The DVSA have updated, as of 18th April 2023, their existing guidance, originally published 22nd April 2014, about maintaining the road worthiness of commercial goods and passenger carrying vehicles. The guidance is over 100 pages long and covers a wide range of aspects of maintaining road worthiness of such vehicles including guidance on: Responsibilities for roadworthiness Daily walkaround checks Regular … Read More
Guidance on Managing Stress
Stress is defined by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) as ‘the adverse reaction people have to excessive pressures or other types of demand placed on them’. Stress can affect a person’s physical and mental health and cause burnout, anxiety, and depression. Stress can be caused by factors at work such as conflicting demands, conflict at work, lack of support … Read More
Regulation deadline approaching for employees working with di-isocyanates
Under the regulations¹, from 24th August 2023, anyone whose work involves use of di-isocyanates either on their own or where the chemical is part of another substance or mixture (except for when in very low concentrations), is required to have completed specific training. Di-isocyanates can be found in many applications including, paints, adhesives, spray foams, sealants, inks and is used in … Read More
New Safety Videos for Boaters using Inland Waterways
A new set of five videos regarding the safe use of inland waterways, have been released by the Environment Agency in partnership with the Canal and River Trust. The videos each cover a different topic and are all around 5 mins in length making them a quick and easy watch. Additionally the animated format of the videos makes them accessible … Read More
Fire Safety Regulations to Come into Force 1st October 2023
As part of the third phase of the Home Office’s fire safety reform programme a series of new fire safety guidance and regulations will come into force in England on the 1st of October 2023. The new regulations follow the first two phases which were the Fire Safety Act 2021 (phase 1) and the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 (phase … Read More
Climate Change Risk Assessment and Adaptation Planning Guidance
The Environment Agency has released guidance on how to effectively integrate climate change risk assessment and adaptation planning into management systems. The guidance is designed for organisation already operating with management systems under an environmental permit. The guidance considers the effects of climate change as a whole rather than specific elements due to the wide range of impacts organisations may … Read More
Extension of DVSA’s MOT History Service to Northern Ireland
One of the services that the DVSA provides is the ability to check the MOT history of a vehicle, this had been available in England, Scotland, and Wales for a number of years and has now been extended to Northern Ireland making it a UK wide service. The service allows individuals to check the MOT history of any registered light … Read More
HSE Launch Asbestos and You Campaign
Work Right is a campaign initiative launched by the HSE which aims to help smaller businesses and workers. This provides guidance on a number of work related health and safety matters including mental health, musculoskeletal disorders and conditions that affect the back, joints and limbs and lung disease. As part of this overall campaign the HSE recently launched Asbestos & … Read More
Mechanics Warned of the Life-threatening Dangers of Working Under Vehicles
There have been over 7000 injuries and 33 deaths in the motor vehicle repair industry over the last 5 years*. Of these, 13 workers in the motor vehicle repair industry were killed when work took place under a vehicle that wasn’t properly supported. Furthermore, since April 2022, HSE has reported another four cases of workers being crushed to death by an incorrectly … Read More
Fire Protection Guidance for Batteries and Electric Vehicle Charging
A selection of new and updated guidance documents have recently been made available by the Fire Protection Association (FPA) covering charging electric vehicles and battery installations, these include: “RE1: Battery Energy Storage Systems – Commercial Lithium-Ion Battery Installations” this provides guidance and risk control recommendations for grid-integrated commercial (non-domestic) battery energy storage systems, for example systems used to store energy … Read More