As part of the third phase of the Home Office’s fire safety reform programme a series of new fire safety guidance and regulations will come into force in England on the 1st of October 2023. The new regulations follow the first two phases which were the Fire Safety Act 2021 (phase 1) and the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 (phase … Read More
Climate Change Risk Assessment and Adaptation Planning Guidance
The Environment Agency has released guidance on how to effectively integrate climate change risk assessment and adaptation planning into management systems. The guidance is designed for organisation already operating with management systems under an environmental permit. The guidance considers the effects of climate change as a whole rather than specific elements due to the wide range of impacts organisations may … Read More
LPG FLT Safety Alert
The UK Material Handling Association (UKMHA) recently published a safety alert regarding possible fire risks associated with LPG forklifts. This alert is to raise awareness of problems starting LPG powered trucks from cold due to a build-up of deposits in the ignition system. Unburnt LPG passing through the truck’s engine could cause a fire risk. The safety alert gives advice … Read More
HSE Launch Asbestos and You Campaign
Work Right is a campaign initiative launched by the HSE which aims to help smaller businesses and workers. This provides guidance on a number of work related health and safety matters including mental health, musculoskeletal disorders and conditions that affect the back, joints and limbs and lung disease. As part of this overall campaign the HSE recently launched Asbestos & … Read More
Consultation Launched on Charges to Driver CPC
Driver CPC, or Certificate of Professional Competence, training was introduced in 2007 in the EU for professional drivers of lorries, buses and coaches. Professional drivers are required to complete a minimum amount of initial training and regular refresher training. This includes 35 hours of periodic training every 5 years to keep their Driver CPC. With the UK’s withdrawal from the UK … Read More
Mechanics Warned of the Life-threatening Dangers of Working Under Vehicles
There have been over 7000 injuries and 33 deaths in the motor vehicle repair industry over the last 5 years*. Of these, 13 workers in the motor vehicle repair industry were killed when work took place under a vehicle that wasn’t properly supported. Furthermore, since April 2022, HSE has reported another four cases of workers being crushed to death by an incorrectly … Read More
Fire Protection Guidance for Batteries and Electric Vehicle Charging
A selection of new and updated guidance documents have recently been made available by the Fire Protection Association (FPA) covering charging electric vehicles and battery installations, these include: “RE1: Battery Energy Storage Systems – Commercial Lithium-Ion Battery Installations” this provides guidance and risk control recommendations for grid-integrated commercial (non-domestic) battery energy storage systems, for example systems used to store energy … Read More
Updated Guidance on Protecting Buildings from Fire and Sprinkler Maintenance
Updated building fire safety guidance documents have recently been made available from the Fire Protection Association / RISCAuthority, these include: The latest edition of the guide “A to Z of essential principles in the protection of buildings”. This sets out to identify and order aspects of building design and construction that can be strengthened to protect property and business against … Read More
Managing Trees Safely
Two employers recently received significant fines after children were killed or seriously injured by falling trees on their property. In the first case Newcastle City Council were fined £280,000 after an incident on 25th September 2020 in which a tree in poor condition in a school playground, fell causing the death of a six year old girl. In the second … Read More
New Guidance for Supporting Employees with Disabilities and Long-term Health Issues
Statistics show that despite record high levels of employment in the UK currently there is still a significant disability employment gap and disabled people are twice as likely to fall out of work once gaining work. The HSE has published new guidance to help employers support their disabled staff and those with long-term health conditions. The guidance is primarily aimed … Read More