The Fire Industries Association (FIA) has published a brief guidance document on the fitting of smoke alarms on boats. This guide is aimed at for boats up to 24 metres used for leisure, hire or residential purposes and covers such issues as types, where they should be located and how many should be fitted. The guide can be downloaded from … Read More
NEW FIRE SAFETY GUIDANCE FOR HOLES IN WALLS etc
Walls, floors and ceilings play an important role in containing and slowing the spread of fire in buildings and are an important factor in managing risk and allowing people to escape safely in an emergency. The compartmentation of buildings provided by properly constructed walls, floors and ceilings helps contain fire for a certain amount of time in the area of … Read More
HIGHWAY CODE CONSULTATION LAUNCHED
The Department for Transport has launched a consultation on proposed changes to the Highway Code which are intended to make roads safer for pedestrians, cyclists, horse riders and other vulnerable users. The main changes that are being proposed include: • introducing a hierarchy of road users. This will give greater responsibility for reducing risk to others to those road users … Read More
CHANGES TO DRIVERS’ HOURS AND TACHOGRAPH RULES
Some changes to the EU drivers’ hours and tachographs rules came into force on 20th August 2020. These changes include: • a requirement for drivers to ‘return home’ every 4 weeks, that is to their base or country of residence • a ban on taking regular weekly rest periods in the driver’s vehicle. Such rest periods must be taken in … Read More
TYRED OUT
The department for Transport has announced that it will soon be made illegal to fit tyres aged 10 years or older to the front wheels of lorries, buses and coaches and to any wheels of minibuses. Legislation is expected in the autumn. Legislation will also make it mandatory for tyres to show a clearly visible date of manufacture, this will … Read More
RECORD LOW FOR FATAL WORKPLACE ACCIDENTS IN THE UK
The latest statistics just released by the HSE show that in the year April 2019 to March 2020, 111 workers were killed as a result of accidents at work. This compares to 149 deaths the previous year and is the lowest level on record, however at this stage it is not possible to say what impact the current COVID-19 pandemic … Read More
HSE ISSUE AIR SUSPENSION SAFETY ALERT
Following investigations into incidents involving vehicle air suspension systems, the HSE have issued a safety alert for anyone carrying out work, including recovery work, on such vehicles whether this is at the roadside, customer premises or in a vehicle repair facility. Various types of commercial vehicle including, buses, coaches, goods vehicles etc are fitted with air suspension. Two common hazards … Read More
HSE ISSUE KN95 FACEMASK WARNING
The HSE have issued a safety alert warning employers against the use of KN95 facemasks as Personal Protective Equipment. Except where it has been organised by the UK Government for use by NHS or other healthcare workers where assessments have been undertaken by HSE as the Market Surveillance Authority, items can only be sold as Personal protective equipment if they … Read More
WORKING TIME GUIDANCE ISSUED FOR FURLOUGHED DRIVERS
Professional drivers should not be expected to drive while tired and the Road Transport Working Time Regulations and Driver’s Hours and Tachograph rules are an important part of managing fatigue. The Department of Transport has now issued guidance for employers and drivers on how the requirements for recording a driver’s hours and activities are affected when the driver is furloughed. … Read More
LATEST FIGURES SHOW FALL IN FIRE DEATHS
Fire and rescue statistics released by the Home Office for England the year ending December 2019 show a 10% fall in the number of fire related fatalities from 262 in the previous year to 237 in the latest year. In the same period, Fire and Rescue Services in England attended 157,156 fires, a drop of 12% from the previous year … Read More