20 December Suspension Trauma [Note this archived article is from December 2013 and guidance has since changed.] All too frequently, the emergency planning element is often not considered when work at height is being planned. Largely, this is because: there is a general lack of awareness of suspension trauma and its consequences employers often fail to appreciate where and … Read More
20 December Setting Up A New Business The exact nature of what you need to do with respect to health and safety depends on what your business does, or will do. The management of health and safety does not need to be complicated, but it does need to be proportionate to the level of risk created by your undertakings. Also, it does … Read More
20 December Pressure systems There are several fatal or serious injuries each year arising from somewhere in the order of 150 dangerous occurrences concerning the failure of pressure equipment in the workplace. The rules are, fortunately, quite simple and straightforward, although a little wordy. Under the Pressure Systems Safety Regulations 2000, users and owners of pressure systems are required to demonstrate … Read More
29 November HSE Accident Statistics 2008 – 09 Company fined £50,000 following death of a manager. Dudley Metropolitan Council was fined £30,000 and ordered to pay £20,000 in costs after pleading guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act. A council employee and the driver of the vehicle, pleaded guilty to two breaches of Section 7 of the … Read More
29 November Fire Safety – Health and Safety News Swine Flu – find out more. First prosecution for corporate manslaughter charge under the new act. Landlords must have a gas safety check carried out – read about Gas Safety Changes. Forthcoming Legislation – At the end of this year, the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008 will come into force. New Health Safety Law … Read More
29 November Manual Handling – Reducing the load Manual handling relates to the movements of loads by human effort, as opposed to the use of mechanical handling equipment such as lift trucks, etc. It is estimated that in the order of one third of all reported workplace accidents arise from some form of manual handling activity. The associated risks include: musculoskeletal disorders (MSD), … Read More
29 November Are you thinking of taking the health and safety at work pledge? The HSE has launched an opportunity for businesses to express a commitment to Health and Safety at Work. In essence its asks businesses to sign up to something that they should be (and probably are) doing already: We, the undersigned: Agree to play our part in reducing the numbers of work-related deaths, injuries and ill-health … Read More
29 November Changes in the levels of penalties by the Health and Safety (Offences) Act 2008 The Health and Safety Offences Act 2008 is a new piece of health and safety legislation that came into force on 16 January 2009. The act gives the courts greater powers of sentencing, including increases in the fines for those who breach health and safety legislation. This Act amends Section 33 of the Health and … Read More
29 November Corporate Manslaughter The government considers that the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007 sends out a powerful deterrent message to those organisations that do not take their health and safety responsibilities seriously. The Act is intended to build on existing health and safety legislation and does not seek to impose new regulations on business. Having taken … Read More
29 November The Disability Discrimination Act The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) 1995 aims to end the discrimination that many disabled people face. This Act has been significantly extended, including by the Disability Discrimination Act 2005. The DDA requires employers to: treat disabled persons equally with non-disabled persons in all employment matters make any reasonable changes to the premises, work layout, hours … Read More