When an approved constable or Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) examiner finds a defect that affects roadworthiness whether during an MOT test or when they stop a vehicle at the roadside there are various actions that they can take including issuing immediate and delayed prohibition notices. What action is taken will depend on the severity of the defect, official … 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
KEEPING YOUR HEAD ABOVE WATER: HOW WOULD YOU RESPOND IN A FLOOD
Recent bad weather has seen flooding in a number of areas bringing with it various risks such as drowning, structures and trees collapsing, mudslides, pedestrians and vehicles being swept away by flood water, etc. While certain risks may be reduced when the water recedes others remain, if your workplace is affected by flooding it is important that any recovery and … Read More
DISTRACTIONS ON THE ROAD: CHANGES TO MOBILE PHONE RULES
Driving a vehicle is a hazardous task exposing the driver, any passengers, pedestrians and others in the vicinity to a number of risks as such it is important that drivers are able to concentrate on the task in hand. In a modern vehicle there are often a number of devices that could cause a distraction if not used sensibly. While … Read More
CARRYING OUT A VEHICLE WALK ROUND SAFETY CHECK
Carrying out simple checks before a vehicle is used can be an effective way of spotting potentially dangerous issues or defects before vehicles are used and ensuring that vehicles are in good working condition. For operators of commercial vehicles making sure that drivers carry out and record daily walk round checks of their vehicles can be a requirement of the … Read More
DRINKING, DRIVING AND OCCUPATIONAL ROAD SAFETY
The Department for Transport recently published their final estimates for reported road casualties in Great Britain involving illegal alcohol levels in 2017. These final figures show a reduction in the total number of accidents involving drink drivers, (down to 5,700 from 6,070 in 2016) and a reduction in the total number of casualties (down to 8,600 from 9,040 in 2016). … Read More
PLANNING FOR SAFE AUTOMATED DRIVING SYSTEMS
While fully self driving vehicles are not yet a common feature on our roads an increasing amount of driver assistance technology is being fitted to vehicles, including driving aids such as collision avoidance systems, parking assist, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warnings, etc. While assisting the driver all these systems require the driver to remain alert and in control at … Read More