The HSE recently issued a safety notice regarding a risk of crushing for persons involved in the maintenance of pop-up toilets. The safety notice follows a fatal accident where an individual was crushed when working beneath a raised pop-up toilet. The hazards identified by the notice arise during the lowering of a raised pop-up toilet during cleaning, maintenance, or inspection … Read More
New Guidance for Electric Vehicles in Covered Car Parks
A new set of interim guidance has been released by the government regarding the charging of electric vehicles (EV) and installation of charging points in covered car parks. The guidance was published by the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles and is available on the Gov.UK website. The guidance focusses on addressing the additional fire safety challenges that are presented by … Read More
Investigating Bus Fires
Following an increase in the number of bus fires reported to the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) an investigation was launched into reported fires between 2020 and 2022. The DVSA has published the findings of this investigation. DVSA highlight three key findings of the investigation: Although concerns have been raised about heat generated by exhaust treatment systems DVSA … Read More
New Passive Fire Protection Guidance
The Association for Specialist Fire Protection (ASFP) have published a series of three Advisory Notes on topics related to passive fire protection as well as updating a previous Advisory Note. These are Advisory Notes 13, 30 and 31, with the updated Advisory Note being number 15. The first of the three Advisory Notes, number 13, covers the testing of partial … Read More
New Guidance for Goods Vehicle Operators Using Longer Semi-Trailers
Introduced as part of plans to allow the more efficient movement of goods and reduce carbon dioxide emissions as of 31st May 2023 longer semi-trailers have been allowed on British roads. Semi-trailers used by trucks can now measure up to 15.56 metres long, 2.05 metres longer than traditional standard semi-trailers. DVSA highlight that those intending to use longer semi-trailers need … Read More
The Ladder Association’s Telescopic Ladder Campaign Continues
As part of their on-going ‘Step Up to Safe Ladders’ telescopic ladder safety campaign the Ladder Association has released a second report urging the government to make regulatory changes to hold suppliers and online platforms accountable for the ladders that they sell. The report, named ‘It’s time to Step in’, follows an initial report, ‘Step up to Safe Ladders’ released … Read More
HSE Report on Fit Testing of CE Marked Ear Loop Respirators
Following the previous safety alert released April 2022 the HSE has now released specific details of research undertaken regarding the effectiveness of different styles of filtering facepiece (FFP) respirators / masks as respiratory protective equipment (RPE). In the previous safety alert the HSE warned that respirators and facemasks that rely on ear loops to hold them in place are not … Read More
DVSA Update Guide to Maintaining Roadworthiness
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