Driver CPC, or Certificate of Professional Competence, training was introduced in 2007 around EU. This requires all professional drivers of lorries, buses and coaches to complete a minimum amount of initial training and regular refresher training. Relevant drivers must do 35 hours of periodic training every 5 years to keep their Driver CPC. Where any regular training is required there can … Read More
ADAPTING FIRE PRECATIONS DURING A PANDEMIC
The ongoing coronavirus pandemic and the need to keep workplaces safe has brought many changes to the way we work, with many people now working from home or extra hygiene and measures to support social distancing being put in place in workplaces. Some of the measures put in place to control Covid have implications for fire safety and a number … Read More
CORONAVIRUS CHANGES TO OUTBREAK REPORTING GUIDANCE
The office guidance on how to keep your workplace safe during the Coronavirus pandemic is constantly evolving as the situation and knowledge changes. Different rules and guidance can apply in in different parts of the UK so we recommend that you regularly check the guidance for area / sector. Official guidance can be found at: England – https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus Northern Ireland – https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/campaigns/coronavirus-covid-19 … Read More
AUTOMATIC TO MANUAL – CONSULTATION LAUNCHED ON CHANGES TO DRIVING LICENCES
The government has launched a consultation on two proposed changes to driver licencing requirements. The first of these proposed changes involves allowing drivers who passed their driving test in an automatic car, medium sized lorry or minibus (licence categories B+E, C1, C1+E, D1 and D1+E) to drive a manual vehicle as long as they can already drive a manual vehicle … Read More
10 YEAR TYRE BAN NOW IN FORCE
We have previously reported on Government plans to improve road safety by making it illegal to fit tyres aged 10 years or older to the front wheels of lorries, buses and coaches and to any wheels of minibuses. This ban came into place on 1st February 2021 and it is now illegal to fit tyres aged 10 years or older … Read More
NEW YEAR NEW RULES NEW LOCKDOWNS
With the coronavirus threat ongoing, in many ways 2021 is not getting off to the best of starts. Wherever you are in the UK there are lockdowns and restrictions currently in place, while the exact details may vary between the different nations, for example garden centres can open in England but must close in Scotland (the opposite applies to golf … Read More
Coronavirus – When to Report an Outbreak
Official advice on what actions you need to take to protect yourself, your employees, your customers and others is continually being updated as the situation changes and local and national regulations are introduced. Sometimes this can lead to differences in the guidance and requirements for different parts of the UK. Any article that try’s to explain all the different requirements … Read More
LATEST GB INJURY AND ILL HEALTH STATISTICS RELEASED
The HSE has issued their latest annual statistics for levels of work related injury and ill health in the UK. These statistics cover the year April 2019 to March 2020 and are not thought to have been significantly affected by Covid-19. The figures show that 1.6 million workers were suffering from work related ill health (new or long term) in … Read More
LONGER AND HEAVIER LORRIES TWO CONSULTATIONS LAUNCHED
As part of plans to promote a more environmentally friendly haulage sector the government has recently announced the launch of consultations on changes to regulations affecting transport vehicles. The first of these consultations considers the maximum length permitted for semi-trailers. Under current construction and use regulations the maximum standard length for a trailer is 13.6 metres, the proposals would increase … Read More
MINIMISING MANUAL HANDLING RISKS
With figures recently released by the HSE showing that handling, lifting or carrying accounted for 19% of all non-fatal injuries to employees in 2019/20 it is important that employers take steps to protect workers from risks associated with hazardous manual handling activities in the workplace. With the busy run up to Christmas and January sales, there can be extra risks … Read More