October 2004

OVER 2,000 CONSTRUCTION ACCIDENTS EACH DAY IN EU
Posted Friday, October 29, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
The figures for fatal and major accidents in construction appear colossal when EU member states aggregate their statistics. The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work reports that construction accidents cause 1,200 deaths each year, resulting from over 800,000 accidents that cost the EU over €75 billion annually.
Speaking during this year's European Construction Safety Week (18-22nd October 2004) Odile Quintin, European Commission Director General for Employment and Social Affairs, commented: "The accident figures are high but there are signs of improvement. Fatalities are down from 1,300 to 1,200 a year and the total number of accidents has declined from 850,000 to 822,000 a year. This shows that Community health and safety legislation is yielding results. But it is not enough just to have legislation. It must be implemented. And, more than that, we must develop a culture of prevention. An accident happens at the work place every 5 seconds. All those involved – public authorities, employers and workers - must play their part in tackling this problem and preventing accidents by implementing the legislation - for example the Directive on minimum health and safety requirements at temporary or mobile construction sites."

INDEFENSIBLE
Stephen Hughes, MEP, the European Parliament’s health and safety spokesperson, described the death toll as 'indefensible', and urged that more be done to enforce EU legislation.
Mr Hughes noted that "with public sector construction projects accounting for at least a quarter of the construction industry’s orders, Member State, regional and local authorities across the EU should make a concerted effort to set high health and safety standards in the construction projects they themselves commission. This approach is now openly encouraged by the recently adopted EU procurement Directive and would fully support the effective implementation of the EU construction safety directive.”
The Agency will be holding the 1st European Construction Safety Summit on 22nd November in Bilbao.
The latest issue of the Agency magazine focuses on construction and includes a number of articles that explore ways to improve occupational safety and health standards. Topics covered include:
coordinated action in the Europe construction industry: a review of the recent inspection campaign run by the Senior Labour Inspectors’ Committee (SLIC); social dialogue in construction: how two of Europe’s biggest social partners in construction, the European Construction Industry Federation (FIEC) and the European Federation of Building and Wood Workers (EFBWW), are teaming up to lift standards; achieving excellence in construction procurement: How buying ‘safely’ not only reduces the risks of accidents and ill-health but also saves money; promotion of action to improve safety and health with small construction companies: a round-up of various examples of good practice for SMEs; safe maintenance of work equipment in construction: a description of a new and highly successful equipment manual being rolled out in the Netherlands.
Copies of the magazine can be downloaded from the Agency’s website at http://agency.osha.eu.int/publications/magazine/7/en/index.htm.

INSPECTIONS WILL IDENTIFY HOMES WITH CO RISK
Posted Friday, October 29, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
The HSE and Kirklees Council have launched a campaign to identify homes whose occupants are thought to be at greater risk of carbon monoxide poisoning and to generally raise awareness of the dangers presented by this insidious gas.
The campaign is deemed necessary because of the circumstances of the death earlier this year of Dominic Rodgers, 10, from carbon monoxide poisoning in the town's Fartown district.
17,000 homes are targeted for inspection, all homes of a similar construction to Dominic's are to be checked to prevent the possibility of a repeat occurrence, the carbon monoxide that led to Dominic's death was thought to have seeped in through the floor of his room while he slept.

"However unlikely the combination of events were that may have led to Dominic's tragic death, we need to be sure they can never happen again.
Working with Kirklees Council, we now have a team of trained housing inspectors who will survey the 17,000 homes in this area and visit those identified as being at risk to carry out a series of visual checks on things like the positions of flues and the condition of walls and ceilings within passageways. The homes we are particularly keen to find are those which, like Dominic's, are back-to-back and have flues located in their passageways.
The inspectors will determine whether further checks or remedial works are necessary and help householders to ensure the work gets done.
However, we are advising anyone with a flue terminal in a passageway not to panic. If there are smells of gas or fumes inside your house, you should call the Transco emergency number which is 0800 111 999.
Anyone who is concerned about the safety of a gas installation in their home should ask a CORGI registered gas engineer to inspect the installation. To find a CORGI registered engineer, or to report an unsafe installation, CORGI can be contacted on 0870 401 2300." - David Powell, HM Inspector of Health and Safety.

STEPLADDERS AND OTHER TEMPORARY ACCESS EQUIPMENT
Posted Friday, October 29, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
Guidance has been published aimed at electricians and other engineering contractors to help them decide how to wisely select temporary access equipment and reduce the risk of falls from stepladders if these are chosen as appropriate.
Practical alternatives to using stepladders has been published by the Electrical Contractors' Association (ECA), its 'Zero Accident Potential' initiative contribution to the 'European Week for Safety and Health at Work', and was created with the support of the HSE, Amicus and several leading trade associations. It covers: planning;
risk assessment; competency; training and choosing temporary access equipment; and gives advice on the safe use of stepladders, if they are the chosen means of access.
The ECA guidance is in two parts, the 2nd part will appear next month, with more information on possible alternatives to using stepladders, such as platform steps to podiums, towers and mobile platforms.

"The guide is designed to help both contractors and clients. Contractors need to keep an open mind about choosing and using alternatives to steps, particularly in advance of next year's Work at Height Regulations. However, if clients or major contractors ban steps they should be prepared to discuss practical alternatives with contractors." - Paul Reeve, ECA health and safety adviser.
"HSE is committed to being a good partner. Working with others to improve health and safety is key as the people best placed to make workplaces safer are the staff and managers who work in them. In 2003/04, 67 workers died and many thousands more suffered serious injury as a result of a fall from height in the workplace. Falls are the most common cause of fatal injury and the second most common cause of major injury to employees. This guidance is one way in which we hope to reduce the risk of falls from height and improve safety at work." - Andrew East, HSE inspector.

SLAM-DOOR TRAINS TO BE PHASED OUT MORE SLOWLY
Posted Friday, October 29, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
Following public consultation and by means of HSE-granted exemptions from the Railway Safety Regulations 1999 (RSR), 3 Train Operating Companies (TOCs) - Southern, South West Trains Ltd and South Eastern Trains Ltd - and Network Rail are to continue to run remaining Mark I rolling stock without central door locking until 30th November 2005, subject to conditions. 'Mark I' carriages have a poor safety record in collisions because, while they have a robust chassis, they also have a relatively weak body shell. Without exemptions, to remain compliant with the law on 1st January 2005, TOCs would have had to reduce services significantly, causing severe disruption to passengers and the possible introduction of new risks. .
The exemption conditions include the TOCs agreeing to a programme with HSE before 1st January 2005 for the progressive withdrawal of remaining Mark I rolling stock as soon as reasonably practicable and no later than 30th November 2005. HSE had agreed that it would not be reasonably practicable to fit central door locking to rolling stock with such a limited life but the programme will require the TOCs to implement measures to manage safety risks, so far as reasonably practicable, in respect of doors and windows.

MANCHESTER FIRE SERVICE NOT GUILTY VERDICT
Posted Friday, October 29, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
Bolton Crown Court has found Greater Manchester Fire and Civil Defence not guilty of charges that it failed to ensure the safety of its employees engaged in water rescue.
The prosecution arose following HSE investigation of the circumstances surrounding the tragic death in a rescue attempt made by part-time firefighter Paul Metcalf, 40, who lost his life attempting to save Reyaz Ali, 15, who also drowned at Holcombe Brook, Lancashire, in September 1999. Mr Metcalf entered the water attached only by a simple rope, without the benefit of special training and equipment now made available to firefighters across the country.

BLACKPOOL BOROUGH COUNCIL FINED OVER DEATH OF 4-YEAR-OLD
Posted Friday, October 29, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
Blackpool Borough Council has been prosecuted and fined £120,000 with £10,000 costs by Preston Crown Court for breaching health and safety legislation in the circumstances surrounding the November 2001 accidental drowning at Woodlands School of Emma Farrar, 4, a pupil at Park School.
The girl, who had learning disabilities, was found by a teaching assistant some 20 minutes after the other pupils had returned to the changing area. The Council was criticised in court for failing to provide adequately trained supervision of the swimming lesson.
Justice Brown was critical of the Council and less than complimentary of the HSE, the Crown Prosecution Service and the police over what he considered to be undue delay in instigating the prosecution.

HSE SAYS DESIGNERS 'CAN DO MORE'
Posted Friday, October 29, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
It is estimated that somewhere between 17-30% of all accidents could have been avoided by designers' actions. During November teams of HSE construction inspectors are to implement an initiative across the West Midlands and Warwickshire that involves face to face meetings with designers and planning supervisors to learn how well they are meeting duties owed under the Construction (Design & Management) Regulations 1994 (CDM). HSE believes these duty holders 'Can Do More' to reduce risks and accidents in construction, and it expects the initiative will help identify areas where designers can better protect construction workers, particularly on falls from height and site transport. Inspectors hope to find examples of innovative solutions used by designers to address these risks.

RESOURCES
HSE has listed the following web pages which are immediately relevant to the work of designers:
http://www.hse.gov.uk/ - HSE's web site offering general information;
http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2003/e03234a.htm - an overview of recent activity and plans for improving compliance with CDM designer duties;
http://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/designers - information specifically targeted at CDM designers - these include what designers do and don't have to do, a designer self-assessment compliance from, examples of materials and processes on red and green lists etc.;
http://www.safetyindesign.org/ - this Construction Industry Council site has 18 practical design guides on how to eliminate and reduce hazards;
http://www.hse.gov.uk/research/rrhtm/rr156.htm - a report on research undertaken by Loughborough University and UMIST- Causal Factors in Construction Accidents;
http://www.hse.gov.uk/research/rrhtm/rr116.htm - a report on research undertaken by Bomel Ltd - Falls from Height - Prevention and Risk Control Effectiveness;
http://www.hse.gov.uk/research/rrhtm/rr148.htm - a report including practical examples by HSE and Greenstreet Berman Ltd - The case for CDM - better, safer design;
http://www.design4health.com/ - Loughborough University co-ordinated toolkit providing interactive guidance for designers on how to reduce occupational health risks faced by construction workers by good design;
http://www.ciria.org.uk/ - CIRIA Publications.

"This is a major initiative involving a team of Construction inspectors from 4 HSE offices in the Midlands. We will be contacting planning supervisors and designers for a wide range of projects in the West Midlands conurbation and Warwickshire to arrange site meetings. Designers will be invited to show what they have done during the design stage to reduce risks to construction workers and also to consider the safety of maintenance workers during the future life of the structure.
Work at height continues to be the most significant cause of fatal accidents on construction sites in the UK. It is responsible for around 40% of all deaths. In addition, vehicle incidents account for 11% of construction fatalities and over 100 major injuries each year. Safety of site transport is not just the driver's responsibility. Site design, layout, planning and procurement management are key controls.
Proper management of all site risks including the reduction or elimination of the most serious risks at source can make significant impact on the number of deaths, injuries and working days lost." - Carol Southerd, HSE Construction inspector.

TEBAY RAIL ACCIDENT CHARGES
Posted Friday, October 29, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
Mark Connolly, Managing Director of North Wales contractor, Mac Machinery, has been charged with manslaughter over the deaths of 4 rail maintenance workers on the permanent way at Tebay, Cumbria. He also faces 3 charges under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.
Roy Kennet has also been charged with manslaughter over the same deaths, he too faces a charge under the Principal Act.
The deceased were struck by a runaway flatbed rail vehicle in February this year.

DO'S AND DON'TS WITH PETROL
Posted Friday, October 29, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
The HSE poster publication INDG331, Petrol handling - the do's and don'ts, is now published on its website.

WHEEL FATALLY INJURES PEDESTRIAN
Posted Friday, October 29, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
A woman pedestrian has sustained fatal injuries following an incident where it would appears a wheel detached from a heavy goods vehicle in Lostwithiel, 7 miles northeast of St Austel, Cornwall.

FARM WORKER FATALLY INJURED IN ATV ACCIDENT
Posted Friday, October 29, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
It is reported that a farm worker died yesterday in an ATV accident on a farm near Selkirk in the Scottish Borders.
Each year nationally several farm workers are killed while operating ATVs, their use on farms has accordingly attracted an HSE blitz inspection campaign that normally results in around 25-30% of farms with ATVs receiving enforcement notices relating to deficiencies either in the equipment, rider training, or head protection.

SCAFFOLDER FELL 7 METRES THROUGH ROOF
Posted Friday, October 29, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
During November 2003 Gary Samson, 34, employed as a scaffolder was working for Whybrow Scaffolding Limited of Rotherhithe, a trading division of Kier Regional Limited, on the roof of Stanford House, Covent Garden, London when he fell 7 metres through the temporary corrugated iron roof. Mr Samson was fortunate to escape with only rib injury and heavy bruising.
At Southwark Crown Court, London, Whybrow pleaded guilty to breaching S.2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 in that it failed, so far as was reasonably practicable, to prevent employees being exposed to risks to their health and safety for which it was fined £10,000 with £1343.21 costs.
Kier Regional Limited pleaded guilty to breaching S.3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 in that it failed, so far as was reasonably practicable, to prevent people not in their employment being exposed to risks to their health and safety for which it was fined £18,000 with £1343.21 costs.

"These prosecutions highlight the need for contractors to take suitable precautions to prevent workers falling. The provision of a properly guarded work platform should always be considered the first line of defence. Only where this is not reasonably practicable should contractors rely on other measures such as harnesses and instructions to employees." - Lisa Chappell, HSE Inspector.

ONUS ON ACADEMICS TO ENSURE DELIVERY OF H&S RISK MANAGEMENT SKILLS
Posted Friday, October 29, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
The need for young professional engineers and related technical disciplines to be equipped with a good grasp of health and safety risk management has been identified for some years. Gaps in the knowledge of experienced engineers and other duty holders under, for example, the Construction, Design and Management Regulations 1994, were starkly exposed by HSE research that found: around 33% of designers appeared to have little understanding of their responsibilities; and few had any knowledge of health and safety legislation.
This weakness obviously presents an obstacle to improved standards of safety in construction, and for undergraduates on construction -related courses encompassing architecture, building, engineering and surveying, there is a clear requirement for the provision of health and safety teaching that inculcates a knowledge of legal responsibilities and a sound understanding of risk and the principles of risk management.
The third and final part of an HSE-funded study, Identification and management of risk in undergraduate construction courses (Supplementary report- April 2004), which examined all aspects of the issue, has now been published. Since publication of the earlier parts of the report some progress has been recognised:accreditation body requirements are much improved and now generally form a credible base on which to deliver the required knowledge; acceptance of H&S as a necessary part of the curriculum now enjoys wider support than before; and the report concludes that it is now down to academia to deliver on these requirements with continuing assistance from industry.
Definable recommendations are made which are applicable to: government; accreditation bodies; institutions; and academia.

PROPRIETOR OF WASTE BUSINESS FINED OVER FATAL FORKLIFT ACCIDENT
Posted Friday, October 29, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
James Potter, proprietor of GF Potter of Welshpool, has been fined £20,000 with £6,400 costs for breaching health and safety legislation in the circumstances surrounding the death of employee Robert Mann, 59, who died in an industrial accident in March 2003 when his forklift truck fell from a weighbridge at his workplace, toppling on to him as it fell, inflicting fatal head injuries.
Mr Potter was sentenced at Mold Crown Court having pleaded guilty to the charge at Welshpool Magistrates' Court, HSE investigation established that the forklift truck had no seat belt and railings were not provided at the edges of the weighbridge, both matters previously identified by risk assessment.
In mitigation, the company had been in the process of acting on the recommendations of risk assessment. Everyone had been deeply affected by the tragic accident.

S.2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 states: "It shall be the duty of every employer to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all his employees."

SUNDERLAND CITY COUNCIL PROSECUTED FOR SCALDING INJURY
Posted Friday, October 29, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
Sunderland City Council has been prosecuted and fined £10,000 with £1,412 costs for breaching health and safety legislation in circumstances that resulted in a 76-year-old sheltered housing resident being seriously scalded while in their care.
Accident victim William Swindle, a resident at the Tom Urwin sheltered housing complex in Silksworth, was receiving home care support from Sunderland Council Social Services when he suffered the scalds to his foot because the bath that had been run for him by the care assistant was too hot.
The City Council pleaded guilty to breaching S.3 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.
Main points for health and social care providers to pay particular attention to are:
adequate training and information - making sure care staff understand the risks to vulnerable people and the precautions to be taken; carrying out the assessment of the individual and the suitability of the accommodation that they are in - this should take into account factors such as the individual's health and ability to sense or react to too high temperatures; engineering controls - where the risk assessment warrants it, engineering controls should be provided that ensure water is discharged from bath and shower outlets at safe temperatures; where thermostatic valves are fitted it is vital that these are properly maintained.
'Safe' hot water and surface temperatures - NHS Estates Health Guidance Note, ISBN 0-11-322158-4 and Health and Safety in Care Homes - HSE Books, ISBN 0-7176-2082-4, carry relevant guidance, see also the HSE website for other guidance.

"They should be aware of the risks of scalding and burning to service users from hot water and hot surfaces.
High water temperatures in baths and showers are a specific risk to vulnerable service users. These include children, the elderly, those with mental illness, learning disability, reduced mobility and anyone with reduced sensitivity to temperature, or who cannot act appropriately, or quickly enough to prevent injury.
Controlling the risks to service users is not about constraining independence, but it is about sensible risk management" - Fiona MacNeill, HSE Inspector's warning to providers of health and social care.

YORKSHIRE FARMER KILLED BY STAG
Posted Friday, October 29, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
A Yorkshire farmer has been killed by a stag on a farm in Hunmanby Gap, 2 miles south of Filey, Clifford Colling's failure to return from work late on Monday evening led to 2 farm workers embarking on a search for him.
Both men's search led to the discovery of the victim's body and an encounter with the stag in the deer enclosure, which left one of them hospitalised with gore wounds to various parts of his body.
A police marksman was summoned to kill the stag and allow the victim's body to be recovered.

RESEARCH CONFIRMS EXTENT OF LOSS OF LIFE ARISING FROM TIRED DRIVING
Posted Friday, October 29, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
The Department for Transport (DfT) estimates that about 300 people a year are killed and many more seriously injured where a driver has fallen asleep at the wheel. Research conducted by Loughborough University Sleep Research Centre confirms that too many lives are lost in road traffic accidents where tiredness is a factor. The fact that 32% of sleep-related crashes were caused by drivers of goods vehicles lends support to those advocating a more aggressive approach to managing road risk at work.
The research on selected motorways and trunk roads reveals: 17% of road accidents resulting in injury or death were sleep-related; 25% of all road accidents causing death or serious injury were sleep-related; 85% of drivers causing sleep-related crashes were male;
road crashes occur mostly on Fridays, sleep-related crashes occurred least on Fridays and mostly on Mondays.
A new phase of the DfT radio advertising alerting drivers to the dangers of 'microsleeps' - potentially fatal dozes lasting between 2 and 30 seconds that normally occur when people are tired but trying to stay awake.
The Loughborough University Sleep Research Centre report will shortly be available at http://www.dft.gov.uk/.

"This research demonstrates the problem and extent of driving tired. Our campaign aims to highlight how dangerous it is, so that people realise the importance of planning their journeys and taking regular breaks. We're all guilty of wanting to get to places as quickly as possible but a short break can make all the difference." - David Jamieson, Road Safety Minister.

NANOPARTICLE RISK UNMEASURED
Posted Friday, October 29, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
An HSE-funded occupational hygiene review of nanoparticles has concluded that 'there is little evidence to suggest that the exposure of workers arising from the production of nanoparticles has been adequately assessed.'
The Institute of Occupational Medicine report, Nanoparticles: An occupational hygiene review, by RJ Aitken, KS Creely, and CL Tran, looked at the various physical, chemical and biological processes used to create nanoparticles and considered sources and routes of exposure, levels of exposure, numbers exposed, knowledge gaps and future trends in the technology.
The study found all of the 4 main groups of nanoparticle production processes have the potential for exposure by inhalation, dermal or ingestive routes and that little is known about current levels of exposure.
Controls are available that should be effective for exposure by inhalation. Control approaches involving ppe for dermal and ingestive exposure may not be as effective as they are for larger particles.
Confident risk assessment therefore remains not possible because of insufficient knowledge. Researchers say more than 1,000,000 workers in the UK may be exposed to nanoparticles in incidental production in processes such as welding and refining.

The application of nanotechnology permits the alteration of the fundamental physical and chemical properties of conventional materials as their size is reduced to the nanoscale, these materials offering unique and commercially useful electrical, optical and mechanical properties because of their size, shape, and composition. Already numerous applications exist in aerospace, automotive industries, biomedics, microelectronics, semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, energy storage and anti-friction coatings.

SICK-NOTE CULTURE OBSTACLE TO REHABILITATION
Posted Monday, October 25, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
Doctors are being asked to co-operate with the government to end the so-called 'sick-note culture' that serves only to present an obstacle to the return to work of some patients when they suffer sickness or injury. Over the last two decades the number of people on Incapacity Benefit (IB) has trebled, however 9 out of 10 people who go onto IB want to get back into employment, but research shows that the longer they are on the benefit the longer they are likely to be stuck on it.
Work and Pensions Secretary Alan Johnson has praised the Government's 'Pathways to Work' initiative currently being piloted in Bridgend, Derbyshire, Renfrewshire, East Lancashire, Essex, Gateshead & South Tyneside and Somerset, corresponding to about 10% of the national IB caseload.
Mr Johnson was speaking to an audience of nearly 200, comprising of GPs, qualified doctors, psychiatrists, occupational health and other medical experts attending the Royal Society of Medicine Pathways to Work: Enabling Rehabilitation conference.

"While we must provide security for those who cannot work, increasingly doctors agree that signing some people off as long-term sick is not always the best way to deal with their health problems. For people who are able to work again, a job can itself be an important step in the road to recovery and rehabilitation.
Rather than rest being the best remedy for back pain, for example, research now shows it can actually delay recovery and make things worse. Advising patients to stay active can help them get back to work and on with their life. The forthcoming White Paper on public health will recognise the beneficial role some work can have in helping people recover from illnesses or disease. And it will emphasise the damaging effects of being out of work - urging the NHS to see return to work as the norm.
Our early evidence shows that given the right support most people claiming Incapacity Benefits can be helped back to work. We are already starting to see very encouraging evidence that more people are leaving benefit in Pathways to Work pilot areas compared to the rest of the country. The number of people on IB getting jobs nationally has risen and in Pathways areas the success rate is double the national average." - Alan Johnson, Work and Pensions Secretary.

66 ENFORCEMENT NOTICES ISSUED FOR PESTICIDE INFRINGEMENTS
Posted Monday, October 25, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
The HSE has reported on pesticide-related incidents investigated between 1 April 2003 and 31 March 2004. During this period its inspectors issued a total of 66 enforcement notices under pesticide legislation and a total of 8 Informations were laid before the courts. Convictions were secured against all the Informations for which the average fine was £1,824, representing a 68% increase in fine size compared with last year.
Enforcement actions were taken for storage of pesticides; spraying in windy conditions that led to drift of pesticides from target area;
spillage of pesticides which led to a dog being fatally poisoned; and
misuse and supply of pesticide exposing members of the public to risk.
Complaints from the public about spray drift from the application of agricultural pesticides comprised the largest category of incidents investigated.

The Pesticides Incident Report relates: inspectors investigated 204 incidents, down 11 on last year; 62 incidents involved allegations of ill-health, up 2; the remaining 142 incidents were other complaints on use of pesticides; 65 incidents involved allegations of ill-health, however HSE's Pesticide Incidents Appraisal Panel determined that 3 of them should not be classified as ill-health incidents; of the remaining incidents, only one was a confirmed link to pesticide exposure, 14 incidents assessed as having a 'likely' link to pesticide exposure, but none of these 'likely' incidents were directly related to work activity; all involved either members of the public or those incidentally exposed while at work.
Complaints centring on allegations that spraying had taken place in adverse weather conditions, generally when the wind speed was too high, and/or of failure to notify neighbours of an intended application, figured prominently.
Members of the public can report an incident if they think people, animals or the environment have been harmed by exposure to pesticides, see HSE leaflet INDG141 (rev1) Reporting incidents of exposure to pesticides and veterinary medicines.

"The figures do fluctuate from year to year but there was a general fall in the number of allegations of ill health in the period 1995/96 to 2000/01. Over the last three years the numbers have reached a plateau at about 60 cases per year.
Our investigations often reveal wholly unacceptable arrangements for the storage of pesticides. The case studies in this report clearly show that inspectors are prepared to prosecute without prior warning when serious contraventions are discovered. So make sure that all pesticides are kept in a suitable secure store." - Dr Roger Nourish, HSE's Head of Agriculture and Food Sector.

TUC MARKS SAFETY WEEK WITH CALL FOR CORPORATE MANSLAUGHTER LEGISLATION
Posted Monday, October 25, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
The TUC seeks direct action by the Government and employers to reduce the unacceptable current level of construction fatalities now running at 3 every 2 weeks.
The occasion of European Health and Safety Week 2004, with its focus this year on construction, sees the TUC maintain its call for effective legislation and greater investment in employee skill to turn around this tragic trend, TUC Deputy General Secretary Frances O’Grady explains:

"Employers will only change their poor health and safety practices when they realise that they are likely to be punished if found guilty of causing the deaths of their staff or members of the public. A corporate manslaughter law would force employers to make safety a priority and the fear of penalty would make them train their employees properly.
Thousands of British construction workers do not speak English as a first language and token gestures, such as safety leaflets and posters put up around building sites don’t even begin to address the problem.
Unions are taking the lead in training construction workers in language skills so that they can better understand safety guidance at work, and union learning reps are being trained to spot the skills needs of their colleagues in an attempt to prevent accidents from happening. For their efforts to have even more impact, more employers need to take their training responsibilities seriously.
The Government must publish its proposals for a new corporate manslaughter law before the beginning of the next session of Parliament if they are to prove that they are serious about delivering on this crucial issue."

NEW SURVEY REVEALS THAT BACK TROUBLE AFFECTS US ALL
Posted Monday, October 25, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
This is National Back Care Awareness Week and the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) informs us that there is a seemingly high prevalence of back pain and this is not confined to the old. The CSP online survey carried out by YouGov found: back pain was experienced by 68% of respondents at least once over the last 12 months; 33% of those affected experienced 5 or more episodes; most back pain lasted between 1 and 3 days, but for 20% of those affected, the pain is ongoing; 6 out of 10 people surveyed aged 18-29 and 30-49 reported experiencing back pain, compared with 7 in 10 people over the age of 50.
Backs for Life is a guidance leaflet compiled with the help of the Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Occupational Health & Ergonomics, the Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Women's Health, the Association of Chartered Physiotherapists Working with Older People, the Manipulation Association of Chartered Physiotherapists and the Organisation of Chartered Physiotherapists in Private Practice. It is available through The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy. Another resource of information on the prevention of back pain can be found at Backcare.

"Nowadays, physiotherapists are seeing more and more children and young adults with recurrent low back pain - as well as older people. The human body was not designed to spend long periods of time sitting down - especially not on soft settees and ill-fitting classroom or office furniture. Combine this with obesity, stress, poor diets and inactivity and it is easy to see why people are less able to cope with life's everyday demands and are more vulnerable to back pain.
The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy's new leaflet encourages people of all different ages to think about their lifestyles and explains how minor improvements to the way they walk, move, sit, bend and carry while they go about their daily lives could make all the difference when it comes to beating back pain.' - Wendy Emberson of the Organisation of Chartered Physiotherapists in Private Practice.

CUSTOMER FELL DOWN PUB TRAP-DOORS
Posted Monday, October 25, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
A failure by a public house group to report an accident to its enforcing authority, Reading Borough Council, did not prevent the matter reaching court where a hefty fine was imposed for this and other breaches of safety legislation.
In June 2003 customer Christopher Prosper, 24, whose presence was not detected by staff, was making his way to the exit door of the Three Guineas public house in Reading when he fell down a distance of 3 metres through an unguarded open trap-door into a cellar below. Mr Prosper escaped with relatively minor injuries, however Reading Council only learned of the reportable accident when approached by the accident victim's legal representative. Several weeks later, visiting Council officials found, on arrival at the premises to carry out an investigation, the open trap-doors guarded only by an a-frame with customers nearby.
Broken Foot Inns pleaded guilty to two breaches of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 for which it was fined a total of £25,000 with costs of £3,650. The company has acted to prevent recurrence and explained that its staff had failed to pass on information to its administrative centre to have it reported under RIDDOR.

ROAD RISK POLICIES - SEMINAR
Posted Monday, October 25, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) Practical Risk Management seminar, sponsored by Toyota GB, taking place at the Hilton Leeds Garforth, Leeds, on November 2nd, 2004, will air new policies that it says are 'essential to anyone who drives as part of their work'.
The proposals for Managing Occupational Road Risk (MORR™) take a close look at the risk factors of: speed; fatigue; and the use of mobile phones while driving.
Speakers include Kevin Clinton, RoSPA Head of Road Safety, who will outline the policies offering practical information for employers on reducing accidents on the road; Chris Thompson, Head of Operations, South Yorkshire Police, will explain the police role in MORR investigations; Tony Cowan-Martin, Head of Health and Safety, NHS Highland, and Melvin Hodgetts, Head of Safety at Royal Mail, will describe what their respective organisations have done on road risk management.
The seminar will be of interest to employers, particularly those who are fleet managers and transport operators, trades union representatives and safety managers or advisers. For further details visit www.rospa.com/morr

“This seminar focuses on all the key issues surrounding this subject. Presentations by employers such as Royal Mail will show how MORR can be woven into the way a company manages health and safety. Unfortunately, some organisations still do not understand how
serious the knock-on effects of work-related road accidents can be if
they do not have a good health and safety system in place. There is
a good business case for a company to manage road risk, as road crashes cost time and money in terms of absent staff, loss of production and damage to commercial reputation. Any business that employs people to drive as part of their work needs to know what risks they face on the roads, and how those dangers can be reduced by following simple guidance.” - Roger Bibbings, RoSPA Occupational Safety Adviser.

PAINTER FELL WHEN SCAFFOLD BOARD FAILED
Posted Monday, October 25, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
Alan Miah, 42, is likely to remain permanently disabled following an industrial accident in which he sustained serious head injuries that occurred as he fell 3.5 metres from a scaffolding structure he was using to access his work as a self-employed painter on a residential development in Windsor, Berkshire.
The immediate cause of his injury was a weakened scaffold board but it was established during HSE investigation that several duties under health and safety legislation had not been met by both the scaffolding company and the company who engaged Mr Miah for work, and this permitted the accident to happen.
At Maidenhead Magistrates' Court, Thorne Barton Estates Ltd of Hemel Hempstead, Herts, was fined £3,300 after pleading guilty to breaching r.29 of the Construction (Health, Safety & Welfare) Regulations 1996 with costs of £2,175.75. Gemini Riteway Scaffolding Ltd was fined £17,000 after pleading guilty to breaching S.6 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 with costs of £2,036.20.

"This was a terrible accident, but one which was avoidable. An inspection of the scaffold after the incident showed that the scaffold board which broke had several knots in it, which contributed to its lack of strength and subsequent failure.
When the scaffold was erected, Thorne Barton Estates Ltd did not receive a handover certificate from Gemini Riteway Scaffolding Ltd. The scaffold was not inspected by a competent person, as required, before it was brought into use for the first time. The scaffold was also not inspected by a competent person at 7-day intervals as required.
The level of fine demonstrates that the Courts intended to send a strong message to employers that they face severe penalties if they fail to adequately control the risks to their employees.
Falls from height continue to be the most significant cause of serious and fatal injuries within the construction industry, and HSE continues to focus on work at height as a priority area." - Karen Morris, HM Inspector for Health and Safety.

REDDITCH LEGIONNAIRES' OUTBREAK CONTINUES TO PUZZLE
Posted Monday, October 25, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
Another person in the Redditch area has contracted Legionnaires' disease, the fourth in the current outbreak. The latest person to contract the disease is a man in his 60's who is reported to be seriously ill, 2 women have so far succumbed to it.
The last case made its appearance over 4 weeks ago, but no source of the disease has been identified by tests, experts were close to declaring the outbreak over but now must ponder whether the source is intermittent in nature or if a statistically improbable event has occurred given that the population of the Worcestershire town is less than 100,000 and around 200 cases occur nationally each year.

NRPB COURSE ON MOBILE PHONES, BASE STATIONS AND POWER LINES
Posted Monday, October 25, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
The National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) is holding a one-day course for health and safety professionals, including those involved with environmental health, planning and public health medicine, on issues surrounding mobile phones, base stations and power lines. NRPB says the course 'aims to help individuals understand the most recent scientific and policy developments, to respond to concerns and meet the requirements of health and safety legislation.' The course at its Chilton HQ in Oxfordshire is on Thursday 11th November 2004, key issues include: the AGNIR report on health effects of RF radiation; NRPB advice on exposure limitation; and the EU Physical Agents EMF Directive.
For more information visit the NRPB website.

FARMING SAFETY AWARENESS DAY FOR SCOTTISH COUNTY
Posted Saturday, October 23, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
The farming community of Caithness, the British mainland's north-easternmost county, is to benefit from an HSE/ NFU Scotland Safety Awareness Day being held at Caithness Livestock Centre, Watten near Wick, on Thursday, December 2nd.
600 family and self-employed farmers who have had little contact with HSE in recent years are to be invited to the free event, the limited places available will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.
Once again the Scottish farming community suffered too many serious accidents last year, 7 of them fatal, including one child death, and already this year 5 lives have been lost. One aspect of these tragedies is the increasing number of self-employed farmers and their families involved and the high proportion of deaths amongst over 55's.
The event will give farmers the opportunity to benefit from shared experiences over soup and a roll and to discuss health and safety issues with HSE inspectors away from the farm. The aim is to demonstrate everyday health and safety risks with the practical solutions available to counter them.
There will be 7 interactive demonstrations by LANTRA instructors, and other professionals, of scenarios that regularly feature in accidents such as roof work, farm transport and manual handling.

"Sensible health and safety is about managing risks not eliminating all risk, however minor. The people best placed to make farms safer are farmers themselves. Health and safety is a fundamental requirement of a sustainable farming business and should be regarded as integral to good farm business management. Unwise risk-taking is the underlying problem and those working on their own are especially vulnerable. A fundamental culture change is needed.
HSE's efforts alone will not build a safer and healthier industry. It is for everyone in agriculture and the wider food chain to play their part. The ill health caused by work on farms and in forestry is a further cause of misery for those affected and severe financial loss for the whole industry." - Dr Roger Nourish, Head of HSE's Agriculture and Food sector.
"I am delighted to be able to support this excellent initiative and hope that the experience is of benefit to all my farming colleagues. I am seriously impressed by the professionalism of our LANTRA and HSE partners and strongly recommend everyone invited attends this event". - Tom Sayles, local NFUS's representative.

HSC LOOKS BACK AND FORWARD
Posted Saturday, October 23, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
The Health and Safety Commission (HSC) met yesterday, holding what was for the first time an open meeting in full view of the public, at London's Mermaid Conference Centre in Blackfriars, marking the 30th anniversary of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.
It was no doubt an occasion to reflect, for a short while at least, on the significant part played by the Commission and its executive arm in achieving the major reductions in workplace injuries and ill health.
Members of the public were able to listen to presentations and discussions on: the recently published HSC Strategy; work at height regulations; the Hampton Review; and science strategy.
The occasion saw the launch of Focusing on the future, explaining how HSC has evolved as industry has changed, and a forward view of new challenges facing the Commission.
During the afternoon, breakout sessions allowed attendees to contribute in debate with Commissioners and HSE officials on topics including the implementation of EU directives, HSC’s role in public protection, its intervention strategy and how it interacts with other regulators.

“The meeting provides an opportunity to open our work to ordinary members of the public and those dealing with health and safety on a day to day basis.
It is a good occasion to get our vision across to a range of organisations. We want to see health and safety as a cornerstone of a civilised society and, with that, to achieve a record of workplace health and safety that leads the world.
HSC/E is a modern and trusted regulator. If it is to maintain the trust of the public and our stakeholders, our work should be open to public scrutiny.” - Bill Callaghan, Chair of the Health and Safety Commission.

USDAW CONTINUES TO PRESS FOR UPPER WORKPLACE TEMPERATURE LIMIT
Posted Saturday, October 23, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
The Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers (Usdaw) is continuing to campaign for the introduction of an upper limit for workplace temperature on behalf of its over ⅓ million membership. It notes Minister of State for Work, Jane Kennedy's, statement that, despite HSC taking the view that setting an upper limit is impractical, there is to be an exploration of what more can be done and what further guidance can be given in the coming year.
Usdaw suggests a temperature of 27°C is appropriate, beyond which the prospect of heat exhaustion for some persons becomes an increasing possibility.
Usdaw published a useful Keep Your Cool advice leaflet to advise members seeking advice on the issue.

“Every year Usdaw receives thousands of complaints and requests for advice from our members on the issue of hot temperatures in the workplace.
The absence of maximum reasonable temperatures in current regulations makes it difficult to persuade employers to take action when temperatures are too high. Too many employers use this as an excuse for inaction. All the while, workers’ health and safety is put at risk.” - John Hannett, Usdaw General Secretary.

HSE INTERACTIVE ONLINE RESOURCE WILL ALLOW HEALTH AND SAFETY TO BENEFIT FROM APPLIANCE OF SCIENCE
Posted Saturday, October 23, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
HSE has launched a Science and Research Outlook website and online newsletter, an interactive online resource to inform on its science and engineering activities.
Features of the resource include: information on specific research projects and the wider impact of HSE's science and research portfolio on a wide range of issues; and an easily searchable and regularly updated database carrying the latest news and information.
Registered users will additionally access: a subscription to the HSE Science and Research Outlook quarterly e-newsletter; daily email notification of new articles in specific areas of interest;
facility to comment on articles providing feedback to HSE on its science and research activities; and facility to collate and customise articles and e-mail details to colleagues.
The Latest News' section offers the latest reports on a diverse range of topics, such as: 'Nanotechnology - a short way into the technology to dwarf all others'; 'Improving designs of fairground rides';
'Controlling the motions of offshore crane loads'; and 'Health, safety and legal issues related to body piercing, tattooing and related scarification'.
"I am committed to our vision of health and safety as a cornerstone of a civilised society and, with that, to achieve a world class record of workplace health and safety. HSE's science and research portfolio underpins our approach. I am particularly keen to increase public and ongoing stakeholder involvement in how science and research can be applied to meet the health and safety challenges of the 21st century workplace. The introduction of our new quarterly science and research newsletter and interactive website will give both HSE and its stakeholders the opportunity to become more involved." - Bill Callaghan, HSC Chair.

"I am pleased to endorse the launch of HSE's new electronic science and research newsletter, and its supporting website. A key feature of our interactive site is to allow users to search and print articles relevant to their discipline, receive regular email notifications of newly published articles, and customise output to their specific needs. The site will also allow users to provide valuable comment on our wide range of science and research activities. We hope they will find Science and Research Outlook a useful source of information." - Paul Davies, HSE Chief Scientist.

TRUE INVESTORS IN PEOPLE EARN RECOGNITION FOR BACKING EMPLOYEES
Posted Saturday, October 23, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
HSE occasionally singles out an organisation who lead by example, and one litho printing company from Gloucestershire has benefited from and earned a recognition for investing in the health and safety of its employees in a manner that will provide thought for others not convinced of the impact that ill-health and workplace injury can have on business.
TL Visuals, based in Yate, looks after the health and well-being of its staff, not only in the interests of the staff themselves, but also to perform well as a business. The simple philosophy - 'a healthy workforce is a happy and more productive one' is implemented by several policies: continual investment in the latest plant and equipment to reduce manual handling; a long-established group income protection scheme; an insurance scheme which has helped support several employees and their families in periods of ill health regardless of whether it is related to their employment; a complete no-smoking policy preceded by a range of support to help smokers who wanted to give up, e.g. provision of nicotine patches and chewing gum free of charge; a counselling service to help those giving up the habit; this had a direct impact on the health of several employees and kept TLV's insurance premium down; absence management through the services of a local consultancy, Employ-mend, to address the needs of employees with absence due to health problems; the company analyses reasons for illness and, where appropriate, takes steps to help people remedy their problem, e.g. offering physiotherapy or access to alternative therapies.
TLV maintains the health and safety benefits of its 'philosophy' include: reduced absenteeism; safer and healthier workforce; fewer employees smoking; increased productivity through overtime cost reduction, better employee retention and morale.

"The scheme will hopefully give us a real feel for the reasons for staff absence. When the root cause of staff absence is looked into and discussed, there are often ways in which individual employees can be helped back to work quickly or the problem prevented from recurring. This is not a scheme which enables us to pry on people, it is intended to give us the chance to keep an open dialogue for the benefit of everyone. Most people would prefer to get back to work as quickly as possible and it is always in the interests of the company to have a complete workforce.
Like any organisation we are always looking for greater efficiency, but that does not mean cutting back on staff. It can be achieved by investing more in the staff we have. A healthy workforce is a happy one and a happy workforce is a more efficient one.
We believe that if our staff are safe, healthy and happy, they will be more productive and more likely to stay with us. Our investment makes sense from a moral and business viewpoint." - Jenny Tibbert, Company Secretary explaining how the emphasis of the absence management initiative was to help get people back to work.

"Of course employers have a moral duty to ensure the health and safety of their workforce, but they should also consider the benefits it can bring to their business and to the whole economy. 40 million working days were lost to occupational injury and ill health in 2001/02: 33 million days were attributed to ill health. Companies can often take simple steps to improve the health of their workforce and TL Visuals is a perfect example of how putting health and safety at the top of the agenda can help the organization as well as individuals." - Max Walker, HSE Operations Director South West, on a 'perfect example of how investing in employees' health and safety makes good business sense'.

HSE ADOPTS NEW APPROACH TO COUNTER OCCUPATIONAL ASTHMA AMONGST VEHICLE BODYSHOP PAINT-SPRAYERS
Posted Saturday, October 23, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
HSE is to further publicise the health hazards of paint-spraying and offer free training to employers paint-spraying with 2-pack isocyanate paints in an attempt to reduce the relatively high levels of occupational asthma amongst vehicle bodyshop paint-sprayers.
Paint sprayers in vehicle bodyshops are 80 times more likely to develop work-related asthma than the rest of the working population. An estimated 1,500 cases of work-related asthma are recorded every year, isocyanates are one of the biggest causes with at least 150 cases of asthma caused by paint-spraying, but the real figure may be twice as high.
The free half-day training event takes place in Bristol on October 29th and is specifically for organisations in that area that do paint-spraying using 2-pack isocyanate paints, HSE says those businesses attending will not have to be inspected for the next 2 years.
Two sessions will run from 9.15 am to 12.30 pm and from 12.30 to 4.30 pm. Both sessions will include lunch and take place at Parkway Technology Centre, City of Bristol College, Filton. If you would like to attend, please contact the Bristol HSE office on 0117 988 6000 for more information.

"Sprayers are more likely to get asthma because of chemicals in the paints they use called isocyanates. When the paint is sprayed, very high concentrations of isocyanates are released into the air.
Sprayers can develop asthma rapidly if not properly protected and once the asthma starts that's the end of their life as a sprayer. We need people to come to this free event so they can reduce their chance of getting this horrible disease.
Many people who get occupational asthma end us as respiratory cripples. I've seen cases where they can't even walk upstairs to their own toilet. We want the paint spraying industry to work with us to minimise the suffering that asthma can cause." - Dr. Mark Piney, HSE specialist.
"Traditionally, HSE has relied on using workplace inspection and enforcement to help businesses comply with the law, so that their health and that of their employees is protected.
But we are now inviting as many people as we can to this event, where HSE and industry experts will hold interactive sessions explaining what the risks are, and what they can do to minimise them.
HSE is all about taking sensible and reasonable steps to minimise the chances of people becoming ill or hurt at work. We don't like to see people suffer, and we urge as many paint sprayers as possible to contact us to reserve a space at the free event." - HSE's Max Walker, Head of Operations.

BETTER MANAGEMENT OF HEALTH AND SAFETY IN CONSTRUCTION - CASE STUDIES
Posted Saturday, October 23, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
As the 2004 European Week for Safety and Health at Work with its theme of construction approaches, the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work has published a compilation of 16 cases from EU states where effective action has been taken to achieve better standards of safety and health in the industry.
Achieving better safety and health in construction considers the treatment of a range of issues directly influencing standards in an EU industry now employing over 13,000,000 persons - design and planning; effective partnering; training; site management; and risk assessment.
The cases are very different from one another in that some are project specific or risk specific, some describe systems implemented to improve the management of safety and health throughout the industry, but all illustrate what can be achieved through the co-operation of key players.

The cases are presented in 3 categories: design stage; construction phase; and maintenance phase.

The printed report, ISBN 92-9191-073-2, can be ordered from http://publications.eu.int price is 25€ (excluding VAT). A summary fact sheet is downloadable from http://agency.osha.eu.int/publications/factsheets/55/en/FACT55_EN.PDF

MAGNETIC LIFTING DEVICES - GUIDANCE
Posted Saturday, October 23, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
Electrically operated magnetic lifting devices are widely used in many industrial sectors including metal/component manufacture and storage, shipbuilding, and scrap handling industries and incorporate either single or a group of magnets suspended from chains or cables or otherwise attached to lifting equipment.
An Information Document, Guidance on the safe use of magnetic lifting devices ID 234/16, published by HSE's Manufacturing Sector - Engineering Section but prepared jointly with the Steel Stockholding Lead Authority Partnership (SSLAP, a tri-partite body comprising Wolverhampton CC, the National Association of Steel Stockholders (NASS) and the HSE) with input from the UK Steel Association, offers advice to users and suppliers relating to equipment with electrically powered magnets, but some of the issues discussed will be equally applicable to permanent magnets used for lifting operations.
It covers ways to counter the principle hazards of falling material and the adverse effects of electromagnetic field; key requirements under LOLER and PUWER; reducing the risk of both injury to operators and other persons, and of damage to plant and equipment; and planning and carrying out handling activities.

HUGE WINDFALLS AWAIT ORGANISATIONS WHO CONQUER WORKPLACE ACCIDENTS AND ILL-HEALTH
Posted Saturday, October 23, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
Updated estimates have again confirmed the large sums awaiting employers who can significantly reduce workplace accidents. HSE's recently published latest interim estimates of the costs of Britain's workplace accidents and work-related ill health carried in The costs to Britain of workplace accidents and work-related ill health in 1995/96 show for 2001/02 that health and safety failures probably cost employers between £3.9 - £7.8 billion.
The figures follow detailed calculations drawing on a large amount of data from many different sources, however, HSE says the full set of data required will not be available until 2005, and estimates are based upon the best available occupational injury and illness data from 2001/02. The estimates now feature proportionately wider ranges reflecting this uncertainty, other losses incurred are given as:
individuals - £10.1- £14.7 billion, the economy - £13.1 - £22.2 billion, and society as a whole - £20 - £31.8 billion.
The new estimates also quantify the major cost categories that make up the totals. For employers, figures are given by industry sector, occupation and region.

FOUNDATION FOR RISK AWARENESS SHOULD BE LAID DURING EDUCATION OF THE YOUNG
Posted Saturday, October 23, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
A European Agency for Safety and Health at Work report - Mainstreaming Occupational Safety and Health into Education. Good practice in school and vocational education, strongly advocates the integration of safety and health into education at both school and university levels as a means to helping reduce work-related accidents and illnesses. The report maintains that presently most adolescents begin work with scant knowledge of the risks, let alone education in preventive measures.
The report, aimed at policy makers and practitioners: describes and analyses 32 examples of such integration drawn from EU countries, from primary schools up to universities and specialist vocational colleges; provides a strategic framework, including a ‘road map’, to achieve this; offers examples of good practice, including a UK initiative to educate children about the dangers of building sites; a methodology to help teachers in Italy introduce OSH into the school syllabus; and a scheme in France where pupils on work placement are invited to find ways to improve the companies’ health and safety environment.
The Agency has published a summary fact sheet on the report from which the report can be accessed in full.

‘One of the lessons of the study is that health and safety education has to be a life-long process, from pre-school onwards, to succeed. It’s about developing a prevention culture and an integral part of this is ensuring that young people are qualified in the core principles of risk awareness and prevention before they enter the world of work – they have to “start early to stay safe”.
We hope this report will make an important contribution to this aim.’ - Hans-Horst Konkolewsky, Director, the Agency’s.

ELECTRICAL SAFETY AT WORK - NEW HSE WEB SITE AREA
Posted Saturday, October 23, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
New Electrical safety pages on HSE's website have been published providing information and basic guidance for many sectors and situations with links to places where more detailed guidance can be obtained.
The pages explain the most common types of electrical injury and their effects and how to prevent them, and what HSE is doing to reduce the accident rate.
Because much of the information on these web pages has been summarised, HSE emphasises that you should always use the published guidance listed on the Information page when deciding how to work safely and meet the requirements of the law.

ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION - LEARNING VITAL LESSONS
Posted Saturday, October 23, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) is to hold a seminar, From the Ashes of Disaster, where delegates can learn of the ways organisations can benefit from the thorough investigation of accidents and incidents at work.
It will be an informative event for anyone involved in health and safety risk management and the development of safe systems of work, such as health and safety professionals, chief executives, risk managers, safety representatives, human resources managers and emergency service investigators.
Speakers include: Jonathan Russell, Head of Enforcement Policy Branch, HSE; John Kingston of Noordwijk Risk Initiative Foundation;
Simon McDermott-Brown, Director Safety Practice, Quo Behavioural Systems; and business leaders who have experienced the benefits of thorough accident investigation.
It will be held at the Marriott Forest of Arden Hotel, Warwickshire, on November 8th, visit http://www.rospa.com/accidentinvestigation/ for more information

“Many businesses are still not gaining maximum benefit from their approach to the investigation of accidents and incidents.
As a result, they are not learning the lessons which could improve their overall management of health and safety.
Professional investigation can yield huge value, particularly by pinpointing areas for change and development, thus cutting future casualties, costs and appearances in court.
We hope the seminar will inform, challenge and motivate people to refocus on accidents and incidents as valuable opportunities for safety change.” - Roger Bibbings, RoSPA Occupational Safety Adviser.

SELECTING SAFE PAIRS OF HANDS FOR SAFETY-CRITICAL WORK
Posted Saturday, October 23, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
An innovative HSE/HMRI-funded research project, Recruiting safe employees for safety-critical roles, the work of the Occupational Psychology Centre Limited's (OPC) Dr Stephen Fletcher and colleagues, piloted a selection process for safety-critical employees within the UK rail industry.
Track-working employees were the subject of the study which aimed to:
identify key characteristics needed for safe and effective performance in a range of safety-critical activities; select suitable assessment tools for measuring these characteristics; trial the assessment tools with track worker applicants and existing track workers; and validate the assessment tools by demonstrating any link between performance on the assessment tools and performance in training and on the job.
The results showed that scores on a range of assessment tools were linked to performance in track training.
The researchers recommended that rail industry key stakeholders can benefit from the findings of the project and where relevant should implement effective recruitment programmes for key safety-critical employees within the industry, applying the 7 main best practice steps derived.
The rail industry should also be encouraged to introduce effective and robust recruitment programmes for selecting track workers, and undertake a more detailed study into the effectiveness of the assessment tools.

REDUCING MANUAL HANDLING RISKS IN AGRICULTURE AND HORTICULTURE
Posted Saturday, October 23, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
Manual handling injury is all too prevalent among workers generally and in agriculture and horticulture in particular - with 3.8% of people who had worked in agriculture in the past 8 years showing the highest incidence rate of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) of any industry.
An investigative HSE-funded study and its report by RFR Pettit - Defining the extent and source of manual handling problems in agricultural and horticultural enterprises, RR269, involved visits to a wide range of establishments where typical manual handling activity was observed and considered.

The report found:
horticulture still involves significant levels of repetitive manual handling and consequent risk of MSDs, greater mechanisation is needed; recent increase in the application of bulk systems in agriculture has led to a reduction in repetitive manual handling tasks, but there remains a large number of what the author describes as 'disparate, intermittent' manual handling tasks; residual risk can be reduced through better design of products, equipment and buildings - these solutions are often developed by farmers and growers, but need to be brought to the attention of manufacturers and suppliers; many workers in agriculture carry historical MSDs which can flare up; training in how to reduce risks through good working practices and proper manual handling technique remains important.

It was concluded that in assessing risks and implementing controls to prevent or sufficiently mitigate manual handling risk, employers need to focus on all aspects of the activity - task, load, environment and individual capability. More needs to be done to promulgate solutions developed by farmers and growers. Suppliers and manufacturers need to take greater account of the needs of their customers when designing buildings, equipment and when packaging goods.

DEMOLITION WORKER FELL THROUGH FRAGILE ROOF
Posted Friday, October 15, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
Graeme Smith, an employee of a Dorset demolition contractor, fell 8 metres through a fragile roof panel of a former garden centre building in Poole 2 years ago. He survived the fall, sustaining a fractured pelvis.
At Bournemouth Magistrates' Court Ferndown Demolition and Salvage Ltd was fined £4,000 with £1,650 costs for failing to meet duties owed under health and safety legislation.

The Construction (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1996 - Fragile material - r. 7.

(1) Suitable and sufficient steps shall be taken to prevent any person from falling through any fragile material.
(2) Without prejudice to the generality of paragraph (1),
(a) no person shall pass across, or work on or from, fragile material through which he would be liable to fall 2 metres or more unless suitable and sufficient platforms, coverings or other similar means of support are provided and used so that the weight of any person so passing or working is supported by such supports; and
(b) no person shall pass or work near fragile material through which he would be liable to fall 2 metres or more unless there are provided suitable and sufficient guard-rails, coverings or other similar means for preventing, so far as is reasonably practicable, any person so passing or working from falling through that material; and
(c) where any person may pass across or near or work on or near fragile material through which, were it not for the provisions of sub-paragraphs (a) and (b) above, he would be liable to fall 2 metres or more, prominent warning notices shall be affixed at the approach to the place where the material is situated.

IMPROVING OH IN SMES
Posted Friday, October 15, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are difficult territory for health and safety enforcing authorities to influence, one point in case being the initiation of good occupational health (OH) practices within these diverse businesses employing between 5 and 249 persons.
An HSE-funded study by the Vectra Group Limited - Occupational health and SMEs: Focused intervention strategies, sought to provide information that would help a focused SME-targeted intervention strategy for OH to meet with success. The study examined psychological models of behaviour change, organisational and social characteristics of SMEs and the potential for incentives to achieve change.
One feature of SMEs is that any prospect of later insurance claims are not viewed as a particular business threat, and OH is not afforded much time or attention. The study identified that SMEs have ‘gatekeepers’, usually the owner or senior manager with assigned OH responsibilities, who provide, or more often withhold, resources that would pave the way to better occupational health. Any intervention would have to contend with these gatekeepers for success but, if they could be influenced to act, the gatekeeper would then propagate the good practice throughout their organisation. Where the SME gatekeeper is resistant to making changes to OH practices, they would have to be bypassed and the workforce targeted directly.
The report concludes that SMEs have poor adherence to OH regulations and guidance, Vectra believes that a successful strategy should be based on complementary interventions because of SME general diversity, i.e. nature of business, methods of operation etc.and, above all, the people who 'make SMEs what they are.'

LOCAL AUTHORITY FAILED IN DUTY OWED TO INJURED TEENAGER
Posted Friday, October 15, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
At Grimsby Magistrates' Court North East Lincolnshire Council has been prosecuted and fined £23,500 after admitting breaches of duties owed to a teenager under health and safety legislation.
Ian Heap, 16, on his first day with the authority sustained broken legs and crush injuries when the refuse collection vehicle he had been riding on ran over his legs in September 2003. He had either been standing on a footplate and slipped, or had been standing next to the vehicle, different versions of events were given, before he went under the wheels on a round in Grimsby.
HSE investigation established that Mr Heap was turned out for work as part of a work crew, after arriving from an employment agency, by an apparently poorly resourced Council cleansing department. An absence of implemented systems to ensure his health and safety meant he worked without the benefit of training and adequate supervision.
The Council, itself an enforcing authority for certain workplace premises and activities, maintains it has acted to improve its health and safety performance.

UTILITY AND HSE PLANS TO REDUCE ELECTROCUTIONS ON FARMLAND
Posted Friday, October 15, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
Lincolnshire farmers are to be given maps showing the routes of overhead electricity cables on their land to help prevent electrocution deaths caused when farm equipment earths the cables. HSE and electricity supplier Central Networks will be visiting farms in the county to convey the information, sadly each year an average of 6 people nationally die on farmland when they come into contact with cables, often through irrigation equipment or hedge flails. New legislation means electricity suppliers are also responsible for the safety of their lines, and maps on paper and CD ROM are being supplied so farmers can identify lines above and below ground.
A Lithuanian student, Oleg Chepil, was electrocuted at Long Sutton in the county when a boom on his vegetable harvester hit an 11kV power line in August 2000, 4 Lincolnshire farming contractors were prosecuted and ordered by Spalding magistrates to pay nearly £16,000.
Relevant advice can be found in HSE Agriculture Information Sheets AIS8, Working safely near overhead power lines, AIS6 Safe use of combine harvesters; and INDG389 SHOCK HORROR - safe working near overhead power lines, free of charge from the HSE Internet site www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/agindex.htm
HSE Guidance Notes GS6 Avoidance of danger form overhead power lines ISBN 0 7176 1348 8 and HS(G)47 Avoiding danger from underground services ISBN 0 7176 1744 0 are available from HSE Books.

"Farmers are increasingly using specialist contractors for particular jobs who often don't know the lie of the land, so it's easy for them to miss overhead cables or not realise the kind of power they're carrying.
The maps sound like a really basic measure, but the regular death toll tells its own story. A few years ago a study showed that 40% of farmers weren't taking even basic commonsense safety measures around power lines and we want to change that.
Where farmers have put preventative measures in place to reduce the risk of contact with overhead lines on their farm then there is nothing to fear from our visits. If it turns out when HSE calls that they have done little or nothing, then they can expect to be served with an enforcement notice.
Where a farmer has pro-actively approached the electricity company, HSE would likewise expect the company to investigate and use their expertise to make sure the line was safe." - Ian Ellison, HSE Inspector.
"We regularly experience incidents where during agriculture work contact is made with overhead lines or the supporting poles. On some occasions these incidents result in injury to a farm or agricultural worker, and regrettably in some instances these injuries prove to be fatal. Nearly all the incidents result in damage to our overhead lines and loss of electricity supplies to our customers.
What makes it all so sad is that these incidents are preventable with some pre-planning, with vital information being recorded and passed on to those doing the work. I've been involved in investigating several fatal accidents involving contact with overhead lines during agricultural work. The common factors that come out in all incidents are a lack of thought in planning what is to be done; and a lack of care during carrying out the work.
This initiative by the HSE gives us the opportunity to work with their staff to raise awareness of the simple steps that can be taken to prevent contact with overhead lines.
Farmers who aren't being visited in this initiative can obtain copies of our plans free of charge by contacting our records service on 0115 901 4711." - Stephen Hennell, Network and Public Safety Manager for Central Networks.

CORNWALL CONSTRUCTION SAFETY AWARENESS DAY IN OCTOBER
Posted Friday, October 15, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
Smaller construction firms have the chance to send delegates to a free special one-day health and safety event to be held at Pentewan Sands Holiday Camp, Pentewan, St Austell, PL26 6BT, on 21 October 2004, part of the national Working Well Together programme of Construction Safety and Health Awareness Days (SHADs).
The Cornwall SHAD is aimed at small contractors who employ fewer than 16 people, sole traders and the self-employed, who together make up 83% of the industry. Areas of greatest risk on construction sites will be tackled, illustrated by demonstrations, and backed up by practical advice.
Organisations wishing to attend can obtain details from the WWT website.
The seminar has been locally organised by The Federation of Master Builders, CITB, CORMAC, Cornwall County Council Design & Maintenance Consultancy, Mowlem, Costain, Bluestone, Stratton-Holborrow Architects, Poynton Bradbury Wynter Cole Architects.

CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES PROSECUTED OVER NEEDLESS LOSS OF LIFE
Posted Friday, October 15, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
Maidstone Crown Court has handed fines to 3 companies for their failings during a project that led to what an HSE inspector described as a 'needless loss of life' in an industrial accident in Thurrock, Essex, during May last year.
The shortcomings were revealed during the HSE investigation into the death of Paul Ross who fell approximately 7 metres whilst working with colleagues to construct a re-enforced concrete roof in the plant room above the northern portal to the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL) Thames Tunnels. Another worker was also injured in the incident when he was hit by a falling steel section.
Each of the 3 companies, Deverson Direct Limited of Sittingbourne, Kent, J Murphy & Sons Limited of Highgate Road, London, and Hochtief Akteingesellschaft of Whitehill Way, Swindon, pleaded guilty to the breaches and were fined as follows:
Deverson Direct Limited were fined £30,000 with costs of £5,851 for breaching two counts of S.2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Etc 1974 and £20,000 for breaching r.8(1) of the Construction (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1996¹;
J Murphy & Sons Limited were fined £15,000 for breaching S.3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Etc 1974 and £10,000 for breaching r.8(1) of the Construction (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1996, and must pay costs of £2,925.50;
Hochtief Akteingesellschaft were fined £15,000 for breaching S.3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Etc 1974 and £10,000 for breaching r.8(1) of the Construction (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1996, and must pay £2,925.50 costs.
¹ Regulation 8(1) of the Construction (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1996 states that "Where necessary to prevent danger to any person, suitable and sufficient steps shall be taken to prevent, so far as is reasonably practicable, the fall of any material or object."

'This accident resulted from an ongoing failure by the companies involved to ensure that there was a safe system of work in place. The installation of guard rails along the open edge of the scaffold would have prevented this needless loss of life. Ensuring that scaffolding has adequate guard rails is a basic and simple precaution that everyone in the construction industry should be aware of.' - Peter Collingwood, HM Inspector of Safety and Health.

EFFECTIVE HEALTH AND SAFETY MANAGEMENT - REAL LIFE CASE SUCCESSES
Posted Friday, October 15, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
Case studies illustrating what has been achieved in attempting to effectively manage health and safety in the workplace can be both informative and inspiring. This latest HSE website area, The Business Benefits of Health and Safety, offers the following:

how Royal Mail Group plc vehicle services implemented a comprehensive health and safety management system that reduced accidents among its 1,500 employees, reducing absence and assisting with civil claims management, impressive health and safety, cost and business benefits accrued;

British Polythene Industries plc (BPI) introduced a rehabilitation scheme that has significantly reduced absences amongst 3,500 staff, thereby helping productivity and cost reduction;

Bristol's T L Visuals Ltd's investment in the latest plant reduced the need for manual handling, resulting in increased productivity;

C6 Solutions Ltd, W Yorkshire, chemical manufacturers, implemented a union/management agreement to improve health and safety performance leading directly to accident reduction and lower compensation claims;

Wilson James Ltd, Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, security and logistics support providers to the construction industry, provided a full-time nurse and well equipped medical room which reduced absence and improved employee health.

The case studies relate good business reasons for organisations to improve their management of health and safety which can bring increased productivity, lower insurance costs, less absenteeism, better staff retention and morale, improved reputation and reduced liability claims.

"Sensible health and safety management is a key part of effective business management. These case studies highlight the vital contribution that such an approach can have on the performance of businesses as well as on employees' welfare: a true win win.
The case studies give practical examples of the benefits of effective health and safety management that real businesses have seen. I hope they will encourage others to learn from the experience of these businesses. I am grateful to those organisations that worked with us to make these case studies possible. I want to be able to publish a much wider range - if organisations want to share their experiences, they should email us on business.benefits@hse.gsi.gov.uk." - Jonathan Rees, HSE Deputy Director General.

RECOILING ROPE SHATTERED SEAMAN'S LEG
Posted Friday, October 15, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
The ability of the stored potential energy in rope or cable under great tension to be instantly released when it fails, resulting in major injury, was illustrated when a Romanian bosun of the freight ferry, Dart 8, had his leg broken in two places when a mooring line snapped in March this year. His vessel was being made fast at its dock on the River Thames at Dartford, Kent, at the time.
Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) investigation of the winch securing the rope found it to be free of defects, however the rope was severely abraded at the location of the failure, the crew's ad hoc inspections had failed to spot this potential danger.
The managers of Dart 8 have now implemented a planned maintenance regime for the mooring ropes used on their vessels, and MAIB has made recommendations regarding the safe working practices associated with the use of mooring ropes.

LARGE FINE FOR RAILWAY ENGINEERING COMPANY OVER FATAL LIFTING ACCIDENT
Posted Friday, October 15, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
First Engineering Ltd has been fined £200,000 at Glasgow Sheriff Court over the death in an industrial accident of an employee Alexander Somerville, 55, who lost his life in November 2002 when a lifting operation went tragically wrong.
Mr Somerville and a colleague were lifting 2 tonnes of railway sleepers at the company's Finnieston premises in Glasgow when the load held by sling slipped and fell on top of Mr Somerville, inflicting crush injuries from which he later died.
Evidence of company deficiencies in the areas of training, equipment and instruction were offered in court, the company has since acted to improve its health and safety performance in a variety of ways.

NEW HSC COMMISSIONER APPOINTED
Posted Friday, October 15, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
Alan Johnson, the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, has announced the appointment of Daniel Carrigan to the Health and Safety Commission (HSC) for a period of 3 years.
Mr Carrigan is Assistant General Secretary of Trade Union, Amicus, and has for some years served on HSE advisory committees and on government advisory bodies.
HSC Commissioners currently receive a salary of £15,000pa., Commissioners are committed to 25 to 30 days of service each year on Commission business.

SLIPS AND TRIPS - SPEAKER'S PACK PUBLISHED
Posted Friday, October 15, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
With slips trips and falls a Priority Programme at HSE you can expect to see its advisory Slips and trips & falls - live issues web page augmented fairly frequently.
The following additions were made last week:
Slips and trips speakers' pack - Briefing notes for a Powerpoint presentation on preventing slips and trips injuries at work. It includes why it is crucial to reduce slips and trips accidents; what causes slips and trips; assessing the risks; ways of assessing the slipperiness of floors; slips and trips risk controls; examples of good and bad practice; legal requirements; managing slips and trips; having a system; and sources of advice.
From experience - Slips and trips case studies
Airport learns from a wide-ranging review of pedestrian slip risks - An airport management carried out a review of pedestrian slip risks on site looking at risks to passengers, their own staff and those working for other organisations;
Worn out stairs carpet causes a serious fall – yet still goes unrepaired.

SOUTH TYNESIDE NHS TRUST ACCEPTS LIABILITY FOR MANUAL HANDLING INJURY
Posted Thursday, October 7, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
South Tyneside Health Care NHS Trust has accepted liability for a manual handling injury sustained by a theatre sister employee, Shelley Quantrill, while working at South Tyneside District Hospital in 2000. The particular task which caused the injury, the adjustment of part of a theatre operating table undertaken by Ms Quantrill herself, was not the subject of a manual handling assessment required under the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992.
The sum of around £30,000 compensation was deemed appropriate by the courts for Ms Quantrill's loss.

MYSTERY OF APPARENT OCCUPATIONAL RESPIRATORY DISEASE AT CAR PLANT
Posted Thursday, October 7, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
It is now widely reported that a significant number of employees, possibly as many as 70, based at the Powertrain Ltd operation at MG Rover's Longbridge, Warwickshire, plant, have or are suspected to have developed respiratory conditions, said to be alveolitis and occupational asthma.
A search for causal agents is underway which has led to speculation that one possible source of the disease may lie with metalworking fluids and the microbes that they can sometimes harbour.
These conditions can become a serious threat to an individual's health if allowed to progress.

ACUTE RESPIRATORY DISEASE
Acute respiratory disease is found in a range of occupations involving exposure to substances used in painting, metal, metalworking, electrical processing etc activity.
Exposure to organic materials such as hay, mushrooms, laboratory animals/ veterinary activities, proteins and flour account for the bulk of cases of occupational allergic alveolitis and some cases of asthma. Chemical agents also account for occupational asthma cases.
Fibrosing alveolitis affects the alveoli, the small air sacs of the lungs. The alveoli walls are damaged, becoming thickened and scarred, impairing their ability to allow oxygen to pass into adjacent blood vessels.

DEATH AT BLACKPOOL BUS DEPOT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED
Posted Thursday, October 7, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
Colin Baker was struck and fatally injured by a vehicle owned by his employer, Blackpool Transport, as he crossed its Rigby Road depot yard in the darkness of a wet January 2001 morning.
Subsequent HSE investigation led to prosecution of Blackpool Transport Services Limited who admitted at an earlier hearing that it breached S.2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 in that it failed to ensure the safety at work of employees, and specifically that it did not control the risks posed by the movement of vehicles and pedestrians at the depot yard.
It was fined £50,000 and ordered to pay £15,752 costs at Preston Crown Court, Mr Baker's tragic demise was an example of an all too common event, being struck by a moving vehicle accounts for around 70% of workplace transport deaths.

"Workplace transport is one of the biggest causes of fatal and major injuries in the country. Every year some 70 people are killed and more than 1,500 seriously injured.
Mr Baker's death could have been prevented if the company had:
made adequate traffic management arrangements to segregate vehicles and pedestrians; provided suitable traffic signs and road markings; and taken action about the level of yard lighting, which was well below expected standards.
Other employees working at this site were at risk of injury from moving vehicles." - Kim Pears, HSE investigative inspector.

CIVIL ENGINEERING CONTRACTOR FINED £40,000 OVER FATAL ACCIDENT
Posted Thursday, October 7, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
At Fort William Sheriff Court Barr Limited, a significant Scottish civil engineering contractor, has admitted and been fined £40,000 for breaching health and safety legislation in the circumstances of the death in an industrial accident of its employee Ronald Brown, 25, in February 2003.
Mr Brown was working on a site-based concrete production plant at road construction works in Arisaig, W. Scotland, when he accessed a part of it at height to input materials because of difficulties with a ground level feed provided to avoid working at height and exposure to dangerous parts. Possibly while he was attempting to attend to a blockage there he fell into the batching hopper, sustaining fatal injury.
The company has subsequently invested heavily in health and safety to prevent recurrence.

S.2(1) the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 It shall be the duty of every employer to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all his employees.

CHANNEL TUNNEL SAFETY AUTHORITY ANNUAL REPORT
Posted Thursday, October 7, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
The Channel Tunnel Safety Authority (CTSA) has published its annual report for 2003/2004, the CTSA advises the UK and French Intergovernmental Commission on all matters relating to safety in the operation of the Channel Tunnel Fixed Link, its report this year covers:
consideration of the impact of European Directives on arrangements for safety in the Channel Tunnel;
authorisation to place into commercial service the Channel Tunnel Rail Link on the Eurotunnel Concession;
the introduction of new monitoring arrangements based on the accepted Eurotunnel Safety Case; and
consideration of proposals from Eurotunnel to change the arrangements for controlling the gap between trains to permit an increase in traffic through the Tunnel.
The ‘Channel Tunnel Safety Authority Annual Report 2003-2004’ is available from the CTSA, UK Secretariat, Rose Court, 2 Southwark Bridge, London SE1 9HS. Tel: 020 7717 6145/Fax: 020 7717 6969.

IMPLEMENTED PERMIT TO WORK SYSTEM WOULD HAVE PREVENTED ACCIDENT
Posted Thursday, October 7, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
Ciba Speciality Chemicals plc has been prosecuted and fined £5,000 for failures in health and safety management that amounted to a breach of legislation brought to light in an HSE investigation of an accident in June at the company's Paisley operation.
Gary Baird, a technician employee, had the task of cleaning a pigment-making machine, work only allocated to him in the absence of a colleague. Working without the benefit of a permit to work that would have ensured a safe system of work, which would have incorporated steps to remove or at least sufficiently mitigate all electrical and mechanical hazards, Mr Baird placed his hand into the equipment as an unguarded slide valve closed on it, inflicting a severe injury.
The court deemed Mr Baird inadequately trained and experienced for the work placing the company in breach of health and safety law.
The Sheriff however commended the company on its efforts to restore good standards since the accident.

SCHOOL ‘BEATS’ A RETREAT FROM …. AN EXOTIC SPIDER
Posted Thursday, October 7, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
Whitelands Primary School in Berkshire resumes classes today after being closed for fumigation when an exotic Tropical House African spider escaped from a set of drums imported from Senegal for a musical workshop.
The arachnid, described as brown and the size of a fist, disappeared and a decision was taken to fumigate the premises, zoologists warned that it could deliver a nasty bite similar to a wasp sting and there were fears that more could have been lurking in the drums.

GATEWAY MODEL AND TOOLS CAN INTEGRATE H&S INTO CONSTRUCTION PROJECT PLANNING, COMMUNICATION AND CONTROL
Posted Thursday, October 7, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
A report prepared by Glasgow Caledonian University and funded by the HSE has now been published - Integrated gateways: planning out health & safety risk, that will be of direct interest to duty holders under the Construction Design and Management Regulations 1994. It concerns the planning of construction projects, particularly the integration of health and safety planning within construction project management, avoiding the encapsulation of health and safety within a separate bureaucracy.
The introduction to the report states that an estimate of up to 90% of accidents could be prevented through better planning and that designers could have prevented up to 47% of accidents.
The Gateway process is used by companies such as BP, but remains relatively new to the wider construction industry, the researchers recommend the publication of a more succinct, user-friendly guide to Gateway which would be suitable for the wider construction community.

REGULATIONS WILL ALLOW NHS TO RECOVER MORE MONEY FROM INSURANCE COMPANIES
Posted Thursday, October 7, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
Draft Regulations have been published that, when enacted, will enable the NHS to recover costs from insurance companies for treating patients in all cases where personal injury compensation is paid.
Presently hospitals are able to recover the costs of treating people injured in road traffic accidents (RTA) where they have successfully claimed compensation for their injuries, this generates £105million per year for the NHS.
The justification for expanding the RTA scheme to cover all cases of personal injury where compensation is paid is that it would force those responsible for causing injury to others to pay the full cost of their wrong-doing, rather than being subsidised by the general taxpayer. In doing so it would encourage employers, public authorities and those with responsibility for the health and safety of others to take those responsibilities more seriously and improve their health and safety performance. It is expected that the expanded ICR scheme will eventually recover an additional £150million per year.

CONSULTATION
The draft Regulations are subject to consultation, The Recovery of NHS Costs in All Cases Involving Personal Injury Compensation: a Consultation on the Draft Regulations, which is concerned with explaining the Regulations that will govern the new scheme and is divided into 3 areas. The consultation period ends on 17th December 2004

"This policy will encourage employers to take steps to prevent employees being injured and when implemented should increase the total recouped each year to around £250m for the NHS - equivalent to 53,000 hip operations and 11,000 newly qualified nurses.
It is unacceptable that taxpayers have to pay for the medical treatment of someone injured at work simply because employers fail to take adequate steps to protect their workforce. Individual hospitals will now be able to recover the costs and decide where they want to reinvest that money to improve services they want.
The scheme will not introduce any more extra regulations for businesses and will be based on the current RTA scheme. The consultation will give all those with an interest in the scheme an opportunity to comment on the way it will work in practice when it comes into effect next year." - Rosie Winterton, Health Minister.

"We welcome this consultation. It is important that negligent employers pay the full cost of their actions rather than expecting the taxpayers to subsidise their failures to protect workers. However it important that this is not just seen as another cost to be added to insurance premiums and instead is used by the insurance industry as an incentive to improve the measures that employers take to prevent injuries at work."- TUC General Secretary, Brendan Barber.

ARE PRESCRIPTIVE GUIDELINES THE ANSWER TO TEMPORARY ACCESS SYSTEM/ ROOF ACCIDENTS?
Posted Thursday, October 7, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
An HSE-funded report prepared by Heriot-Watt University has been published - Developing a prototype decision aid for determining the risk of work systems at height when using temporary access systems, which, having considered the results of analysis of incidents during work at height, especially those involving temporary access scaffolds and work on roofs, considered the oppportunity presented by the use of decision aids to prevent accidents.
Two flowchart decision aids, SCAFPASS (Scaffold Planning Aid for System Safety) and ROOFMATE (a decision support aid for those working on fragile roofs), were created for scaffold and roof access systems based on case analyses and information gathered during consultations with safety advisers.
The decision aids addressed generic aspects of safety management in a way that was accessible to workers at all levels within a company and designed to accommodate the diversity of contracting companies likely to work with scaffolds and roofs.
Both aids were subjected to user trials and met with the general approval of the participants.
It was concluded that any decision aid must: address the higher managerial issues surrounding safe work practices across all stages of a project; incorporate requirements of the Construction (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations1996, and other regulatory standards and codes; reflect the responsibilities for safety distributed between CDM duty holders; recognise the results of analyses of incidents involving temporary access systems; and cover work activities associated with large numbers of accidents.

HSC SEEKS VIEWS ON METHODS
Posted Thursday, October 7, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
HSC/E is consulting on the methods and approaches it and the Local Authorities are to adopt to influence workplace health and safety standards. This follows on from the publication earlier this year of the HSC strategy for workplace health and safety in Great Britain to 2010 and beyond.
Elements of HSC plans, such as the development of an:
'interventions strategy, setting out the main techniques that we use as regulators'; and 'being clear about our priorities'; are seen as vital and 'the considered opinion of people with an interest, great or small, in workplace health and safety' is sought on these matters.
HSC views this consultation as very important and values responses which, together with findings of reliable research, will influence future direction and priorities.
Comments should be made by Friday 24th December 2004. The consultation document can be viewed at Regulation and recognition – towards good performance in health and safety.

FORKLIFT TRUCK FATALITY FINE
Posted Tuesday, October 5, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
Anglia Grain Services Ltd of Nayland, Suffolk, has been prosecuted and fined £35,000 with £17,000 costs at Chelmsford Crown Court after admitting to failing to meet duties under health and safety legislation in the circumstances of the death in an industrial accident of its employee Kevin Smith, 48, during November 2002.
Mr Smith, with others, was deployed to a farm where seed dressing was to be undertaken, a job which involved forklift trucks supporting large loads of seed in bags weighing hundreds of kg's positioned to the rear of a lorry. At one point the forklift operator left his vehicle and in his absence another employee, on realising a bag was overfilling, mounted the forklift truck to prevent this. With its new operator unfamiliar with its controls, the forklift moved suddenly, pinning Mr Smith against the lorry and inflicting fatal crush injuries.
A suitable and sufficient risk asessment would normally have prevented the adoption of an unsafe system of work. The system chosen was defective in that it did not prevent persons passing between the forklift truck and the vehicle during the operation (something which occurred regularly), and with the load raised this gap was not observable by the forklift operator.

S.2(1) the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 It shall be the duty of every employer to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all his employees.
The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 r.3(1) Every employer shall make a suitable and sufficient assessment of -
(a) the risks to the health and safety of his employees to which they are exposed whilst they are at work; and
(b) the risks to the health and safety of persons not in his employment arising out of or in connection with the conduct by him of his undertaking for the purpose of identifying the measures he needs to take to comply with the requirements and prohibitions imposed upon him by or under the relevant statutory provisions and by Part II of the Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations 1997.

TRANSPORT COMPANY FINED
Posted Tuesday, October 5, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
Wincanton Group Limited, the UK's second largest logistics company, has been prosecuted and fined £10,000 with £1,000 costs for breaching health and safety legislation in the circumstances surrounding the death of its employee, Michael Brookman, 48, who died when the vehicle he was repairing on the M5 was struck by another vehicle near Dursley, Gloucestershire.

INFOLINE SUCCESS EVIDENT BY 2,000,000 ENQUIRIES
Posted Tuesday, October 5, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
Since its inception on 1st July 1996 as a single point of contact to provide health and safety information to businesses the HSE Infoline service is now working on its third million of clients seeking advice. Callers are predominantly SME's (85%) accessing advice largely by telephone, but also by writing and increasingly email/ web form.
The occasion of the two millionth enquiry was marked when Patrick Thornberry, a General Manager at Organic Power Ltd, e-mailed a query about storing biogas, a flammable gas produced when organic wastes are digested under anaerobic conditions by bacteria. Dale Jones handled the enquiry, explaining that the relevant legislation covering the storage of biogas is the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmosphere Regulations 2002 (DSEAR), and gave Patrick information from the Approved Code of Practice and Guidance.

FACTS ABOUT INFOLINE
71% of telephone enquirers rated the Infoline service as 'very good' and 29% as 'good'; it is operated by the Caerphilly-based National Britannia Group; handled nearly 273,000 enquiries in 2003; queries relating to the storage of dangerous substances are fairly common, but the most numerous topics of enquiry are currently: asbestos; RIDDOR (Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations); and health and safety obligations in setting up a new business.
The highest number of queries comes from the services sector, followed by construction and manufacturing.

CONTACT DETAILS
The Infoline service is open to the public from 8.00am – 6.00pm. Enquirers can contact Infoline by telephone, e-mail, textphone, fax or letter, or by completing Infoline’s 'Ask an Expert' enquiry form on the HSE website.

Call HSE's InfoLine, tel: 08701 545500, or write to: HSE InfoLine, Caerphilly Business Park, Caerphilly CF83 3GG, or fax: 02920 859260, or email: hseinformationservices@natbrit.com or textphone: 02920 808537 or complete the online form.

If you live or work in Ipswich, Bury St Edmunds or Lowestoft, you can access the Infoline free in your local Jobcentre plus office which feature a direct link through pre-programmed phones available free for public use in the offices, Jan Wain of Jobcentre plus' Suffolk District Office comments: "This is one part of our effort to provide a better service to our customers by joined up working."

“We were about to start storing biogas and I needed to know about labelling requirements and other necessary precautions such as safe transportation and security. I was very happy with Infoline’s detailed response; I have a much clearer idea of what is required now. I wouldn’t hesitate to use Infoline again – it’s an invaluable service.” - Patrick Thornberry, a General Manager at Organic Power Ltd
“Infoline has grown from strength to strength since being set up 8 years ago. It has an excellent record and the feedback we receive from enquirers is consistently very good. We’re very proud of the high quality of the service and our innovative approach.
One of the benefits to enquirers is anonymity; any enquiry received by HSE Infoline is treated in confidence, and callers do not need to give their name. There is no way of tracking calls, so enquirers can ring the service safe in the knowledge that their question won’t result in a visit from an inspector!
HSE aims to serve every part of the community. For example, its telephone interpreting service covers over 100 different languages. If enquirers want to speak to someone in a language other than English, then Infoline will connect them to an interpreter within a couple of minutes.” - Chris Mawdsley, HSE Infoline Service Manager.

“We are delighted that the high quality of the service provided by the Infoline team continues to attract such large numbers of enquiries from the target audience. Infoline is the first point of contact for many people seeking advice and guidance on matters relating to health and safety and its success can largely be attributed to the close partnership approach developed between National Britannia and the HSE.” - James Ostler, Managing Director of Information Services at National Britannia.

RISK MANAGEMENT IN SCHOOLS AND EDUCATIONAL TRIPS
Posted Tuesday, October 5, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) now offers a Managing the Risks course which it says will help teachers understand the necessity of risk management in schools and on educational trips and visits. Suitable for new or experienced teachers it will include Government guidance, legal requirements and perceptions of risk and safety, along with activities to get young people involved in managing risk.
The course begins in Easter 2005, costs £90 if booked before Christmas, £100 thereafter, the 3-hour sessions are at RoSPA’s Birmingham HQ. There is the option of in-school training, the course can be held at their place of work for just £695 for 15 delegates, for further details please contact RoSPA's Juliet Barratt on 0121 248 2025

“National training in this area of accident prevention is very limited, but there is a huge demand for this type of course. It is well documented in safety education circles that risk assessment is not an area that many teachers feel confident in. Having the knowledge to carry out a risk assessment properly is an essential tool with which all teachers should be equipped.” - Juliet Barratt, RoSPA Head of Safety Education.

CONTROLLING TRANSPORT RISKS AT WASTE MANAGEMENT AND RECYCLING FACILITIES
Posted Tuesday, October 5, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
Workplace transport accidents are all too often causes of fatalities in the waste management industry, being struck by moving vehicles accounts for around 140 reportable industry accidents every year. Although the numbers of incidents are comparatively small, the consequences are frequently severe.
The Waste Industry Safety and Health forum (WISH), which meets regularly to support the waste and recycling industries in promoting activities aimed at achieving improved health and safety performance, has produced and published another best practice document, Safe transport in waste management and recycling facilities, to help achieve improvements in critical safety areas.
It is aimed at waste management facility managers, their supervisory staff, and safety professionals within waste management companies, and is relevant to operations at landfill sites, recycling plants and transfer stations. Although it can be used as a basis for advice about transport risks and solutions at other types of undertaking (eg civic amenity sites), the special considerations to be applied to these sites are outside its scope.
WISH says the document can also be used as the basis for training operatives and the development or improvement of workplace transport systems. It should be used in conjunction with HSE’s Workplace transport safety HSG136, Managing vehicle safety at the workplace INDG199, details of which can be found on the HSE website at: www.hse.gov.uk/workplacetransport/index.htm.

EXTRACTING PETROL FROM VEHICLES AT END OF LIFE
Posted Tuesday, October 5, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
HSE, in association with the end-of-life vehicle (ELV) industry, has prepared and published guidance, The safe recovery of petrol from end-of-life vehicles, advising on the safe removal, storage and disposal of petrol from vehicles that are being disposed of in accordance with the End-of-Life Vehicle Directive.
It will be of interest to vehicle dismantlers, the content deals with the fire and explosion hazards arising from the extraction and storage of petrol from ELVs, and its subsequent disposal through reuse or collection by an authorised waste disposal company.
It is mainly aimed at large-scale facilities and does not cover manual extraction procedures using a pick and bucket which are generally considered to be unsuitable.
The guidance is fairly comprehensive offering relevant information on: legislation; fire and explosion hazards; risk assessment; control measures; separation distances; storage facilities; vehicle
de-pollution; spillage control; fire fighting; means of escape; sources of ignition; maintenance; information and training; and emergency procedures.

SMALL SCALE ACTIVITY
Some parts of the guidance will be relevant to low-throughput/small-scale activities, where petrol is withdrawn from existing fuel tank openings using conventional equipment such as ‘fuel retrievers’. The recovery and handling of other fuels, such as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), compressed natural gas (CNG) and explosive devices used to inflate air bags, is not covered, nor are the health hazards arising from exposure to petrol.
The guidance is not specifically aimed at diesel fuel although the same standards that are used for petrol can be applied to the removal and storage of diesel, but where diesel fuel is likely to be contaminated or mixed with petrol it should be handled and stored according to the recommendations in this guidance.
The guidance does not cover the health hazards associated with working with petrol in the motor vehicle repair industry.

This guidance will enable employers to fulfil their statutory obligations with respect to the fire and explosion hazards of petrol arising from the following: the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 (DSEAR); the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999; and the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

HSE SEEKS TO OVERCOME APPREHENSION OF SMALL BUSINESSES WHO REQUIRE ADVICE
Posted Tuesday, October 5, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
Over 90% of the 3.5 million or so businesses in the UK employ fewer than 10 people. The Health and Safety Commission’s strategy statement, HSC’s Strategy for workplace health and safety, published earlier this year, identifies the need for viable channels of communication with this group and others it wants to influence. An HSE statement explains how it proposes to help all organisations and self-employed benefit from effective health and safety management and a sensible health and safety culture by conveying advice. It is aware of perceptions held of it and local authorities by smaller organisations operating without the benefit of an in-house source of advice that opening up such dialogue could lead to 'problems' or even enforcement action.
The HSE statement fulfils the commitment in the Commission’s strategy statement.
An HSE Statement on providing accessible advice and support, explains:
the option of separating the enforcement and advisory functions and HSE’s intention to consider this in greater detail; how HSE is developing and improving its existing services, particularly where there is a perceived fear of enforcement at the point of delivery;
how HSE will share what it learns about providing accessible guidance with local authorities so that they can continue to develop their respected role as providers of advice; how HSE will work with others to develop and improve other channels of advice and guidance.

INITIATIVES
HSE, in addition to developing and improving existing services, acknowledges the huge advantages provided by the Internet and plans to introduce advice forums in the form of ‘online communities’ dealing with specific issues. Infoline, HSE’s public enquiry contact centre, is to become more prominent, and will become the main portal of communication for those seeking advice and guidance beyond that available from the HSE website.
Another initiative involves a project to test a model for delivering occupational health and safety support and advice on return to work issues through innovative partnerships.

“In the Strategy we commit ourselves to developing channels of advice and support that can be accessed without the perceived fear of enforcement action. I can announce reaching the first milestone in this project: today HSE has published a Statement summarising the range of issues we are pursuing and setting out the next stages of the work.” - Bill Callaghan, HSC Chairman.

HSE YORKSHIRE WOODWORKING MACHINERY CAMPAIGN PROGRESSES
Posted Tuesday, October 5, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
The 6 HSE inspectors engaged on a 2-month campaign of visits to Yorkshire employers who provide woodworking machinery for use to employees and students in the education sector have been in Leeds and York.
The inspectors are concentrating on: machine braking requirements; use of limited cutter projection tooling; control of wood dust to prevent occupational asthma; manual handling; and
the training of woodworking machinists.
50 preventative inspections were conducted, resulting in no prohibition notices and 7 improvement notices, however none related to braking systems. Of the 7 notices, 1 related to limited cutter projection, and 6 to inadequate extraction of wood dust.

"Rates of injury at woodworking machinery are three times higher than the average rates in manufacturing as a whole. The rates of amputation, normally affecting the hands, are four times higher. Our campaign has identified that the industry is now aware of the standards expected for machinery braking. Most have completed the fitting of braking mechanisms to their relevant machinery, ensuring that blade run down times are under 10 seconds." - Jeanette Roberts, HSE Inspector.

FARMER FINED FOR PROVIDING UNGUARDED MACHINE
Posted Tuesday, October 5, 2004 by Ahmed Khan
Peter Goode, 64, must now live with a disability of his arm after a horrific accident last year in which he got stuck in a potato grading machine operating on land at Heckington, Lincolnshire.
Mr Goode required emergency services to labour for 2½ hours before he could be freed and air-lifted to hospital, his employer, Harold Rickett, was fined £5,000 at Sleaford Magistrates' Court after he admitted breaching health and safety legislation.

ANNUAL RAIL REPORT CONFIRMS NO PASSENGER FATALITIES IN TRAIN INCIDENTS BUT 9 EMPLOYEES KILLED