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News May 2006
| Title | Comments | Publication |
|---|---|---|
| HSC calls for health and safety standards to be raised. | Workers’ Memorial Day call by the HSC for all to remember those killed at work in GB. | HSE Press Release C009:06 28/4/06 |
| Health and safety: the state of play. | Table reviewing all HSC/E activity between 10/11/05 – 3/4/06. | Health & Safety Bulletin 2006 (348):6-20 |
| From Westminster Cinderella to crime-fighting godmother. | Westminster City Council’s use of its H&S expertise to tackle crime. (L Ponting) | Health & Safety Bulletin 2006 (348):21-24 |
| Lowering the limits on noise. | Implications of a Court of Appeal decision that an employee can be compensated for hearing loss caused by exposure below 90dB(A). (K Humby) | Health & Safety Bulletin 2006 (348):25-26 |
| There’s still room at the top. | Research into board-level direction of H&S in large organisations. (L Ponting) | RR414 Internet: www.hse.gov.uk/research/rrpdf/rr414.pdf Health & Safety Bulletin 2006 (348):27-28 |
| CPS warning to illegal employers after Morecambe Bay convictions. | Following the convictions in connection with the death of Chinese cockle pickers, the CPS has warned it will aggressively pursue anyone trying to recruit workers illegally into the UK and put them to work with no regard for S&H. | RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Journal 2006 36(5):2 |
| RoSPA announces new chief executive. | Mr Tom Mullarkey MBE has been appointed the new Chief Executive of RoSPA from the end of May. | RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Journal 2006 36(5):2 |
| Power line warning for lorry drivers. | Northern Ireland Electricity has issued a safety warning to lorry and tractor drivers tipping in the vicinity of overhead power lines, after a spate of incidents. | Internet: www.niesafety.co.uk RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Journal 2006 36(5):4 |
| New controls on farm waste. | The Waste Management (England & Wales) Regs 2006 come into force on 15/5/06 and mean controls which have applied to most sectors of industry will now apply to agricultural waste. | Internet: www.environment-agency.gov.uk RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Journal 2006 36(5):4 |
| Gas blast fine cut. | Court of Appeal has reduced the Transco fine of £1m to £250,000. Resident was readmitted to his property, and later killed when gas in his flat and a floor void ignited. Fractured gas main in front of property forced evacuation earlier that day. | RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Journal 2006 36(5):6 |
| Stress builds in construction industry. | Recent CIOB research into occupational stress in the construction industry found 68% of professionals had suffered stress, anxiety or depression but only 27% had taken medical advice. | Chartered Inst of Building RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Journal 2006 36(5):8 |
| Small wonders. | Challenges for H&S professionals in industries using nanotechnology and nanomaterials. (N Cook) | RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Journal 2006 36(5):14-19 |
| Under pressure. | Stress and the police service – reducing pressure on staff. (E Gates) | RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Journal 2006 36(5):22-26 |
| Smoke-free workplaces. | Business implications of the smoking ban. Existing H&S legislation and guidance for smoking policies which comply with the ban and protect staff H&S. (P Ellis) | RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Journal 2006 36(5):30-32 |
| Testing times? | Assessing the current position on the prevalence of genetic testing in the UK workplaces. Response and comments. (R Bibbings) | RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Journal 2006 36(5):51-52 |
| Outbreak of lung disease at Powertrain in 2004: HSE update. | The outbreak, believed to be the world’s largest linked to metal working fluids, resulted in 101 workers diagnosed, mainly with occupational asthma or extrinsic allergic alveolitis. | HSE Updated guidance Internet: www.hse.gov.uk/metalworking HSE Press Release E049:06 28/4/06 |
| More needs to be done to improve protection for British workers. | In a speech to RoSPA, Lord Hunt insisted that GB must make further improvements to its H&S record. | HSE Press Release E056:06 9/5/06 |
| Bund breakdown at Buncefield. | The 2nd report into the oil depot explosion indicates that storage tank bunds failed significantly, contributing to possible contamination of local surface and ground water. | Buncefield Investigation: 2nd progress report Internet: www.buncefieldinvestigation.gov.uk/reports/index.htm Safety & Health Practitioner 2006 24(5):7 |
| Scaffold collapse investigation will take months. | Three construction workers were injured in Milton Keynes when a 14-storey scaffolding collapsed on 11/4/06. The site was shut down whilst police and the HSE began investigations. | Safety & Health Practitioner 2006 24(5):7 |
| New standard for oil and petrol-tanker drivers. | Petroleum products’ road tanker drivers should see improvement in their H&S following the introduction of the Commons Road Tanker Driver Induction Standard (CRTDiS) on 6/4/06. | Safety & Health Practitioner 2006 24(5):10 |
| Developer fined for string of failures at construction site. | Property developer DTL fined £32,000. Various H&S breaches. Poor access, fall prevention, site control, appointment of planning supervisor and principal contractor, and H&S plan. | Safety & Health Practitioner 2006 24(5):14 |
| Contractor died when staircase collapsed. | Eggborough Power Ltd fined £33,000. Contractor killed falling 30m when staircase came away from chimney stack. 3 months previously employee reported staircase was becoming detached. | Safety & Health Practitioner 2006 24(5):14 |
| Stage collapse and audience injuries see theatre companies in the dock. | Clear Channel and Sing-A-Long each fined £14,000. Audience members injured falling into orchestra pit. Pit covering of non-load bearing plywood sheets collapsed. | Safety & Health Practitioner 2006 24(5):16 |
| London hotel fined after ‘serious’ chlorine gas leak. | Kensington Close Hotel fined £19,000. Chlorine gas leak in plant room servicing swimming pool, sauna and spa. Service company advised call to emergency services but hotel waited a day before acting. Alarm not working despite previous advice and quote for replacement. | Safety & Health Practitioner 2006 24(5):16 |
| NHS Trust fined for leaving patient at wrong address. | Welsh Ambulance Serv NHS Trust fined £20,000 / Vale NHS Trust fined £7,500. 93-yr-old infirm woman left at empty house by new ambulance crew. Injured leg and later died. Lack of crew training. No procedure to ensure information exchange. | Safety & Health Practitioner 2006 24(5):18 |
| A suitable case for prosecution? | The HASAWA – was this what it was about - the case of Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust. (M Appleby) | Safety & Health Practitioner 2006 24(5):21 |
| Animal instincts. | Unusual animals and insects – the work of the H&S manager for the Zoological Soc of London. (T Weadick) | Safety & Health Practitioner 2006 24(5):41-44 |
| Our survey said. | Two years after CAWR 2002 Reg 4 came in, asbestos surveys are still being carried out. (M Stear) | Safety & Health Practitioner 2006 24(5):47-48 |
| Freeze a jolly good fellow. | The effects of extreme cold on the body and PPE, welfare and first-aid treatment. (Dr C Ide) | Safety & Health Practitioner 2006 24(5):51-54 |
| Share it with the group. | Attaining OHSAS 18001 at electronics and systems group Thales UK. (R Hobbs & C Hope) | Safety & Health Practitioner 2006 24(5):56-58 |
| Weight of evidence. | Issues relating to obesity in society and its effects in the workplace. (N Williams) | Safety & Health Practitioner 2006 24(5):60-62 |
| Fifteen minutes. | Victim of an accident on an Australian construction site. (J Ballenger) | Safety & Health Practitioner 2006 24(5):65-68 |
| Violence training can leave staff feeling more anxious. | Univ of Notts researchers found that some violence at work training for healthcare staff can be counter productive, leaving staff feeling more anxious. | Internet: www.hse.gov.uk/research/rrhtm/rr440.htm Safety & Health Practitioner 2006 24(5):71 |
| Gaining a new standard. | UKAS now has permission to extend into OH&S management systems and food safety management systems. Certification bodies will be able to include EN 45012 standard in business proposition. | UK Accreditation Service Internet: www.ukas.com Safety & Health Practitioner 2006 24(5):80 |
| 3.6 metre fall costs chrome firm £55,000. | Lancashire Chemical Works fined £40,000 + £15,000 costs. Injured falling through trap door in gantry platform whilst investigating a fault in an atomiser. No formal procedures in place to protect against falls from height. Previous conviction. | Health and Safety at Work 2005 28(5):2 |
| Employers’ lawyers warned off HSE interviews. | Law Soc warns solicitors not to risk intimidating employee witnesses by sitting-in on HSE inspectors’ interviews whilst acting for employer. | Health and Safety at Work 2005 28(5):2 |
| Unlawful killing verdict in Asda case. | After an inquest jury returned an unlawful killing verdict, police are reviewing evidence in the case of a man killed when a security barrier smashed into his car at an Asda car park. | Health and Safety at Work 2005 28(5):4 |
| NHS Trust fined £100,000 for poor supervision. | Southampton Univ Hospitals NHS Trust fined £100,000. Man died following a routine knee operation. Failure to supervise house officers. In 2003 both men were convicted of manslaughter by gross negligence. | Health and Safety at Work 2005 28(5):4 |
| Any volunteers? | Regular voluntary work – companies invest in staff safety and health at work but how to ensure the same level of care applies to volunteering staff. (B Allen) | Health and Safety at Work 2005 28(5):10-12 |
| Within reach. | The new EU chemicals regime and how it relates to COSHH and other UK regs. (P Reeve) | Health and Safety at Work 2005 28(5):14-16 |
| Stress: preparing the way. | Stress management and how to prepare for an RA. (R Anderson) | Health and Safety at Work 2005 28(5):18,20 |
| Youth preservation. | The special care and needs of young people new to work. (S Bean) | Health and Safety at Work 2005 28(5):22-24 |
| Taking the pledge. | The growing number of industries which are signing up companies to promise to improve safety records. (L Ponting) | Health and Safety at Work 2005 28(5):26-28,30 |
| Site specifics: vibration. | Web sources of information and guidance on hand/arm and whole-body vibration. (B Leathley) | Health and Safety at Work 2005 28(5):33-34 |
| Best behaviour. | Importance of behaviour modification in safety management systems - for students of the NEBOSH Natl Dipl. (L Bamber) | Health and Safety at Work 2005 28(5):36,38 |
| Reconcilable differences. | Why PPE must work together. (J Reid) | Health and Safety at Work 2005 28(5):43-44 |
| Asbestos – duty bound. | Some businesses may have fulfilled only part of the duty to manage asbestos at their sites. (C Ward) | Health and Safety at Work 2005 28(5):47-48 |
| HSE to prosecute British Nuclear Group following leak at Sellafield plant. | HSE is to prosecute BNGSL after a leak of radioactive liquor inside the THORP facility. | HSE Press Release E052:06 3/5/06 |
| HSE warns landlords about gas safety following prosecution. | Following a death and the prosecution of a landlord, HSE is warning landlords to ensure the safe condition of tenants’ gas alliances by arranging for a CORGI registered installer to carry out annual safety checks. | HSE Press Release E054:06 8/5/06 |
| Third Buncefield progress report: HSE statement. | The 3rd report into the oil depot explosion has been welcomed by the HSE. | HSE Press Release E055:06 9/5/06 |
| HSC statement – discussion of proposals for revised asbestos regulations. | HSC has confirmed most of the proposals for revised asbestos regs. They will strengthen overall worker protection by reducing exposure limits, simplifying the regime and implement revisions to the EU Dir. | HSE Press Release C011:06 9/5/06 |
| HSE successfully prosecutes construction companies following fatality on a London building site. | John Doyle Const Ltd fined £200,000 and Exterior Int Plc fined £100,000. Worker killed by large timber panel which fell from 9th fl height during lifting process. | HSE Press Release E057:06 9/5/06 |
| Minister thanks Access Industry for being ‘Height Aware’. | Lord Hunt thanked the AI Forum for their efforts to improve the safety of people working at height. | Falls from height Internet: www.hse.gov.uk/falls/index.htm HSE Press Release E053:06 10/5/06 |
| New guidance on working with dangerous pathogens. | New guidance on how to control the risks posed from infections at work, aimed at those responsible for working with the highest hazard pathogens. | Internet: www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/web09.pdf HSE Press Release E058:06 10/5/06 |
| Investing in health and well-being – the Health and Safety challenge. | Outline of how HSE is addressing the challenges of the Government’s ‘Health, Work and Well-being’ strategy. | Internet: www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/dwp/2005 /health_and_wellbeing.pdf HSE Press Release E059:06 11/5/06 |
| Environmental permitting system to be simplified. | Defra proposal to merge the Pollution Prevention and Control and waste licensing systems into a common permitting and compliance system. | Internet: www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/ envpermitprog/index.htm Safety Management 2006 (May):8 |
| Gate crush leaves worker disabled. | Bideem Construction Ltd fined £40,000. Injured whilst helping subcontractor remove 5 defective metal gates each weighing 365kg. Gate slipped during manual handling. No RA or method statement. No mechanical lifting equipment used. | Safety Management 2006 (May):14 |
| The high road to a safer Scotland? | The new Scottish corporate killing law and whether it will damage investment in Scotland. (L Cameron) | Safety Management 2006 (May):16-18 |
| Taking risk assessment to a new level. | BSC awards’ qualifications in RA and workplace H&S. | Safety Management 2006 (May):20-21 |
| The road to Bournville. | H&S management at a chocolate factory. (K Dawson) | Safety Management 2006 (May):24-27 |
| Waste – hazardous to the environment, hazardous to profits. | How firms can make savings by minimising the amount of waste they produce. (P Reeve) | Safety Management 2006 (May):29-31 |
| Figures show fall in fire losses. | New ODPM statistics for 2004 show a reduction in fires and fatalities. The cost of fires in England and Wales was £7.03bn which was 7% less than 2003. | ‘Economic cost of fire: 2004’ Internet: www.odpm.gov.uk/firestatistics Fire Prevention 2006 404 (May):4 |
| Business matters. | Need for better guidance to ensure employers consider the special needs of less-able-bodied people in an evacuation. (D Sinclair) | Fire Prevention 2006 404 (May):12 |
| Premium protection. | How an insurance group works with clients to reduce the impact of workplace accidents and ill health. (R Bacon) | Fire Prevention 2006 404 (May):13-15 |
| Dressed to kill. | Dutch technical standard introduced to reduce the risks posed by the use of decoration materials in public places. (F Paap) | Fire Prevention 2006 404 (May):16-19 |
| Foreign affairs. | Paying more attention to the provision of fire safety training in hospitals employing nurses from overseas. (CR McLean et al) | Fire Prevention 2006 404 (May):24-25 |
| A healthy option. | Fire compartmentation is a key element of a hospital fire safety strategy. (P Wilkinson) | Fire Prevention 2006 404 (May):26-27 |
| Environmental health. | Some joint initiatives being undertaken by the UK fire services and Env Agency. (J Pratt) | Fire Prevention 2006 404 (May):32-33 |
| Learning to cope. | A study of male firefighters in 4 US brigades found they were not coping well with stress. (Dr D Millen) | Fire Prevention 2006 404 (May):34-36 |
| A critical response. | Implementing a critical incident stress management programme in UK fire and rescue services. (J Durkin) | Fire Prevention 2006 404 (May):37-39 |
| The right attitude? | Ensuring fire service personnel have suitable attitudes for their jobs. (Yu-chun Ko) | Fire Prevention 2006 404 (May):40-41 |
| HSE consults on new gas safety body. | The Natl Assoc of Prof Inspectors and Testers has applied to set up a new gas safety registration body. | (NAPIT) Internet: www.hse.gov.uk/gas/domestic/issues.htm HSE Press Release E060:06 11/5/06 |
| Back to ladders due to drought? HSE issues advice to window cleaners. | Clarification for the window cleaning industry should members decide to use ladders and a bucket if there were a Drought Order in operation in their area. | HSE Press Release E061:06 15/5/06 |
| HSE issues precautionary advice after dive cylinder valve fails. | Precautionary advice to dive shop owners and others carrying out gas analysis on diving cylinders after 2 were injured when a valve was ejected from a cylinder. | HSE Press Release E062:06 16/5/06 |
| A fifth of British workers concerned about work-related stress. | In 2004/05 approx 13m working days were lost due to work-related stress and a new report shows that just over one fifth of British workers have expressed concerns. | Internet: www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/books.htm#whass HSE Press Release E061:06 15/5/06 |
| New non-emergency number is on the way. | To allow 999 to operate more effectively, 101 is the new telephone number for advice and action on community safety and anti-social behaviour and will be launched in 5 areas during the summer. | RoSPA Safety Express 2006 (May/June):9 |
| Toxic harm. | Ways in which chemicals can enter the body and the harm they can cause. (A Newell) | RoSPA Safety Express 2006 (May/June):5 |
| Ministry of Defence pledge on journalist safety. | The INSI has welcomed changes to the ‘Green Book’ after the MOD’s recognition of the issue of journalists’ safety in war zones. | Int News Safety Inst Internet: www.newssafety.com RoSPA Safety Express 2006 (May/June):8 |
| Childcare challenge for employers. | Guide to help employers find the best ways of making workplaces better meet the needs of working parents. | Internet: www.tuc.org.uk/extras/TUC_Childcare.pdf RoSPA Safety Express 2006 (May/June):8 |
| Cash & grab – Pt 1 violence at work. | The rise in armed robbery faced by those who transport cash. (N Cook) | RoSPA Safety Express 2006 (May/June):10-11 |
| Understanding tinnitus. | New research reveals the devastating effects on relationships, sex lives and employment. | Internet: www.rnid.org.uk www.tinnitus.org.uk RoSPA Safety Express 2006 (May/June):12 |
| Lancashire constabulary wins HSE sponsored Public Servant of the Year award ‘Improving working lives – putting people first’. | The award recognises and rewards those who have achieved significant success as public servants and have demonstrated commitment, endeavour and innovation in a crucial role serving their local community. | HSE Press Release C012:06 22/5/06 |
| HSE grants decommissioning consent at Sizewell A power station. | Consent has been granted for a decommissioning project at Sizewell A nuclear power station which is due to cease operation this year. | Internet: www.hse.gov.uk/nuclear/nuc25.pdf HSE Press Release E064:06 25/5/06 |
| Quarterly statement on nuclear incidents at nuclear installations. | There were no incidents in the period 1/1/06-31/3/06. | NSDI Tel:0151-951-3484 HSE Press Release E065:06 26/5/06 |
HSE Prosecutions Database (4 Feb 2007)
After a gap of around a year, HSE is now posting prosecutions again. We have started inputting cases with hearing dates after 1-Nov-2006 and will update new cases weekly as they are reported. In view of the volume of prosecutions now posted, we are not inputting previous cases. There will therefore be a gap in our database from a hearing date of 24 January 2006 until November 1st. Anyone not finding a case which may have been heard between January and November 2006, should therefore try searching the HSE Prosecutions database.
When the HSE relaunched the Prosecution database in January 2007, after a break of around a year, they appear to have changed the format of the case numbers. Therefore, for all entries with a hearing date before the 24 January 2006 you should search the HSE database using the defendants name instead of the case number we have quoted if you wish to check details for yourself.
Disclaimer
Whilst every effort is taken to ensure that H & S News entries are an accurate summary of the source data, at the time of publication on the HASTAM website, HASTAM cannot accept any responsibility for errors or omissions in transcription. Further, HASTAM cannot accept any responsibility for the content of the information to be found in the source materials.
HASTAM cannot accept any liability for any events arising from the use of this information. We strongly recommend that, if any information from any H & S News entry is to be used for any specific purpose, the original source is checked to confirm accuracy and to enable the user to take account of the full information. This is particularly important in the case of HSE Prosecutions where the HSE may have withdrawn a specific entry subsequent to its publication in H & S News. Entries can be checked using the search facility on www.hse-databases.co.uk/prosecutions
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