The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 regulates fire safety in non-domestic premises such as workplaces and the common parts of residential buildings. These regulations cover such matters as fire risk assessment, duties to take general fire safety precautions, consult with and provide fire safety information, instruction and training for employees, fire detection, emergency exits etc. In conjunction with the … Read More
Shift work and increased rates of cancer
Over the years there have been a number of reports suggesting a link between shift work and increased rates of cancer, in particular breast cancer in women. One theory that has been proposed is that light at night supresses the production of the hormone melatonin which is known to have anti-carcinogenic properties. Potentially reducing the body’s ability to fight emerging … Read More
New Food Labeling Laws Due By Summer 2021
Allergies or intolerances to various substances are a part of everyday life, it is estimated that 2 million people in the UK have some form for food allergy or intolerance. While for many people an allergic reaction may be uncomfortable but not severe sometimes the consequences of consuming the wrong food can be devastating. In July 2016, 15 year old, … Read More
Hot and Bothered – Can I Stop Working?
With record temperatures predicted for western Europe and the summer holidays not yet begun temperature in the workplace can be a hot topic. While regulations do state that “During working hours, the temperature in all workplaces inside buildings shall be reasonable” in the UK there is no set maximum temperature for a workplace and the regulation does not apply to … Read More
Noise – A note worthy appeal
While many of the articles you will find here look at health and safety regulations from the point of view of enforcement by the authorities, failures in complying with regulations are often cited in claims for compensation when someone has been injured at work. Previously we have reported on a compensation claim by a musician against the Royal Opera House … Read More
SAFETY IN STAGES – GUIDANCE FOR THEATRICAL MACHINERY
IOSH the (Institution of Occupational Safety and Health) has launched a new online safety guide aimed at those involved in designing, manufacturing and using machinery on theatrical sets. The guide takes a checklist type approach and breaks the process down into seven stages, with links to template documents at each stage: · Concept, · Design, · Manufacturing, · Commissioning, inspection … Read More
What are the HSE’s plans?
The HSE recently launched their business plan for 2019/2020, this sets out what their key areas of work will be for the coming year. Naturally the HSE has an overall objective to improve workplace health and safety, the business plan provides some extra detail as to how they intend to achieve this. Putting the “health” into health and safety the … Read More
Who will answer your fire alarm?
Individual fire authorities are responsible for creating appropriate strategies for their own area. With limited resources and many calls on those resources fire authorities have to make difficult decisions about how they allocate those resources. Sometimes those decisions can be controversial, response to fire alarms is sometimes a sensitive area. The latest figures from the Home Office show that 40% … Read More
Lower limits for exposure
In January 2018 the European Union adopted a directive (Directive 2017/2398) concerning workplace exposure to substances that have been identified as being either carcinogenic or mutagenic (capable of causing permanent change in an organism’s genes). The EU sets limits for exposure to harmful chemicals at work using Indicative Occupational Exposure Limit Values (IOELVs) which member states are required to implement … Read More
HSE fee for intervention rate up
The Health and Safety Executive’s Fee For Intervention (FFI) scheme was launched in October 2012, this allows the HSE to charge organisations for the costs involved in investigating, issuing notices and assisting in correcting material breaches of health and safety regulations. This is charged at an hourly rate based on the amount of time taken by an inspector on the … Read More