17 March RCS and Construction Cancer Risk Construction Cancer Risk – Respirable Crystalline Silica Respirable crystalline silica (RCS) is a serious problem in some industries, particularly the construction industry. The cancer burden study of the number of deaths from lung cancer associated with exposure to RCS shows there are about 600 deaths per year, with about 500 of these deaths occurring from exposure … Read More
16 March New Guidance for Spa Pools The HSE has produced new guidance for spa pools Spa pools and similar are a recognised source of diseases caused by infectious agents, including the organism that causes legionnaires’ disease, primarily Legionella pneumpohila. There have been several reported of outbreaks linked to spa pools in leisure centres, hotels, holiday homes, on cruise ships and on … Read More
13 February Construction Cancer Risks Construction Cancer Risks – according to the HSE, the construction industry has the largest burden of occupational cancer amongst the industrial sectors. It accounts for over 40% of occupational cancer deaths and cancer registrations. It is estimated that past exposures in the construction sector annually cause over 5,000 occupational cancer cases and approximately 3,700 deaths. … Read More
7 October Asbestos Exposure – failure to carry out a survey Asbestos exposure occurred when a Bolton nightclub owner failed to carry out a survey for asbestos before starting on the refurbishment of a local night club. Once again, we are reporting on an avoidable asbestos exposure to workers. Manchester Magistrates’ Court heard how UK Night Life Limited and its sole director, Charles John McGrath, undertook the … Read More
11 October Lyme Disease Lyme disease has made the news recently as, it is reported, cases have quadrupled over the last few years. Rarely mentioned in most health and safety training courses, this is a disease that can be work related, especially if you work in rural and woodland areas. It may be time to raise your awareness about … Read More
20 May Spotlight On – Occupational Disease Occupational Disease The term ‘occupational disease’ covers a wide range of diseases that are linked with occupational exposure to specific hazards. In this spotlight article, we’re looking at some of the focus areas in occupational disease. Read More
22 April Spotlight On – A – Z of Health and Safety A-Z of Health and Safety We’ve been having fun in the office trying to come up with a definitive A – Z of health and safety words and ideas. See if you agree with the words we chose… Read More
25 March Spotlight On – Asbestos Related Diseases Asbestos-Related Diseases: Every year, asbestos causes around 5,000 deaths in the UK. It remains the single cause of work-related deaths in the UK. Asbestos isn’t yet a thing of the past – asbestos can be present in any building built or refurbished before the year 2000. Current estimates suggest that there are still up to … Read More
7 November Occupational Cancer Occupational cancer (or work related cancer) claims 666,000 lives a year on a global basis, according to the “No Time to Lose” website. Cancer caused by what people do at work is nothing new. One of the first official cases of an occupational cancer was identified in the eighteenth century. Dr Percival Potts (Doctor in UK) … Read More
22 September Construction Industry HSE Site Visits Construction Industry HSE Site Visits – The HSE will be carrying out targeted site inspections from 22 September for a month. The HSE have announced: “Health as well as safety” and this is the message for this year’s Construction Initiative, as poor standards and unsafe practices on Britain’s building sites will be targeted during a nationwide … Read More