As restrictions continue to ease, here is a summary of the most recent updates from the Scottish, Welsh and Jersey governments. In addition, we summarise the recent changes in Northern Ireland. At present, England, Guernsey and the Republic of Ireland are continuing with current measures. Scotland – To Level 0 and Beyond Scotland has announced a move to Beyond Level … Read More
REVISED CORONAVIRUS RULES FOR INTERNATIONAL HAULIERS
Earlier this year the Government introduced new rules for hauliers entering England from outside of the Common Travel Area (UK, the Crown Dependencies (Bailiwick of Jersey, Bailiwick of Guernsey and the Isle of Man) and Ireland) staying for longer than 2 days. Under these rules hauliers must take a coronavirus test within two days of arrival and every 3 days … Read More
WHAT HAS YOUR ENGINE JUST E10?
As part of plans to reduce emissions of greenhouse gasses the government has announced that over the summer in England, Scotland and Wales the standard grade of petrol is changing from the current E5 standard to E10. The current E5 blend contains up to 5% bioethanol, E10 petrol will see the amount of bioethanol increase to 10%, the main benefit … Read More
UPDATING PPE REGULATIONS
The Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 implemented an EU directive into UK law. These regulations place duties on employers with regard to protecting their employees, for example a duty to ensure that suitable personal protective equipment is provided to their employees who may be exposed to a risk to their health or safety while at work unless the … Read More
SAFE DRIVING FOR LIFE
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) have launched a new Safe Driving For Life website aimed at supporting learner drivers. The website offers resources for car, motorbike, goods vehicle, bus and coach drivers as well as trainers. While a significant part of this site is selling learning and revision materials there are also a number of free resources for … Read More
GOODS VEHICLE OPERATORS LICENCES NOW REQUIRED FOR SMALL VANS
The current UK goods vehicle operator licensing regime covers vehicles weighing more than 3.5 tonnes, e.g. lorries and larger public service vehicles (PSVs), such as buses. As part of the UK-EU negotiations and subsequent Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA), the UK has agreed to extend operator licensing requirements to include goods vehicles weighing more than 2.5 tonnes up to 3.5 tonnes gross vehicle weight (including combined weight … Read More
CHANGING FIRE SAFETY REGULATIONS
The key piece of legislation covering fire safety regulation in most non-domestic premises (e.g. workplaces) in England and Wales is the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. A number of changes are due to be made to this regulation under the Building Safety Bill which was recently launched on its journey through parliament. Changes due to be introduced by the … Read More
ANNUAL FATAL INJURY STATISTICS RELEASED
The HSE have recently released provisional fatal injury statistics for the year to March 2021. While these figures are for injuries rather than diseases (including Covid-19) they will have been affected by the changes in working patterns e.g. more people working away from their normal workplace, caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Overall the figures show 142 workers were killed in … Read More
ALWAYS ASK FOR THE ASBESTOS REGISTER
Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that takes many years to develop following the inhalation of asbestos fibres, but progress is usually rapidly fatal following symptom onset. Figures recently released by the HSE show that 2,369 people died from mesothelioma in Great Britain in 2019. While this is 7% lower than the annual average over the period 2012-2018, taking into … Read More
Changes to Right to Work Checks
As a result of the pandemic, last year the government made it possible for organisations to conduct right to work changes virtually on a temporary basis. This is now due to end on 31 August 2021. What are right to work checks? To ascertain whether an individual originally from overseas (including the EU) has the right to work in the … Read More