said, "Our approach to the application of the WAHR remains unchanged. Should water restrictions effectively ban the use of waterfed poles and it is not reasonably practicable to clean windows at height, HSE will expect window cleaners to apply the WAHR hierarchy in selecting appropriate equipment and managing risks arising from work at height.
This may mean, that for the duration of any ban, some window cleaners will return to using moveable ladders. In these circumstances I would urge them to become re-acquainted with the risks, and take the necessary precautionary action."
Dr Gibby added, "In applying WAHR to window cleaning during a drought we need to adopt a pragmatic and practical approach enabling the industry to use alternative equipment in pursuing their business. The nature of the WAHR provide the flexibility to do this"
"Workplace falls from height are the biggest cause of fatal injuries. There were 53 deaths in 2004/05 and nearly 3800 major injuries. Many of these injuries could have been prevented if sensible measures had been taken."
HSE ISSUES PRECATIONARY ADVICE AFTER DIVE CYLINDER VALVE FAILS
Posted Friday, May 19, 2006 by Ahmed Khan
The HSE has issued precautionary advice to dive shop owners and any other people carrying out gas analysis on diving cylinders after an incident at a dive shop where two people were injured after a valve was ejected from a cylinder.
The incident happened during gas analysis of a Draeger rebreather four-litre steel cylinder, which had been charged with Nitrox. A charging adaptor had been supplied by the customer and was still fitted to the cylinder valve. The cylinder did not have a ‘boot’ that would have allowed it to stand upright unsupported. Instead, the person carrying out the gas analysis held the cylinder upright with one hand.
As the cylinder valve was opened to allow a low flow of gas for analysis there was an unexplained increase in flow causing the cylinder to rotate violently, injuring the hand of the person holding it. As a result, he let go and the cylinder spun off into the shop. A member of the public was injured trying to stop the spinning cylinder with his foot, as he tried to stop it hitting his son. At this point the valve, still fitted with the charging adaptor, was ejected from the cylinder. The cylinder flew out of the dive shop and travelled a further 20 metres before coming to rest outside. The valve travelled about three metres within the shop.
Despite being analysed by scientific and engineering specialists, it is still not clear why there was an increase in gas flow or what caused the cylinder valve to be ejected.
However, HSE is issuing precautionary advice to reduce the risk of a similar incident happening. In particular, when a charging adaptor is fitted to the cylinder, there is a possibility that if struck it will affect the torque applied between the cylinder and cylinder valve. To reduce the probability of this happening charging adaptors should only be fitted immediately before charging and removed immediately afterwards.
Charging adaptors which are used with pure oxygen or oxygen enriched (oxygen greater than 21 per cent) gases should be suitable for use with oxygen. In order to maintain their ‘fit for oxygen’ status when not in use they should be stored to maintain that status – for example, placed in a clean transparent bag, which can be sealed closed and then placed in a second similar bag.
Furthermore, when carrying out any checks that require the cylinder valve to be opened the cylinder should be secured in a manner that:
allows both hands of the checker to be free. i.e. one hand to operate the valve and the other to hold any test equipment; and does not allow the cylinder to fall over or be dropped.
HSE TO PROSECUTE BRITISH NUCLEAR GROUP FOLLOWING LEAK AT SELLAFIELD PLANT
Posted Friday, May 19, 2006 by Ahmed Khan
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is bringing a criminal prosecution against British Nuclear Group Sellafield Ltd (BNGSL) in connection with an incident at the Sellafield reprocessing site.
The prosecution follows a detailed investigation by HSE’s Nuclear Installations Inspectorate into a leak of radioactive liquor inside a heavily shielded facility at the THermal Oxide Reprocessing Plant (THORP). HSE was notified of the incident on 20 April 2005.
HSE has applied to the courts for summonses alleging that BNGSL breached three conditions attached to the Sellafield site licence granted under the Nuclear Installations Act 1965 (as amended). In summary these conditions require the licensee: to make, and comply with, written instructions; to ensure safety systems are in good working order; and to ensure radioactive material is contained and, if leaks occur, they are detected and reported.
An initial hearing is scheduled for 8 June 2006 at Whitehaven Magistrates Court, Cumbria.
NEW ADVANCED TEST SETS BENCHMARK FOR BUSINESS DRIVERS
Posted Friday, May 19, 2006 by Ahmed Khan
The first advanced driving test designed purely for business drivers has recently been launched by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents and DriveTech (UK) Limited in an effort to cut deaths and injuries on Britain’s roads.
ROADTest is specifically aimed at slashing crashes involving people who drive as part of their job – particularly company car and van drivers, who have accident rates 35 to 50 per cent higher than private drivers.
Between 800 and 1,000 deaths in Britain each year are linked to people being on the road for work purposes, making it the country’s biggest occupational health and safety problem. Those covering 25,000 miles a year are as likely to be killed as people in widely-recognised high-risk jobs such as construction and quarrying.
Advanced drivers have been shown to be around 25 per cent less likely to be involved in a crash, and that is why RoSPA and driver training company DriveTech (UK) joined forces to develop a test to promote higher safety standards in the fleet industry.
ROADTest - the RoSPA Occupational Advanced Driving Test - will set the benchmark for “at work” driving. It is the first training programme to offer a recognised qualification that acknowledges the reality of driving for work purposes.
As well as demonstrating outstanding driving skills, candidates will have to prove their knowledge of key occupational road risk issues such as journey plans, safe speeds, fatigue, drink and drugs, mobile phone use and storing equipment.
Charles Davis, RoSPA Head of Driver and Fleet Solutions, said: “This test is set to become the national standard for business drivers. It has been developed with input from RoSPA and DriveTech (UK) customers to provide a hazard perception assessment together with a theory and practical test leading to a qualification that will be recognised and respected by anyone who employs company drivers.”
Andy Wheeler, Director of Training at DriveTech (UK), said: “A specific test has long been needed for business drivers because of the high mileages they cover and the pressures they face to meet deadlines when out on the road. Companies who ask their drivers to take the test will benefit from having a safer and more efficient fleet.”
The test can be taken through either RoSPA or DriveTech (UK) and has three pass grades – gold, silver and bronze. A pass is valid for three years. The amount of tuition needed will depend on the candidate’s existing standard of driving and previous training experience. A typical driver could expect to take three days of training, but as ROADTest is a modular programme, it can be completed in anywhere between three months and three years, depending on business needs, work commitments and practice time needed.
ANNOUNCEMENT
Posted Sunday, May 7, 2006 by Ahmed Khan
Since its inception, the sole purpose of our LATEST NEWS Section has been to provide employers, employees and the general public with a useful source of information on health and safety issues and how these may impact on the workplace, the individual and the environment.
Where possible we also include information on the following:
Developments within the industry
Changes in the law including; new regulations and legal requirements
Examples of good and bad practise
Information on injuries (including deaths) as a result things going wrong
Prosectutions resulting from bad practise, failure to heed warnings and examples of negligence.
Unlike many organisations our policy is to circulate health and safety news as widely as possible with the sole aim of improving health and safety for the benefit of everyone. We have resisted the temptation to try to SELL ‘ADD ONS’ based on the information we have provided. For example, Health and Safety Consultancy services, training, seminars and employment opportuniites. We feel strongly that any information we supply must be unbiased, impartial and above all free from any constraints that the need to make money may impose - we truly value our independence!
The majority of the information published on our website is based on articles, press releases and news ‘snippets’ supplied by a number of organisations including:
The Health and Safety Executive
Various Trade Unions
Various Professional Bodies and Trade Federations
The Media
Industry Specific Websites
Publishing Houses and Organisations
Generally speaking the information obtained from other sources is copyright free or any copyright has been waived providing an acknowledgement is given.
In recent years a number of articles were supplied courtesy of Brown Internet Publishing who are associated with a safety news website. Originally this website allowed articles to be re-produced providing an acknowledgement of source was given. In our case this took the form of a specific acknowledgment rather than an attachment to every article.
It is with regret that we will no longer be able to re-produce articles supplied courtesy of Brown Internet publishing as it has been brought to our attention that the original policy appears to have been revised and that consent (implied or otherwise) to use this material has now been withdrawn.
However, we are pleased to announce that we will continue to provide health and safety news and information via our LATEST NEWS section. In reality you the reader will not notice any difference as the majority of our articles have been and will continue to be sourced from articles freely available to everyone.