Health and safety regulations require employers to assess risks and where necessary take action to reduce those risks, this includes the risks of slips and trips. Specific regulations require that, so far as is reasonably practicable, every floor and traffic route in a workplace should be kept free from obstructions and from any article or substance which may cause a … Read More
NEW GUIDANCE CONSTRUCTION HOISTS AND MAST CLIMBERS
Hoists and mast climbing work platforms are often used in construction as a convenient way of getting people and materials to and from high workplaces. All such equipment will require a base or foundation which is capable of safely taking the loads imposed on it by the equipment and the load carried. When free standing most equipment can only move … Read More
GLASS BALUSTRADE SAFETY ALERT
The Standing Committee On Structural Safety (SCOSS) has issued a safety alert regarding the structural safety of glass used in balustrades e.g. where glass panels are used as an infill between the posts and rails around a balcony or staircase. Any barrier in a building that is not designed and built to an appropriate standard may pose a serious risk … Read More
FIRE AND BUILDING SAFETY BILLS ANNOUNCED IN THE QUEENS’ SPEECH
Included in the Queen’s Speech in December 2019 were measures to improve building safety. The measures the Government intends to take include a Building Safety Bill and a Fire Safety Bill. Following the tragic Grenfell tower fire an independent review of building safety was carried out led by former HSE chair Dame Judith Hackitt. This review made 53 recommendations which … Read More
Pigs In Blankets – Risk Management
Christmas is a time for many things, family, tradition, joy, remembrance, food and sharing are just a few, but one thing no-one wants to share is food poisoning. Yes, I know, the health and safety people are being Christmas grumps again, but with the Food Standards Agency estimating that there are one million cases of food poisoning in the UK … Read More
FIRE SAFETY IN HIGH RISE BUILDINGS
In May 2019 we reported on how the Scottish Government had launched a consultation on proposed actions to strengthen fire safety for people who live in high rise buildings following the Grenfell tragedy. A draft document was included with the consultation setting out proposed fire safety guidance for existing high rise domestic buildings. This guidance has now been agreed and … Read More
MOBILE OVEN CLEANING SAFETY ALERT
Following an incident where a van exploded the HSE have issued a safety alert regarding mobile oven cleaning services. Typically, these services involve a van equipped with a dip tank to soak oven parts in hot cleaning solution at the customer’s property. This is generally heated either electrically or using a gas burner connected to a liquid petroleum gas (LPG) … Read More
ENFORCEMENT ACTION FALLS IN 2018/19
The latest figures issued by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) show a fall in the number of prosecutions and notices issued for breaches of health and safety regulations in 2018/19. The HSE and local authorities can issue both improvement and prohibition notices. In the last year 11,040 notices were issued this represents a 4% decrease on the previous year. … Read More
SLIPS, TRIPS AND FALLS STILL TOPPING THE CHARTS
The latest statistics from the HSE show the most common cause of non-fatal injury in the workplace was slips, trips and falls at the same level accounting for around 29% of injuries. So, what can you do to protect your workforce from becoming a statistic? Not surprisingly the precise answer will depend on your workplace and the hazards that exist … Read More
MIXED PICTURE FOR HEALTH & SAFETY IN NORTHERN IRELAND
The Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) recently published their latest annual report. Some significant headlines for the period 2018/19 include: A small increase in the number of reportable injuries to 1,906 from 1,898 the previous year. Despite the overall increase in the number of injuries the number of major injuries fell by over a quarter from 453 … Read More