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H&S
News June 2006
| Title | Comments | Publication |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile phone culture putting tradesmen’s lives at risk. | Tommy Walsh backs a new campaign raising awareness of the risks of working at relatively low height. Everyday actions like reaching for a mobile phone, or a cup of tea, could be risking the safety of trades people working at height, with falls from below head height injuring thousands every year at work. | Internet: www.hse.gov.uk/falls HSE Press Release E066:06 25/5/06 |
| Galvanising company fined 12% of profits. | Joseph Ash (Galvanising) Ltd fined £150,000. Killed when heavy steel gantry overbalanced and fell during manoeuvring using a crane. No safe system of work. Inadequate information and supervision. Supervisor not trained in crane use. Failure to mark or identify the lifting equipment. | Health & Safety Bulletin 2006 (349):2 |
| March muddle puts George Eliot in court. | George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust fined £10,000. Aggressive patient shut himself into a room with an unconscious patient and threatened staff. History of failure to assess and control the risks of violence and aggression. | Health & Safety Bulletin 2006 (349):3 |
| Government seeks evidence to back gold-plated claims. | The review of alleged over-implementation of EU legislation, chaired by Neil Davidson, has completed its public consultation. | Internet: www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/regulation/davidson_review/ Health & Safety Bulletin 2006 (349):3 |
| HSC – commissioner. | Mr Sandy Blair, former director of the Welsh Local Gov Assoc joined the HSC on 1/4/06. | Health & Safety Bulletin 2006 (349):4 |
| Lopping off the giants? | LOPP - a controversial attempt to improve H&S standards in large organisations. (L Ponting) | The ‘Large Organisation Partnership Pilot’ Health & Safety Bulletin 2006 (349):5-11 |
| Happy sheets are not enough – evaluating violence training. | Research into the efficacy of violence training in the NHS. (K Humby) | RR440 HSE Books Health & Safety Bulletin 2006 (349):12-14 |
| HSE and local authorities: ‘working together’ locally. | How the HSE and LAs are putting words into practice. (L Ponting) | Health & Safety Bulletin 2006 (349):15-18 |
| Participation: nice sentiments, shame about the proposals. | HSC’s latest thoughts on involving workers in H&S. (H Fidderman) | Health & Safety Bulletin 2006 (349):19-22 |
| Safety-system failure implicated in Buncefield blast. | The 3rd progress report shows failure of safety mechanisms which should have warned operators a storage tank was becoming dangerously overfilled. | Buncefield Investigation: 3rd progress report Internet: www.buncefieldinvestigation.gov.uk Safety & Health Practitioner 2006 24(6):6 |
| ‘Wonder woman’ to lead on work health and well-being. | Dame Carol Black, Prof of Rheumatology, has been appointed national director for health and work as part of the ‘Health, Work and Well-being’ strategy. | Safety & Health Practitioner 2006 24(6):6 |
| Use incentives and punishment to reduce absence – CBI. | The 2005 CBI/AXA absence survey showed 164m working days lost, a reduction of 4m on the preceding year, whilst the cost to the economy was £13b. | CBI/AXA Survey Internet: www.eef.org.uk Safety & Health Practitioner 2006 24(6):7 |
| Responsibility reporting rises. | Recent BiTC survey showed more companies publicly reporting their corporate responsibility policies and performance, but many were larger and would know how to present information in the ‘right’ way. | Business in the Community CR Index Internet: www.bitc.org.uk Safety & Health Practitioner 2006 24(6):8 |
| Asbestos decision. | The House of Lords has ruled widows of men who died of asbestos related disease were not entitled to full compensation because their husbands worked for more than one employer. | Safety & Health Practitioner 2006 24(6):8 |
| Worker killed in failed lifting operation. | John Doyle Constr fined £250,000 / Exterior Int Plc fined £100,000. Sub-contractor’s worker acting as banksman killed by wooden shutter which fell after colliding with a concrete slab during crane lift to roof of development. Poor RA and planning. | Safety & Health Practitioner 2006 24(6):11 |
| Safety glass may have prevented injury. | Greene King fined £17,000. Worker in the kitchen of a public house injured on broken pane of glass in glazed door. Reported but not immediately removed from door. No suitable and sufficient RA. | Safety & Health Practitioner 2006 24(6):11 |
| Scaffolding and overhead power lines should not mix. | David Bohana t/a Celtic Scaffolding fined £2,000. Injured when a scaffold pole touched 11,000v overhead power line. Failure to carry out work in a safe manner. | Safety & Health Practitioner 2006 24(6):12 |
| Firm provided no training on how to use machine. | PhotoArtistry fined £1,500. Recent employee injured whilst using a circular saw. Poor guarding. No training or instruction. | Safety & Health Practitioner 2006 24(6):12 |
| Fundraising event ended in tragedy. | Camelot RUFC fined £20,000. Child injured falling from an ATV during a fun-ride at the club. Vehicle not owned by the club and driven by volunteer. Failure to ensure the safety of a member of the public. | Safety & Health Practitioner 2006 24(6):15 |
| Accident was ‘easily avoidable’. | Hillreed Homes fined £5,000. Bricklayer injured falling 2.7m down open stairwell on a building site. Scaffold board slipped. | Safety & Health Practitioner 2006 24(6):15 |
| Steel firm fined £150,000. | Clifton Steel fined £150,000. Killed whilst using a crane to manipulate a heavy steel coil. Adjacent unsafe stack of steel coils moved. | Safety & Health Practitioner 2006 24(6):15 |
| Another NHS Trust in the dock. | Univ Hospital of N Staffs NHS Trust fined £40,000. During operation, zoom magnification on microscope failed. Fault already known about, no spare available. Patient died 2 days later. No RA. | Safety & Health Practitioner 2006 24(6):16 |
| Employee injured by rotating drill. | CET Group fined £20,000. Injured entangled in lorry mounted drill whilst boring for soil samples. Length of cord was emergency stop device. Poor RA, guarding and inadequate emergency stop device. | Safety & Health Practitioner 2006 24(6):16 |
| Untrained agency worker drove pallet truck. | GF Smith & Son fined £6,000. 18 yr old untrained agency worker injured operating pallet truck. Poor training and supervision. | Safety & Health Practitioner 2006 24(6):16 |
| The far-reaching effect of accidents. | Employers can be liable for a suicide that results from depression caused by negligence – the latest court ruling. (K Bridges) | Safety & Health Practitioner 2006 24(6):19 |
| Chain reaction. | Supply-chain management and ensuring that H&S standards do not fall. (N Maycock) | Safety & Health Practitioner 2006 24(6):37-40 |
| Climate change. | The role of safety climate assessment in driving safety performance improvements and the buy-in for both management and workforce. (K Fitzgerald) | Safety & Health Practitioner 2006 24(6):42-44 |
| Two sides of a story. | The use of workplace mentors may be familiar to many but what about the H&S coach. (K Duignan) | Safety & Health Practitioner 2006 24(6):46-48 |
| Thinking back. | Holistic approach to ongoing and reoccurring lower back pain. (Z Whysall) | Safety & Health Practitioner 2006 24(6):51-54 |
| Assess all areas. | The advantages of body-mapping to assess risks and management of workloads of individuals experiencing, or receiving treatment for, musculoskeletal disorders. (S Mason & D Williams) | Safety & Health Practitioner 2006 24(6):56-58 |
| HPA calms smoke plume health fears. | The preliminary conclusion from a health surveillance study shows no evidence of a lasting public health risk from exposure to the smoke plume from the Buncefield depot fire. | Health Protection Agency and Dacorum & Watford & Three Rivers Primary Care Trusts RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Journal 2006 36(6):3 |
| Regs to prevent scalding. | Scotland is the first part of the UK to require all new and refurbished properties to have a thermostatic valve fitted to hot water systems. | RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Journal 2006 36(6):2 |
| Reform bill changes. | Amendments are to be made to the Legislative and Regulatory Reform Bill to make it clear the Bill will only be used to deliver reductions in unnecessary red tape. | Amendments Internet: www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/regulation/documents/ pdf/amendments.pdf RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Journal 2006 36(6):6 |
| Chernobyl legacy: EC funds health projects. | The EC has spent €470m on Chernobyl related projects, 20 years after the worst ever civil nuclear accident. | RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Journal 2006 36(6):8 |
| Lessons from lung disease outbreak. | Update on the investigation into the outbreak of occupational lung disease at Powertrain Ltd, believed to be the worlds largest linked to metalworking fluids. | Internet: www.hse.gov.uk/metalworking/experience/ powertrain.pdf RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Journal 2006 36(6):9 |
| Travellers’ checks. | Travelling for business and the responsibility for H&S. Forward planning and ensuring individuals protect themselves. (N Cook) | RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Journal 2006 36(6):18-22 |
| The right prescription? | Specialist OH staff and the work related danger of medicines – prescription or over the counter. (E Gates) | RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Journal 2006 36(6):26-29 |
| Working at height. | The Work at Height Regs 2005 apply to all work at height where there is a risk of a fall likely to result in personal injury. (P Ellis) | Internet: www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2005/20050735.htm RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Journal 2006 36(6):32-35 |
| Debating society. | How to enrich the whole process of H&S policy development and consultation. (R Bibbings) | RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Journal 2006 36(6):47-48 |
| Angela Smith takes on the fire brief. | Angela Smith MP has taken over from J Fitzpatrick as Minister for the Fire and Rescue Service. | Fire Prevention 2006 405 (June):3 |
| Business matters. | A call for responsibility and ownership of fire safety throughout the lifecycle of a building. (D Gibson) | Fire Prevention 2006 405 (June):11 |
| School solutions. | Changes in design and use of schools mean alternative fire safety solutions might be needed. (J Lane) | Fire Prevention 2006 405 (June):19-21 |
| Teaching aid. | How insurers can assist with the design and ongoing management of school buildings. (S Blackie) | Fire Prevention 2006 405 (June):22-23 |
| Extra-curricular activities. | Designing extra passive fire protection into schools. (G Ellicott) | Fire Prevention 2006 405 (June):24-25 |
| The sprinkler lesson. | Recognition of the benefits of sprinklers in schools. (B Whiteley) | Fire Prevention 2006 405 (June):29-30 |
| Schools for the future. | New guidance from the Chief Fire Officers’ Assoc on sprinkler systems in new schools. (B Kay) | CFOA Internet: www.cfoa.org.uk Fire Prevention 2006 405 (June):31-32,34 |
| User friendly. | The uses and benefits of sprinklers. (N Troth) | Fire Prevention 2006 405 (June):36-39 |
| Finding favour. | Professional development and the current dynamic fire investigation discipline. (D Goble & S Ames) | Fire Prevention 2006 405 (June):40-41 |
| Suspicious minds. | Updated guidance on the roles and responsibilities of fire and police officers when investigating suspicious fires. | ‘Fire and resilience’ section Internet: www.odpm.gov.uk Fire Prevention 2006 405 (June):42-43 |
| Behind the scenes. | The structured approach to investigating fire scenes. (P Cox) | Fire Prevention 2006 405 (June):44-46 |
| Laying down the law. | The legal issues relating to fire and arson investigation. (D Goble) | Fire Prevention 2006 405 (June):47-48 |
| Looking forward. | The advances made in fire investigation training over the last few decades. (M Gardiner) | Fire Prevention 2006 405 (June):52-53 |
| HSE publishes initial feedback from Buncefield safety alert. | The initial feedback from the safety alert issued to operators of facilities similar to Buncefield has shown a good level of compliance but identified some deficiencies in bunding and environmental awareness. | Internet: www.hse.gov.uk/comah/alert.htm HSE Press Release E067:06 13/6/06 |
| Workplace transport – a matter of life or death? HSE consults on new safety route map. | Series of events in Cardiff, B’ham and Edinburgh on proposed new on-line route map to help employers and workers manage workplace transport risk by providing a framework of current law linked to existing guidance. | Contact ‘Workplace Transport Team’ Tel:020-7717-6059 HSE Press Release E069:06 20/6/06 |
| HSE aims to bring workers on board. | Con Doc on whether safety reps should be given additional powers as part of HSE’s initiative to increase worker involvement in managing H&S. | Internet: www.hse.gov.uk/consult/condocs/cd207.htm Safety Management 2006 (June):6 |
| Safety visits ‘at new low’, claims TUC. | New TUC figures indicate that visits to companies by safety inspectors fell from 74,000 to 55,000 between 2002/03 and 2004/05. | Safety Management 2006 (June):7 |
| Officer’s climbing death leads to Crown censure for MoD. | Flt Lt Eliz Bond killed falling 200’ whilst on a climbing course. Novice climber, not attached to a rope, poor supervision and poor weather. Inadequate RA. | Safety Management 2006 (June):8 |
| Painter ‘lucky to survive’ ladder fall. | Drew Smith Ltd fined £20,000. Self employed painter injured falling 16’ from an unsecured ladder. No suitable RA. Project manager had no safety training. | Safety Management 2006 (June):17 |
| Centred on wellness – making a difference to people’s lives. | How sportswear company Adidas approaches ‘employee wellness’. | Safety Management 2006 (June):27-30 |
| Working at height – (1) Making rescue at height a reality (2) Preventing falls in confined spaces. | The Work at Height Regs and the requirements to plan for rescues and to prevent falls during work in confined spaces. (Dr D Merchant) | Safety Management 2006 (June):33-34,36,39,40,43 |
| Building for the future. | HSE’s new edition of the guidance on construction, taking into account the new Work at Height Regs. | HSG150 Isbn 0-7176-6182-2 £10.95 HSE Books Tel:01787-881165 Safety Management 2006 (June):53 |
| Getting to grips with slips and trips. | The HSE’s campaigns and communications around some of the more difficult occup H&S issues. | Health & Safety Newsletter 2006 (1)June:6-7 |
| Heightening awareness of workplace falls. | HSE has launched the ‘Fall from Height’ programme, after 53 people died from falls at work in 2004/05. | Internet: www.hse.gov.uk/falls Health & Safety Newsletter 2006 (1)June:8-9 |
| Essentials of health and safety at work. | HSE’s new edition. Includes slips and trips, work at height, agency workers, fire safety, stress, rehabilitation and sickness absence. | 4th ed Isbn 0-7176-6179-2 £10.95 HSE Books Tel:01787-881165 Health & Safety Newsletter 2006 (1)June:13 |
| Offshore installations guidance. (The Offshore Installations (Safety Case) Regs 2005) | A new guide for licensees, installation operators and owners, well operators and others involved with offshore activities. | L30 (3rd ed) Isbn 0-7176-6184-9 £15.50 HSE Books Tel:01787-881165 Health & Safety Newsletter 2006 (1)June:14 |
| Nationwide warnings on rail risks. | Network Rail’s leaflet, TV and radio campaign alerting drivers to potential dangers at level crossings. | RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Bulletin 2006 35(6):1 |
| Chemical controls. | The European scheme for registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemicals will probably come into force in 2007. | (REACH) Internet: http://europa.eu.int/comm/enterprise/reach/ RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Bulletin 2006 35(6):2 |
| Top access. | The Int Tank Container Org and HSE have agreed a protocol on preventing falls from tank containers conforming to ISO 1496-3. | ITCO e-mail: grahamwood95@btinternet.com RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Bulletin 2006 35(6):3-4 |
| Cylinder risks. | For managers / supervisors in waste management and recycling. New guidance on unwanted or unidentified compressed gas cylinders. | ‘Orphaned compressed gas cylinders…’ Internet: www.hse.gov.uk/ RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Bulletin 2006 35(6):5 |
| Agency appointment. | In the autumn Jukka Takala will succeed Hans-Horst Konkolewsky as director of the European Agency for Safety & Health at Work. | RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Bulletin 2006 35(6):9 |
| Child safety reminder. | HSE is supporting ‘Child Safety Week’ by reminding the construction industry and parents of the dangers faced by children playing on or near building sites. | HSE Press Release E068:06 19/6/06 |
| Minister recognises large organisations’ public commitment to health and safety. | Lord Hunt of Kings Heath has presented awards to the first 25 organisations to complete HSE’s CHaSPI, the web-based tool that allows large organisations to track their H&S performance. | Corporate Health and Safety Performance Index Internet: www.chaspi.info-exchange.com HSE Press Release C013:06 28/6/06 |
| Organisational change is bad for managers’ health. | Chartered Management Inst survey shows gulf between directors’ and managers’ perceptions of how content their workforces are. | CMI ‘Quality of working life…’ Isbn 0-85946-435-0 £25 Tel:020-7421-2721 Health & Safety Bulletin 2006 (350):3 |
| Researchers urge HSE to look to AMEC for best-practice advice on outsourcing. | HSE research suggests they consider the experience of construction contractor AMEC in developing safety advice for organisations involved in ‘outsourced’ work. | RR462 Internet: www.hse.gov.uk/research/rrhtm/rr462.htm Health & Safety Bulletin 2006 (350):4 |
| Hats and housekeeping give quality build. | Successful construction projects and H&S are related. Research examines good practice, planning, teamwork, integrated thinking, innovative design with safety implications and technical excellence. | RR467 Internet: www.hse.gov.uk/research/rrhtm/rr467.htm Health & Safety Bulletin 2006 (350):5 |
| Practicable and foreseeable? | Review of important Court of Appeal judgement on the meaning of ‘reasonably practicable’ in H&S law. (K Humby) | R v Hatton Traffic Management Ltd [2006] EWCA Crim 1156 Health & Safety Bulletin 2006 (350):7-8 |
| Fit for work, fit for purpose? | HSE’s new delivery framework, ‘Strategy for workplace H&S to 2010’ is now based on two strategic delivery programmes ‘Fit for Work, Fit for Life, Fit for Tomorrow’ (Fit3) and Major Hazards. (L Ponting) | Fit3 Contact: S Longbottom email: simon.longbottom@hse.gsi.gov.uk Health & Safety Bulletin 2006 (350):9-13 |
| HSE publishes expert report for Energy Review. | HSE’s report concludes that Britain’s existing H&S system is flexible enough to deal with any hazards and risks from energy development. | ‘H&S risks and regulatory strategy…’ Internet: www.hse.gov.uk/consult/condocs/energyreview.htm HSE Press Release E070:06 28/6/06 |
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HSE Prosecutions Database
The HSE did not post prosecutions for about a year from January until November 2006. There is therefore be a gap in our database from a hearing date of 24 January 2006 until 1 November 2006. 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.
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