The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) carry out maintenance investigations of vehicle operator licence holders in England, Wales and Scotland in order to check if the operator has suitable systems, facilities and arrangements in place to maintain their vehicles. Following an investigation the operator will receive a report which says whether their systems and facilities are satisfactory, mostly satisfactory … Read More
EAR LOOP FACE MASKS AND RESPIRATORS SAFETY ALERT
The HSE recently issued a safety alert regarding the use of respirators and face masks that rely on ear loops to hold them in place. Inhaling fumes, chemicals or other hazardous substances at work can cause permanent damage to health, triggering conditions such as asthma and lung disease or cancers. Where those risks can’t be controlled by other means then … Read More
UNDERSTANDING YOUR BRAKE TEST REPORT
Heavy Goods Vehicles and relevant trailers should have their brakes tested by a roller brake tester at least 4 times per year, including at the MOT. A report will be provided once the test has been completed. While the headline part of the report is whether or not the test has been passed or failed, more information is provided. The … Read More
NEIGH PROBLEMS: UPDATED GUIDANCE FOR TRANSPORTING HORSES
In order maintain road safety it is important that drivers know how to handle the vehicle they are driving or towing and that the vehicle or trailer is in roadworthy condition. Horseboxes and horse trailers are often only used infrequently and can spend long periods sitting idle. Defects can develop while a vehicle or trailer is unused. So it is … Read More
GUIDANCE ON THE REVISED PPE REGULATIONS
Employers are required to provide employees with personal protective equipment (PPE) where risk assessment has identified that it is necessary to protect the person against risks to their health and safety. PPE should be provided as a “last resort” where the risk cannot be adequately controlled by other measures such as physically removing the hazard (elimination), replacing the hazard (substitution), … Read More
ELECTRICAL SAFETY IN ALTERNATIVE LANGUAGES
The consequences of getting too close to electrical powerlines are usually severe and often fatal, whether those powerlines are overhead or underground. When a machine, ladder, scaffold tube or even a jet of water touches an overhead power line the electricity will be conducted to earth through the item and anyone touching the item may receive an electric shock or … Read More
SAFE MOTORWAY DRIVING HUB LAUNCHED
National Highways, the Government company which plans, designs, builds, operates and maintains motorways and major A roads in England recently launched a Driving on Motorways hub which contains a number of videos and other information regarding safer driving and what to do in an emergency. The Driving on Motorways hub can be found on the National Highways website at: https://nationalhighways.co.uk/road-safety/driving-on-motorways/ … Read More
WOULD YOU BE LOST WITHOUT YOUR SATNAV OR DOES IT JUST LEAD YOU ASTRAY?
When driving a satnav can be an essential piece of equipment to help you reach your destination, with the latest devices able to monitor traffic reports and update routes to avoid delays. However a quick internet search will produce plenty of examples of drivers getting into trouble after following satnav instructions down inappropriate roads, onto railway lines or even into … Read More
PLANNING FOR A RETURN TO WORK AFTER LONG COVID
The Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has introduced many new concepts and terminology to the language. One of these is “long COVID” also known as “post-COVID-19 syndrome”. Most people who contract COVID-19 will feel better in a few days or weeks and most will make a full recovery within 12 weeks, however symptoms can last longer for some people and this is … Read More
Covid-19 Risk Assessments No Longer Required For Most Businesses In England And Scotland
Now that coronavirus restrictions are being replaced with public health advice, the HSE have updated their website to say that they no longer expect all organisations to consider Covid-19 in their risk assessments or to have specific measures in place. Higher risk activities such as laboratories handling virus specimens or health and social care working with infectious patients will still … Read More