Welcome to the archive section of Health & Safety News, a free service which is updated weekly. As well as producing Health and Safety News, HASTAM is an established provider of heath and safety consultancy, health and safety training and audit software (CHASE). We also have a behavioural safety system (SAM) and an environmental division.
About HASTAM 
CHASE Audit Software 
SAM Behavioural Safety 
H&S
News August 2006
| Title | Comments | Publication |
|---|---|---|
| Dangerous loads. | In 2007 there will be new legislation covering the carriage of dangerous goods by all types of road and rail transport. It will replace the Radioactive Materials (Rd Transpt) Regs 2002 and Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure Equip Regs 2004. | Internet: www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_freight/documents/ page/dft_freight_611719.hcsp RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Bulletin 2006 35(7):3 |
| EU emissions. | The European Comm has released details of more than 9,400 industrial plants covered by the EU’s emissions trading scheme. | Internet: http://ec.europa.eu/comm/environment/climat/emission.htm RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Bulletin 2006 35(7):2 |
| Raising standards. | The Scottish Executive has published draft standards for healthcare support staff. Aimed at employers and employees it includes codes of practice and induction standards. | Internet: www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/ RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Bulletin 2006 35(7):6 |
| Working safely with metalworking fluids. | Guidance and legal duties on safe working with metalworking fluids. | Internet: www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg365.pdf RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Bulletin 2006 35(7):14 |
| HSC announces proposals for work at height amendment regulations consultation. | A proposal to amend the current Work at Height Regs 2005 to include those who are paid to lead or train climbing and caving activities in the adventure activity sector. | Internet: www.hse.gov.uk/falls/wahradventure.htm HSC Press Release C020:06 1/8/06 |
| HSC consults on proposals for new workplace exposure limits (WELs). | Proposed new WELs for 7 substances where one does not currently exist and a reduction in the WELs for 13 others. New and revised WELs due April 2007. | HSC Press Release C016:06 2/8/06 |
| HSE grants decommissioning consent at Dungeness A power station. | Consent has been granted for a decommissioning project at Dungeness A nuclear power station. | HSE Press Release E082:06 2/8/06 |
| Kill Bill gets a life at last. | The Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Bill was published on 21/7/06 but is unlikely to pass through Parliament before 2008. | Safety & Health Practitioner 2006 24(8):6 |
| Anger over reduction in Hatfield rail firm’s fine. | Balfour Beatty Rail Infrastructure Services has had its £10m fine for the Hatfield rail crash reduced to £7.5m. Four people died in the crash. | Safety & Health Practitioner 2006 24(8):6 |
| HSC issues annual report. | HSC Annual report 2005/06 shows progress against the ‘Strategy for workplace H&S to 2010’ although it is not quite where it should be. | Safety & Health Practitioner 2006 24(8):7 |
| Firm removed asbestos unsafely after fire. | Richmond Homes fined £15,000 and Mr A Import (MD) fined £2,000. After a fire at a part demolished building, cleared debris without taking precautions regarding asbestos known to be on site. | Safety & Health Practitioner 2006 24(8):13 |
| Workers and vehicles were not segregated on construction site. | David Smith, principal contractor, fined £2,000. Worker injured by dumper truck on construction site. No vehicle pedestrian segregation although identified in transport plan. | Safety & Health Practitioner 2006 24(8):14 |
| Driver injured in loading-bay prang. | TD Williams fined £6,000. Driver injured by FLT whilst attaching his tractor unit to a trailer in a loading bay. Poor RA. | Safety & Health Practitioner 2006 24(8):14 |
| Poundstretcher fined after teenage employee breaks ankle. | Poundstretcher fined £6,000. 16 year old injured falling after ceiling grid gave way. Deputy manager had asked him to climb over internal partition to retrieve keys locked in office. No safe system of work and poor RA. | Safety & Health Practitioner 2006 24(8):14 |
| Worker stood on 14 pallets to reach top of machine. | Wagg Foods fined £5,000. FLT driver injured falling from top of 14 pallets. Following a problem with a dog food mixing machine, worker asked to stand on pallets and manually add ingredients. | Safety & Health Practitioner 2006 24(8):16 |
| Ignorance of regulations is no excuse, firm told. | Roadrunner (Hull) Ltd fined £1,500. Builder employed to remove felt from 3m high decayed wooden canopy. No harness. Prohibition Notice served. Harness purchased but not in use on inspector’s return visit. | Safety & Health Practitioner 2006 24(8):16 |
| No holiday for safety advisor after fall at Butlins camp. | Leisure Employment Serv fined £15,000. Consultant water safety advisor injured falling through a suspended ceiling whilst inspecting water tanks. Access via a ladder, no electric light, no warning signs. | Safety & Health Practitioner 2006 24(8):16 |
| United we (should) stand. | Differences between H&S enforcement in Scotland and the rest of the UK. (K Bridges & T Stocker) | Safety & Health Practitioner 2006 24(8):19 |
| Options open. | Overview of some of the alternatives to prosecution that could be employed by HSC/E. (L Smail) | Safety & Health Practitioner 2006 24(8):35-38 |
| Building in assurances. | Pilot ‘horizontal audit’ to measure CDM compliance within construction projects at the Univ of Cambridge. (S Cooper & J Emmines) | Safety & Health Practitioner 2006 24(8):41-44 |
| Mind your language. | The challenge of offering H&S training to students unaccustomed to Western ways of thought. (C Preston & D Allan) | Safety & Health Practitioner 2006 24(8):47-50 |
| Softly does it. | Selecting H&S software. A typical selection process for a medium to large company. (M Duckhouse) | Safety & Health Practitioner 2006 24(8):53-54 |
| It starts at the top. | The right training for directors and their influence on H&S. (A Christodoulou) | Safety & Health Practitioner 2006 24(8):57-60 |
| HSE publishes full results of work-related illness survey. | ‘Self-reported work-related illness 2004/05: Results form the Labour Force Survey’. | Internet: www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/swi/swi0405.pdf HSC Press Release C017:06 3/8/06 |
| Two million British workers suffering ill health. | Approx 2m workers suffer ill health which they believe was caused or made worse by work. Major causes were musculoskeletal disorders and stress. | Internet: www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/swi/swi0405.pdf HSE Press Release E083:06 3/8/06 |
| HSC publishes statistics of fatal injuries 2005/2006. | HSE statistics for 2005/06 show that 212 people were killed, with 43% of these occurring in construction and agriculture, forestry and fishing. | Internet: www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/overpic.htm HSC Press Release C018:06 17/8/06 |
| Fatal injuries to British workers at record levels. | The fatal injury statistics for 2005/06 were 212 people, down from 223 in 2004/05. This is the lowest number on record. | Internet: www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/overall/fatl0506.pdf HSC Press Release C019:06 17/8/06 |
| Firm ignored ‘production risks’. | Sonae (UK) Ltd fined £70,000. Worker injured after explosion and fire on production line. No safe system of work nor of maintenance of plant. | RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Journal 2006 36(8):2 |
| New risk assessment guides. | The European Agency for Safety & Health at Work has produced a new online RA tool giving practical advice for SMEs. | Internet: http://hwi.osha.europa.eu RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Journal 2006 36(8):3 |
| Stepladder warning. | Minteq UK Ltd fined £18,000. Maintenance worker injured falling 1.35m from a stepladder whilst checking oil levels in machine. No proper RA. | RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Journal 2006 36(8):5 |
| Power lines warning. | The latest leaflet from the Energy Networks Assoc covers safety and the erection of scaffolding near overhead power lines. | ENA Internet: www.energynetworks.org RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Journal 2006 36(8):5 |
| EU ban lowers toxin levels. | The RoHS Dir came into force in July and bans the manufacture, import and sale of new electrical and electronic equipment containing more than agreed levels of certain toxins. | Restriction of Hazardous Substances Dir RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Journal 2006 36(8):7 |
| European child safety guide published. | The European Child Safety Alliance has produced a new guide aimed at reducing injuries to children. Covers product modification, legislation, regulation and enforcement. | Internet: http://www.eurosafe.eu.com/csi/eurosafe2006.nsf/wwwVwContent/ l4goodpracticeguide.htm?OpenDocument RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Journal 2006 36(8):10 |
| How far should companies try to influence the lives of their employees. | Positives, practicalities and potential pitfalls of trying to influence safety and accident prevention for 24 hrs per day. (J Stagg) | RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Journal 2006 36(8):11 |
| Violence in the workplace. | Tackling the increased problem of violence in the workplace. (P Collins) | RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Journal 2006 36(8):14-18 |
| A safe replacement. | Safety of the materials which replaced asbestos. (N Cook) | RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Journal 2006 36(8):22-26 |
| Breaking the barrier. | Reducing the prevalence of occupational skin disease. (E Gates) | RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Journal 2006 36(8):30-34 |
| Safe start. | Young people in the workplace and the European Week for Safety and Health at Work. (R Bibbings) | RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Journal 2006 36(8):46 |
| DCLG website. | The Dept for Communities and Local Government, formerly the ODPM, now has a new website address. | Internet: www.communities.gov.uk Fire Prevention 2006 407 (Aug):3 |
| Study reveals hard economic impact of Buncefield. | New study for the East of England Dev Agency indicates the Buncefield fire cost local businesses between £70m - £114m. | EEDA Internet: www.eeda.org.uk Fire Prevention 2006 407 (Aug):5 |
| Business matters. | Effective business continuity planning helps organisations deal with threats to their business. (J Milne) | Fire Prevention 2006 407 (Aug):10 |
| Political points. | Following the establishment of the DCLG a Select Comm has criticised government handling of key fire and rescue projects. (R Gilby) | Fire Prevention 2006 407 (Aug):11-13 |
| Self regard. | New self-assessment tool kit for service delivery by fire authorities in England. | DCLG Tel:0870-1226236 Fire Prevention 2006 407 (Aug):14-16 |
| Ground control. | Sports ground managers and contingency planning for the safety of staff and spectators. (M Collier) | Internet: www.flaweb.org.uk Fire Prevention 2006 407 (Aug):21-23 |
| Air traffic control. | Aviation safety at motor sport venues – air taxis and media charters. (T Cash) | Fire Prevention 2006 407 (Aug):26-28 |
| Know the drill. | Realistic evacuation drills – tailoring them to specific premises. (Br Fire Consortium) | Internet: www.tbfc.org.uk Fire Prevention 2006 407 (Aug):29-31 |
| Keep the faith. | Fire detection and voice evacuation at Liverpool Metr Cathedral. (P Corin) | Fire Prevention 2006 407 (Aug):38-40 |
| Position of Trust. | Fire safety management at heritage properties – NT and Hampshire Fire and Rescue Serv. (S Hamm) | Fire Prevention 2006 407 (Aug):46-48 |
| Light maintenance. | The need for maintenance and testing of emergency lighting. (B Williams) | Fire Prevention 2006 407 (Aug):50-52 |
| Line of sight. | Changes in legislation and technology relating to torches and lighting used by firefighters in potentially explosive atmospheres. (A Jackson) | Fire Prevention 2006 407 (Aug):53-55 |
| Construction industry leads on CDM guidance. | CONIAC has appointed a steering group on creating guidance to support the revised CDM Regs due 2007. | HSE Press Release E084:06 16/8/06 |
| ‘Get a life’, says HSC. | HSC has urged people to focus on real risks and stop concentrating effort on trivial risks and petty H&S. They have launched a set of principles outlining what sensible risk management is about. | On HSE’s Risk website. HSC Press Release C021:06 22/8/06 |
| Warning for working near overhead lines. | Following recent fatal accidents, HSE is advising anyone working near to overhead power lines to contact their local network operator for guidance. | Internet: www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/information/overhead.htm Health & Safety Newsletter 2006 (2)Aug:4 |
| College Champion – health and safety award. | College competition backed by HSE, Learning & Skills Council, Assoc of Colleges, IOSH, NEBOSH and JTL. To encourage colleges and employers to put in place measures to ensure young people have a safe start to their working lives. | Closing date 2/10/06 ‘Whats new’ Internet: www.nebosh.org.uk Health & Safety Newsletter 2006 (2)Aug:5 |
| All the fun of the fair! | The National Fairground Inspection Team – what it is and how it works. (B Baker) | Health & Safety Newsletter 2006 (2)Aug:6-7 |
| The ins and outs of workplace stress. | Overview of workplace stress and those likely to suffer from it. | Health & Safety Newsletter 2006 (2)Aug:8-9 |
| Waste and recycling. | ‘Waste and recycling vehicles in street collection’ is guidance for managers, supervisors and workers to help reduce the risk of workplace transport causing injury. | Internet: www.hse.gov.uk/waste/streetcollection.pdf Health & Safety Newsletter 2006 (2)Aug:12 |
| Safe use of compact dumpers. | Revised information sheet on the safe use of forward tipping dumpers aimed at managers, drivers and those who influence use. | CIS52 (rev1) HSE Books Tel:01787-881165 Health & Safety Newsletter 2006 (2)Aug:12 |
| Charity work. | What is required to meet legal duties and provide safe working for those who give up time for charity or volunteer organisations. | HSG192 (2nd ed) Isbn 0-7176-6185-7 £13.50 HSE Books Tel:01787-881165 Health & Safety Newsletter 2006 (2)Aug:13 |
| Asbestos: The licensed contractors’ guide. | For businesses holding a licence to work with asbestos. | HSG247 Isbn 0-7176-2874-4 £14.50 HSE Books Health & Safety Newsletter 2006 (2)Aug:14 |
| Guidance on the safe use of machinery. | Methods for protecting operators, maintenance crews and others. Two standards covering ergonomic design and general requirements for electrical equipment. | PD 5304:2005 BS EN 614-1:2006 BS EN 60204-1:2006 Internet: www.bsi-global.com/machinesafety RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Bulletin 2006 35(8):12-13 |
| Health and safety offences and penalties in local authority enforced sectors 2004/05. | Supplying information voluntarily, 72 LAs reported 290 convictions whilst county councils and fire authorities supplied details on a further 8. Average fines £5,668. | Internet: www.hse.gov.uk RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Bulletin 2006 35(8):14 |
| Construction deaths down to a record low in 2005/06. | Fatal injuries to construction workers fell to 59, lowest on record. Falls from height are still the most common kind of fatal injury. Due to rising employment the fatal injury rate fell by 14% to 3.0 per 100,000 workers. | HSE Press Release E085:06 17/8/06 |
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
For copyright reasons we cannot make the articles themselves available.
If you wish to comment on H&S News, please use the Feedback form (you might win a bottle of Scotch).
