At the end of September the HSE launched a campaign, the Work Right Construction: Your Health. Your Future campaign, to combat serious aches, pains, and strains in construction, paying particular attention to manual handling. As part of the campaign HSE inspectors carried out one thousand inspections through October and November specifically looking at how workers are moving heavy materials. HSE … Read More
Battery Tool Vibration and Noise Levels
A recent research report, published by the HSE, has compared vibration and noise levels of various battery-based tools with more traditionally powered equivalents. It has often been claimed that battery powered tools produce lower vibration and noise levels than their non-battery counterparts. However, there has been little research to confirm or dispute these claims. With battery-based tools becoming an increasingly … Read More
Building Safety Act and Compliance
We have been approached by several clients over the last 12 months to ask our views on the forthcoming legislation and what impact it will have on the management of their buildings and more importantly on their residents. As an update, the Building Safety Act 2022 is likely to come into legislation either in April or October 2023 and will … Read More
PIB Group acquires Emprocom Ltd
PIB Group Ltd (‘PIB’) has acquired health and safety specialists Emprocom Ltd (‘Emprocom’), who bring complementary services and expertise to the Group’s risk management proposition. Based in Lincolnshire and servicing clients across further afield across the East Midlands, Emprocom will form part of the PIB Risk Management division. The two businesses enjoy an existing relationship, which has led to the … Read More
Changes to Dangerous Goods Safety Advisor Regulations
The carriage of some goods can involve particular hazards e.g. due to their chemical properties, explosive nature, flammability or danger to the environment. The carriage of such goods is governed by specific legislation such as the Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment Regulations which require carriage to be carried out in accordance with the rules set … Read More
New Guidance for Lifting Safely
New and updated guidance has recently been made available by the Construction Plant Association covering the safe management and undertaking of lifting operations. The first of is updated guidance on the use of radio communication for lifting operations. Two way radios are often used where it is not possible to maintain a line of sight between the crane operator and … Read More
Workplace Transport Inspections at Quarries in Northern Ireland
The Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland has announced that in Autumn 2022 they will be carrying out inspections at quarries in Northern Ireland specifically looking at the use of workplace transport issues. While safety at quarries has significantly improved in recent years HSENI has recognised that workplace transport continues to be an area that is responsible for high … Read More
Simultaneous Evacuation Guidance Update
Traditionally purpose-built blocks of flats are generally designed and built to support a stay-put evacuation strategy. In the event of a fire, only residents from flats directly affected by fire, heat, or smoke should need to evacuate. Residents in unaffected flats should be protected by general fire precautions provided in the building and should, therefore, be safe to stay put … Read More
Updated Guidance for Brick and Tile Manufacturing, Stonework and Foundries
Silica is a natural substance found in most stone, rocks, sand, quartz and clay. This can be released as dust during a number of manufacturing tasks. Breathing silica dust or respirable crystalline silica (RCS) can lead to a number of lung diseases including silicosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer. Both silicosis and COPD cause breathing problems and when someone … Read More
PEEPS for High Rise Buildings
A Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (or PEEP) is a specific plan used to ensure that those who may need assistance can evacuate safely in an emergency, for example persons with limited mobility, vision or hearing. These are often used in situations such as healthcare premises, hotels and residential educational establishments where people with restricted mobility may be present. Previously, following … Read More