Last year we reported how the EU was in the process of introducing new lower workplace exposure for certain substances that have been identified as being either carcinogenic or mutagenic (capable of causing permanent change in an organism’s genes). EU member states were given until 17th January 2020 to implement these changes into national legislation. Exposure limits are based on … Read More
CLEARING SNOW AND ICE: WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW?
Health and safety regulations require employers to assess risks and where necessary take action to reduce those risks, this includes the risks of slips and trips. Specific regulations require that, so far as is reasonably practicable, every floor and traffic route in a workplace should be kept free from obstructions and from any article or substance which may cause a … Read More
METAL FABRICATION INSPECTIONS
The HSE have announced that during January, February and March 2020 their inspectors will be targeting metal fabrication workplaces. The inspection programme will be focussing on the control of substances hazardous to health, in particular welding fume and metalworking fluids. In February 2019 the HSE issued a safety alert following the publication of scientific evidence that exposure to all welding … Read More
Pigs In Blankets – Risk Management
Christmas is a time for many things, family, tradition, joy, remembrance, food and sharing are just a few, but one thing no-one wants to share is food poisoning. Yes, I know, the health and safety people are being Christmas grumps again, but with the Food Standards Agency estimating that there are one million cases of food poisoning in the UK … Read More
UPDATED HSE SAFE WELDING GUIDANCE
In February 2019 the HSE issued a safety alert regarding exposure to welding fume and the measures that HSE inspectors will expect to see in place where welding is carried out. This followed scientific evidence from the International Agency for Research on Cancer that exposure to mild steel welding fume can cause lung cancer and possibly kidney cancer in humans. … Read More
VIBRATION CLAIMS AND DUPUYTREN’S CONTRACTURE
The most common health issues associated with exposure to vibration through the hands and arms are a range of conditions collectively known as hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) and certain specific diseases such as carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Typical early symptoms of these conditions include tingling and numbness in the fingers, not being able to feel things properly, loss of strength … 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