H&S News July 2007

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"The cost to the country of the 30 million days lost in total to work-related ill health and injury in 2005-6 was a staggering £12 billion.  As the structure of the economy shifts and the pressures of modern life change we have to find effective solutions to the new challenges in order to keep people healthy and in employment".  (Geoffrey Podger, HSE Chief Executive)

Enidvale Ltd, trading as B.K. Grain Handling Engineers, fined £20,000 and costs in excess of £8,000.  Mansel Raymond, trading as Raymond Bros fined £10,000 and costs of £15,000.  Alan Ellison, employee of Enidvale, was helping to install a grain drying system at Mr Raymond's farm.  He died after falling around 8m onto the concrete floor below.

Landlords Philip Preece and Elisabeth Struthers fined £2,500 each and costs of £1,800.  The landlords owned a flat in Yardley Court, North Cheam, which they rented out to Danielle Collins and her two children, aged 12 weeks and 17 months.  An ambulance was called to the flat after reports that a baby was suffering from breathing problems.  Miss Collins and her children were hospitalised for two nights.  Failure to ensure a warm air heater was maintained safely and regularly serviced.

London Borough of Brent, Hampshire County Council, Newport City Council and Stratford-on-Avon District Council have joined HSE to publicly sign up to 'ten principles of sensible risk management' which give organisations practical advice on what risk management should, and should not, be about.

Bob the Builder^TM is taking time out of his live show 'Build it with Bob', at the Science Museum on 10th July to show support for the HSE's ladder safety campaign.

Bel-Shrimp Ltd fined £5,000 and costs of £4,300, and its director Eric Oughton fined £400 and costs of £100.  A two-year-old suffered substantial injuries after putting his/her hand in the bottom roller of a factory conveyor.  Inadequate guarding.

Over 150 premises on Medway City Estate received a visit between 25th and 29th June from either the HSE or Medway Council in a campaign to get rid of dodgy ladders in the workplace.   During the visits, over 30 Prohibition Notices were issued along with 16 Improvement Notices.

The Working Well Together (South Wales) Group and the HSE are organising a free informal drop-in session for construction workers on 17th July at Taff's Well Rugby Club.  There will be information available about the new CDM regs as well as advice on legal matters, environmental issues and health.  There will also be practical advice on issues such as working at height and workplace transport.

For the next two months, Scottish businesses will get the chance to get their ladders checked and where necessary, trade them in for new ones at a discounted price.

With the digital switchover due to begin in Wales in 2009, many households will be contacting aerial installers to get their aerials upgraded or to have satellite dishes installed.  The HSE is joining forces with local authorities to ensure that the risks from working at height during installation are properly controlled.

The Pera Innovation Park in Melton Mowbray is hosting a special event on 10th July aimed at reducing ill-health caused by work with asbestos.  It is the ninth in a series of leadership summits held by the HSE aimed at improving conditions in the workplace.

The HSE has announced they will be carrying out on-the-spot inspections of workplaces across the South East region on 10th and 11th July as part of a campaign to make construction sites safer in the UK.  HSE will be looking at issues of falls and good order at construction sites in the Purbeck, Bournemouth, Southampton and New Forest areas.

The HSE is holding a half-day seminar on 10th July in the University of Liverpool's Lecture Block aimed at reducing the number of incidents involving scaffolding on the many construction sites across the region.  Companies from Merseyside, Cheshire and Greater Manchester will be given details of HSE's scaffolding protocol - a document setting out a structured approach when undertaking construction work requiring scaffolding in busy locations such as city centres.

Chorley and Ribble Valley Borough Councils are each actively playing their part in trying to reduce the total of 100 people who fall off a ladder at work each month, suffering serious injury and costing the national economy £60 million annually.

Fined £75,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2.  Employee was using compressed air to clear a rubber hose when the end of the hose fatally struck him on the temple.  End of hose inadequately secured.

Fined total of £11,000 under WHR 2005, CHSWR 1996 and CDMR 1994.  Persons observed working on roof.

Fined total of £2,000 under GSIUR 1998.  Installation of a gas boiler by a non-CORGI registered fitter.  Gas boiler not to standard.

Fined £20,000 under HASAWA 1974 s3.  Death of a patient believed to have fallen from a window at Birch Hill Hospital.

Fined £2,000 under WHR 2005.  Unsafe work at height found being carried out during a routine inspection of a construction site.  No accident or injuries had occurred.

Fined £20,000 under HASAWA 1974 s3.  IP lost his footing on ladder and fell backwards through a roof light and suspended ceiling, landing on the floor.  No appropriate RA by contractor or the Council so IP was able to work next to fragile material without appropriate protection.

Fined £20,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2.  IP lost his footing on ladder and fell backwards through a roof light and suspended ceiling, landing on the floor.  No appropriate RA by contractor or the Council so IP was able to work next to fragile material without appropriate protection.

Fined £5,000 under PUWER 1998.  Failure to take effective measures to prevent access to dangerous parts of machine.

Fined total of £5,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2 and s3.  Employees working at risk.  Company has a history of poor standards, particularly regarding work at height.  Despite repeated interventions followed by assurance from Director that matters will improve, poor standards still found on site.

Fined total of £3,000 under GSIUR 1998.  CO poisoning.

The Office of the Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis fined £75,000 and costs of £50,000.  The London Borough of Barnet fined £16,500 and costs of £10,000.  William Kadama, 15, and Gameli Akuklu, 14, drowned while participating in a summer play scheme that involved a swimming activity at the Police College.  HSE's investigation into their deaths uncovered serious deficiencies in the operation of the swimming pool by the Metropolitan Police Service, and poor control of the summer play scheme by the London Borough of Barnet.

Metropolitan and local authorities should note the HSE's latest advice on dealing with requests for information held under legislation covering major hazards and environmental pollution.

Public health policy is the responsibility of national governments, yet action at European level is often the best means for improving people's health, MEPs claim.

Firearms and surveillance officers involved in the shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes at Stockwell Tube station in July 2005 will not face disciplinary tribunals.

Health ministers have told local authorities and NHS trusts to draw up contingency plans for dealing with heatwaves.

The disagreement between employers and GPs comes in the wake of the EEF's annual sickness survey, which found that despite continuing investment in occup health by employers, significant barriers still need to be overcome to reduce absence further.

With the 21 July deadline for the Corporate Manslaughter and Homicide Bill rapidly approaching, the inability of the House of Commons and House of Lords to compromise could mean the Bill ends up on the legislative scrapheap.

A new commission to investigate the plight of vulnerable workers in the UK - including migrant workers, agency staff and young people - has been launched by the TUC.  The move came just a week after the BBC revealed that employees at a major 'fair-trade' banana supplier in Luton were working in such bad conditions it was affecting their health.

A new report published by the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) reinforces the EOC's call for the UK to adopt smarter working practices and highlights the fact that, in terms of flexible working, the UK significantly lags behind its European competitors, and is failing to exploit innovative working methods.

Despite their reputation for being irresponsible, construction workers are far more concerned about their own health than many would believe.  According to the Final Evaluation Report of the 'Constructing Better Health' pilot project, it is employers and middle management who are more in need of encouragement to make organisational-level changes.

Six million workers in Britain have been promised up to eight extra days holiday a year, following the Government's announcement of an increase in statutory paid annual leave.

British men are too ignorant, or arrogant, to wear sun cream, despite the fact that skin cancer is the fastest-growing killer in the UK, with the death rate now one and a half times that of Australia.

The Government's Child Maintenance Bill, published in June, has relaxed the eligibility criteria for entitlement to State benefits for mesothelioma victims.  The new law will mean that groups previously excluded from compensation - such as the self-employed, and family members exposed to asbestos on workers' overalls - will soon be able to claim an up-front lump-sum payment.

Humberside Independent Care Association (HICA) fined £17,000 and costs of £4,468.  Mrs Betty Isherwood suffered severe scalding to her feet and lower legs after she was lowered by a hoist into extremely hot water.  The thermostatic mixing valve to the bath had not been adequately maintained and did not function properly.

South Tees Hospitals NHS Trust given a two-year conditional discharge and told to pay partial HSE costs of £7,531.  Work had been taking place inside a service duct at Friarage Hospital in Northallerton in 2004.  Dust and debris that contained asbestos were present in the service duct, although a survey report in 2003 had not stated that there was any asbestos present.

PVT fined £8,000, HSE costs of £7,063 and compensation costs of £50,000.  Employee Krzysztof Kolaszt, 25, had to have his leg amputated below the knee after it became caught in a machine.  No RA for machine or documented training records for worker.

The HSC/E might talk the talk when it comes to sensible risk, but does it always walk the walk?  A case that shows how fine intentions can be undermined by how the law is enforced.  (Michael Appleby)

Robert Owen CMIOSH was diagnosed with mesothelioma last year and sadly died six months later.  He always believed that the professional advice he gave to organisations throughout his career saved many people from unnecessary pain and injury, and maybe even death.  By writing a personal case study, it was his intention to continue to provide that advice by warning others of the dangers of asbestos.

Long considered a "blue-collar" issue, fatigue is now a significant and growing problem in UK workplaces such as call centres, financial trading institutions, and the retail sector.  An examination of the problem and some management solutions.  (Charles Johnson, Jo Rumboll)

With adult literacy levels still an issue, and the increasing number of non-English speaking workers entering the UK job market, clear communication of H&S measures is crucial.  An HSE project currently addressing this important subject.  (Paul Thomas)

A look at coping with workplace stress, and an examination of how measures of personality can improve the accuracy of stress audits.  (John Shahabeddin, Christina Boulter)

The noise assessments carried out by airline operator bmi are an excellent example of how the 2005 Control of Noise at Work Regs are being implemented, given the wide fluctuation of noise levels in the daily working lives of its staff.  How the company manages the risks.  (Dr Alex Hills, Keith Merrie)

A practical guide to the actions practitioners can take to determine if their organisation's noise management programme can be made "self-financing".  (Peter Wilson)

An assessment of the application of the Control of Vibration at Work Regs 2005 in the UK construction industry.  (Bill Dixon)

Judith Hackitt CBE will succeed Sir Bill Callaghan as Chair of the HSC.  Ms Hackitt, whose five-year term with HSC will commence on 1st October 2007, is returning from an assignment as Director of the Chemistry for Europe project with the European Chemical Industry Council based in Brussels.

In a bid to reduce the number of deaths and injuries caused by falls and trips, the HSE will be carrying out targeted inspections of construction sites throughout Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Cambridge throughout July.  During the visits, inspectors will provide advice and will take robust enforcement action where there is a serious failure to comply and control the risk to those working on site.

HSE inspectors have urged farmers in the East Midlands, Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire and Derbyshire to maintain tractors and other farm vehicles properly, or risk accidents which may be fatal.  As the English summer continues with record rainfall, the risk of accidents increases.

Convoys Ltd fined £2,000 and costs of £3,730.20.  Steven Winzar was unloading timber packs weighing 1.65 tonnes each from a ship.  Instead of unloading them side-by-side, two at a time, they were lifted end to end, which made them unstable.  When a pair of packs landed, they formed a V shape and swung together, trapping Mr Winzar between them.  He suffered a fractured pelvis and severe bruising.  The company had not planned or carried out safe unloading procedures.

Businesses in Tyne and Wear, County Durham, Northumberland and Teesside are being urged to ditch their 'dodgy' old ladders and exchange them for a new one.  HSS, Speedy Hire, SGB Tasker Master and Ladderstore.com are all offering up to 50% discount on the cost of purchasing a new ladder until the end of August and a 50% discount on hiring a ladder or access equipment when a 'dodgy' old ladder is traded in for a safe one.

Farm manager, Robert Davies was found in a collapsed state in a slurry valve chamber at Cockington Farm.  He later died in hospital.  Evidence suggests that Mr Davies climbed into the valve chamber via one of the two inspection hatches.  The valve chamber would not normally have held slurry but evidence indicates that some slurry was passing through it and that Mr Davies was overcome by toxic gases.  A decision has been made not to pursue a prosecution.

An event aimed at cutting the number of accidents caused by slips and trips to students and staff in the North West's universities and colleges will be held on 17th July at Preston College's Fulwood Campus. The event is aimed at those working in the higher and further education sector in the North West who have H&S responsibilities.

Thomas Glass Hooper, landlord of Flat 4, Trinity Crescent, Wandsworth, fined £4,400 and costs of £1,525.  Ten occupants of Trinity Crescent suffered CO poisoning as a result of a leak produced by a central heating boiler in Flat 4.  The tenants of Flat 4 were not present on the evening of the incident.  The gas leak affected the occupants of flats 1, 2 and 3.  The boiler had not been serviced by a CORGI registered competent person for 20 years.

Fined £3,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2.  15-year-old work experience student placed at Metalfab Engineering was using a magnetic broaching machine when his left arm became entangled in the rotating spindle, causing fractures to the arm and hand.  No young persons RA.

Fined total of £3,350 under CDMR 1994, HASAWA 1974 s21, WHR 2005 and CHSWR 1996.  Inspection following complaint of conditions on site.  Failure to manage risk of falls from unguarded stairwell, open window frame and open edge of scaffold.  Welfare facilities in poor condition and inadequately trained site manager.  Company subsequently failed to comply with Improvement Notice requiring adequate training of site manager.

Fined £7,000 under HASAWA 1974 s3.  Burn injuries to member of public after her clothes were ignited by space heater used in work premises.

Fined total of £6,000 under WHR 2005.  A visually impaired elderly member of the public fell down an open manhole cover on footpath.  Work at height was not planned and no measures to prevent a fall such as barriers, cones or signage were used.

Fined £125,000 under HASAWA 1974 s3.  Ryan Dean died after falling from a broken stairwell at Walter Hurford Parade.

Fined £14,000 under HASAWA 1974 s3.  Carpenter fell through unprotected stairwell opening.  Principal contractor failed to ensure that edge protection or fall arrest was provided and used.

Fined £3,400 under PUWER 1998.  IP was putting a sheet of metal into automatic rolling machine rolls when his hand went into the machine.  No guarding.

Fined £7,000 under HASAWA 1974 s3.  Carpenter fell through unprotected stairwell opening.  Potton Ltd as sub-contractors failed to ensure that edge protection or fall arrest was provided and used.

Fined £4,000 under HASAWA 1974 s3.  Carpenter fell through unprotected stairwell opening.  Shenley Carpentry Contractors Ltd as sub-contractors failed to ensure that edge protection or fall arrest was provided and used.

Fined £2,000 under HASAWA 1974 s3.  A bricklayer was seriously injured when he fell from the roof trusses of a house under construction.

Fined £7,000 under HASAWA 1974 s3.  A bricklayer was seriously injured when he fell from the roof trusses of a house under construction.

The HSC and HSE launched the 'Get a life' campaign to get the focus firmly onto practical steps to protect people from the real risks and away from bureaucratic back-covering.  What's actually being done.

"HSE is working to ensure that migrants who come to work in the UK get the H&S protection in the workplace they, like everyone else, are entitled to."  As part of its strategy to advise employers and intermediaries about protecting the H&S of migrant workers, HSE has recently agreed the above statement for the Border and Immigration Agency website.

Falls remain the biggest cause of fatal injuries at work in Britain, with 46 deaths in 2005/06 and 53 the year before.  Falls are also one of the main causes of major injury (broken bone or head injury), resulting in 3,351 major injuries in 2005/06.  What you can do.  (Tony Almond)

An average of 13 people die at work falling from ladders every year and nearly 1,200 suffer major injuries.  More than a quarter of falls happen from ladders.  Real-life accidents that can happen if you ignore HSE's safe ladder advice.

In the first of a new series, HSE has asked one of their experts to pass on some practical advice from their area of specialism.  Diane Llewellyn, Specialist Inspector of Occup Hygiene, is the first to rise to the challenge as she looks at ways of preventing work-related dermatitis.

H&S in the workplace is an important corporate responsibility issue.  HSE's mission is to ensure that the risks to workers' H&S are properly controlled.  In terms of corporate responsibility, what it is encouraging organisations to do.

The latest in the popular and award-winning series of training DVDs featuring Napo shows how to avoid musculoskeletal problems in the workplace.  The series of animated scenes follow Napo as he gets to grips with various lifting and carrying situations.

The HSE has published 'Technical guidance on the safe use of lifting equipment offshore'.  The updated guide provides technical information for those involved in the supply, operation and control of lifting equipment in the offshore environment. 

Hundreds of children from the north east enjoyed learning how to stay safe on farms and in the countryside this summer at a special day out organised by Glendale Agricultural Society.

New laws to protect emergency workers are now in force.  Whether the Acts are making a difference at the scene.  (Nick Cook)

The trustees of a Borders country estate fined £3,000.  A stand-in gamekeeper sustained serious injuries when the quad bike he was driving overturned on a slope.  However his absence was not detected until 52 hours later as he had no means of raising the alarm.  Failure to provide a means of communication or carrying out an RA for a lone worker.

Balfour Beatty fined £6,000 and costs of £1,146.  A locomotive used to transport sheets of steel had a piece of string attached to the engine from the cabin, allowing it to be run without an operator while the engine heated up.  It was operating at an increased rate which engaged the clutch which then caused the engine to reverse toward a wall and a gas main.  Inadequate maintenance.

The leaflet 'Why fall for it? Preventing falls in agriculture' has been revised by the HSE to take into account the requirements of WHR 2005 and CDM 2007.

Changes to the 'Work and Families Act', affecting maternal and paternal rights at work, came into force in April.

Print workers who use chemicals (inks, wash up solutions etc) in the course of their work are up to three times more likely to develop dermatitis than workers in general.  Free posters are available for download at the HSE website.

A step-by-step plan to solving the growing problems of drugs and alcohol misuse at work.  (Mike Atkinson)

"Employers are losing hundreds of millions of pounds every year through RSI…Employers who invest in the health of their workforce can expect to see a reduction in sickness absence and a more productive workforce."  (Sarah Bazin, Chartered Society of Physiotherapy chair and chartered physiotherapist)

Workers visiting clients in their homes are not directly covered by the new law which has made virtually all other workplaces smoke-free.  The TUC has developed new guidance on this issue, 'Negotiating smokefree workplaces: visiting clients in their own homes'.

The real price paid for Britain's lengthy use of asbestos is spelled out in a new DVD called 'Mesothelioma: The human face of an asbestos tragedy'.  It is an eight-minute film produced by the Forum of Asbestos Victim Support Groups.  All proceeds will go to victim support groups.

IOSH is giving its support to Work Wise UK, the five-year initiative that aims to bring about a fundamental change in working practices in the UK.  IOSH believes that the widespread adoption of working practices, such as flexible working, remote and mobile working, and working from home, would bring important occup health benefits.

The UK-based Cancer Prevention and Education Society has launched a quarterly online newsletter which includes summaries of recent news on occup and environmental cancer risks.

The Yorkshire and Humberside safety reps network have set up a website to help reps share best practice, meet socially to discuss developments in occup H&S and generally support each other.

Reporting workplace incidents has never been easier.  The HSE's web page supporting RIDDOR is clear, concise and improved.

Vulnerable workers in London and Birmingham are to be helped by pilot projects launched recently by employment relations minister Jim Fitzpatrick.  The projects will run for two years and will aim to identify and test ways that vulnerable workers and their employers can better understand their rights and access the help, advice and information available.

Wooden floors have become increasingly popular in both domestic and commercial premises over recent years, yet despite their current widespread use, little is understood about the slip characteristics of these floors.

Fined £10,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2.  Employee suffered lacerations to his right hand when it was drawn around a pulley driving the air-conditioning system of a coach.  Failure to ensure the safety of employees SFARP by failing to provide and maintain safe systems of work.

Fined £5,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2.  IP's finger was amputated whilst using an arm cutter.

Fined £250 under MHSWR 1999.  Contractors employees suffered severe contact dermatitis after working on a Japanese Lacquer Tree in the grounds of the school.  The tree had not been correctly identified to the contractors and the school failed to pass any information to them.

Fined total of £8,600 under HASAWA 1974 s2 and MHSWR 1999.  IP lost tip of finger whilst cleaning sugar sachet packing machine.  No safe system of work, RAs unsuitable and insufficient.

Fined £30,000 under HASAWA 1974 s3.  Accused were in control of the loading and unloading of steel work.  Employee of Ron Boyd Group fatally injured whilst unloading at construction site.

Fined £7,500 under HASAWA 1974 s2.  Fatal accident resulting from failure to provide sufficient training instructions to employees involved in the loading and unloading of steel beams from vehicles.

Fined total of £100,750 under WTR 1998 and HASAWA 1974 s2.  Fatal electrocution accident.  Electricians employed on site to completely rewire the building for use as a bank.  Unsafe systems of work, instruction and supervision of electricians inadequate, poor RA, electricians working excessive hours.

Launching the work-related fatal injury statistics for 2006/07, HSC Chair Sir Bill Callaghan said the loss of 241 lives is unacceptable and issued a fresh challenge to industry to place safety at the top of its priorities and do more to protect the workforce.

Over 1,300 food safety incidents were reported to the Food Standards Agency in 2006, including the high profile national outbreak of salmonella in chocolate and the contamination of US long-grain rice with an unauthorised genetically modified organism.

BP plc has appointed an independent safety expert to monitor its progress in improving safety performance at the Group's five US refineries, following the explosion at its Texas City refinery in 2005.  The company has accepted responsibility for the explosion and for the management system failures which contributed to or caused the explosion.

According to a new National Audit Office (NAO) report, staff sickness absence in the Department for Transport (DfT) averaged 10.4 days in 2005, costing the taxpayer around £24 million a year.

RoSPA has launched an innovative tool to help growing businesses get to grips with H&S.  The 'Growing Business Safety Kit' is specifically designed to meet the needs of smaller firms that may be limited in the amount of time or money they are able to invest in H&S management.

Over the last six years, 30 children under 10 years-old have drowned in holiday swimming pools abroad.  RoSPA has produced a factsheet, 'Child Holiday Swimming Pool Safety' which gives a brief overview of a numerically small but significant problem of which families should be aware.  Simple safety rules for children to follow when near water are also listed.

An online simulator which shows drivers the dangers of being behind the wheel when travelling too fast, after drinking or when using a mobile phone.  The simulator shows how speed, weather and impairments dramatically affect stopping distances and result in crashes and pedestrian deaths.

Since its introduction in 1948, the Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB) scheme has provided 'a state-funded, no-fault compensation scheme for disablement arising from injuries or diseases caused by work'.  Nearly sixty years on and the scheme is currently under review.  (Elizabeth Gates)

With the implementation this month of the smoke-free elements of the Health Act 2006 in England, a ban on smoking in virtually all workplaces in the UK is now in place.  Workers in offices, factories, shops, pubs, bars, restaurants, membership clubs and public transport will all benefit under the new rules.

Research has shown that small businesses face distinct challenges when dealing with occup H&S.  They are not simply smaller versions of large companies.  What help is out there to guide small firms through their legal duties and what more can be done to make compliance simpler.

At a recent hearing held by RoSPA's National Occup H&S Committee as part of its inquiry into the OS&H services and support being provided for small firms, one issue that emerged strongly was that SMEs across industry are faced with a bewildering variety of H&S assessment criteria being used by third parties.  The current situation for assessing small firms' OS&H capability.  (Roger Bibbings)

Andreas Mylonas, the owner of a house of multiple occupancy (HMO), fined £3,600 and costs of £2,300.    An inspection of the premises, following a chip pan fire, found that the fire alarm was defective, there was inadequate fire separation between the commercial premises and the flats, and the means of escape on each floor was blocked by combustible materials.

Following the introduction of the smoking ban on 1 July, IOSH has issued a reminder for businesses to consider the risks of carelessly discarded cigarettes.  "Employers should avoid inadvertently introducing smoking shelters in locations where combustible or explosive material is nearby".

Pan Peninsula in London's Docklands will be the UK's tallest residential building when it is completed in 2009.  It uses a holistic fire strategy.  (Steven Lam)

A structural analysis involving a multi-storey design fire was key to a proposed office development in London.  (Dr Graeme Flint, Dr Barbara Lane)

A new practical guide to the Fire Safety Order complements government guidance whilst providing a wider insight into the new legislative regime.  (Brian Nelis)

A pioneering partnership sees Hampshire's Primary Care Trust referring at-risk individuals for fire service home safety checks.  (Steve Trevethick)

In a groundbreaking policy move, the UK Government has launched a new tool to enable more sprinklers to be fitted in schools.  (Alan Brinson)

With huge investment in UK schools, now is the time for government and the education sector to continue to embrace sprinklers.  (Dennis Davis)

A recent care home fire in Bristol shows the value of sprinkler protection when supported by prompt fire service attendance.  (Graham Blight)

A prototype low-cost sprinkler system has been proposed for the UK housing sector.  (FP&FEJ)

The purpose of the alert is to raise awareness of a rare but potentially serious scalding risk from domestic hot water systems which include a fixed all-electric or part-electric immersion heater in conjunction with a plastic cold water storage cistern or 'tank' located in the roof space.  The alert follows two strikingly similar fatal incidents in the last four years where a large volume of near boiling water poured through bedroom ceilings onto occupants sleeping below.

The HSE is supporting recommendations and guidance produced by a joint industry and regulator working group, designed to improve standards at petrol storage sites.  HSE strongly believes that implementation of the recommendations outlined in this report will lead to significant improvements in safety standards and the prevention of major accidents.

Norlec Engineering Ltd fined £20,000 and costs of £3,311 after two people were injured in separate incidents involving FLTs within 18 days.  In the first incident, an FLT reversed and ran over driver Stephen Hewitt's foot.  In the second incident, Ian Hustings was struck by a reversing FLT.  Norlec failed to carry out suitable RAs and to conduct their business in such a way as not to expose people to risk.

Arcelor Avis SSC Ltd, previously known as Avis Steel Services Ltd, fined £75,000 and costs of £7,282.  Paul Howell, part of the despatch team, was crushed between two wagons.  Failure to provide and maintain a safe system of work, failure to provide the despatch team with such information, instruction, training and supervision as was necessary to ensure safety.

In the next six weeks, HSE, VOSA (Vehicle & Operator Services Agency) and Kent Police will be undertaking random checks of vehicles in Kent, both in fields and on the roads to ensure they are safe and in a good state of repair.

Wyre Borough Council fined £3,300 and costs of £2,000.  David Twiss was injured when he fell 4m through a fragile roof while carrying out maintenance and repair work.  Failure to take precautions to prevent a person falling.

J W Ousby and Sons Ltd fined £15,000 and costs of £5,000.  Labourers Anthony Hartley and Kevin Waller both suffered serious injuries when a floor collapsed and they fell approx 4m.  Failure to provide a safe system of work or provide employees with sufficient information, instruction and supervision for safe demolition.

As a part of the Government's Better Regulation Agenda, the HSC and HSE have initiated a dedicated project to help small and medium size businesses (SMEs) to fulfil their H&S requirements as outlined by law.  With this initiative HSE aims to reduce the cost of RA to most businesses by a third.

Statistics show the provisional number of fatalities to workers in the North West in 2006/07 has increased over the previous 12-month period.  The figures show that in the North West there were 33 fatalities reported to all enforcing authorities in 2006/07, compared with 32 in the previous year, and 10 work-related fatalities to members of the public.

Statistics show the provisional number of fatalities to workers in Wales in 2006/07 has increased over the previous 12-month period.  The figures show that in Wales there were 14 fatalities reported to all enforcing authorities in 2006/07, compared with 12 in the previous year, and 8 work-related fatalities to members of the public, compared to 5 in 2005/06.

The latest detailed statistics from the HSC on workplace fatal injuries in 2006/07 show that there were 10 deaths in the Yorkshire and Humber region: five in the services sector, two in construction, two in agriculture and one in manufacturing.

Statistics show the provisional number of fatalities to workers in Scotland in 2006/07 has fallen slightly by one to 31, compared with 32 in 2005/06.  Five members of the public were fatally injured, less than half the number of the previous year.

The provisional figure for the number of workers fatally injured in 2006/07 is 241.  Five of those fatalities were in the North East: one in the services sector, two in manufacturing, one in construction, and one in agriculture.  Five members of the public were also fatally injured in workplace related accidents in the region.

The latest detailed statistics from the HSC on workplace fatal injuries in 2006/07 show that the total number of worker deaths for the London area has risen from 15 in 2005/06 to 19 in 2006/07.

The latest detailed statistics from the HSC on workplace fatal injuries in 2006/07 show that there were 19 deaths in the East of England, the same figure as in 2005/06.  14 of the fatalities of 2006/07 occurred in the large services sector. 

The HSC has warned companies in the South East of England to be more vigilant over the safety of their workers as the latest statistics on workplace fatal injuries show a 59% increase in fatalities in 2006/07.  There were 33 fatal injuries in the South East in 2006/07, compared to 22 in 2005/06.  The number of fatal injuries to the public remained the same as the previous year with 10 fatalities.

The latest detailed statistics from the HSC on workplace fatal injuries in 2006/07 show that there were 33 fatalities in the West Midlands, compared to 16 the previous year.  The highest rates were in agriculture, manufacturing, construction and the service sector.

The HSE is urging South West businesses to put good H&S practice at the top of their list of priorities as statistics show that in the South West, there were 24 fatalities in 2006/07, compared with 17 in the previous year.  There were also 7 work-related fatalities to members of the public, a decrease from 10 in 2005/06.

The latest detailed statistics from the HSC on workplace fatal injuries in 2006/07 show that the number of fatally injured workers in the East Midlands has increased to 14, from 13 in 2005/06.

Mr Edward Hadaway sentenced to 240 hours of community service and ordered to pay costs of £500.  HSE began their investigation into Mr Hadaway in 2002 when they received information about the standard of his work.  In 2003 he was fined and served with a PN to attain a CORGI registration or cease gas work.  Despite this, he continued to work unregistered, putting himself and members of the public at risk of CO poisoning.

Fined total of £75,000 under HASAWA 1974 s3 and CDMR 1994.  An excavator driver was killed on the Millers Walk site in Maidstone.

Fined total of £6,000 under CHSWR 1996 and HASAWA 1974 s21.  Non-compliance with two Improvement Notices requiring hot/tepid water to be provided and the site to be kept in good order.

Fined total of £6,000 under PUWER 1998.  Unmanned shunting locomotive reversed under full power crashing into a bridge abutment and fracturing a medium pressure gas main.

Fined total of £5,000 under CAWR 2002.  Asbestos incident at Silverhill school. 

Fined £50,000 under HASAWA 1974 s3.  Asbestos incident at Silverhill school.

Fined £4,000 under MHSWR 1999.  Mr D Mitson was injured when a laser target became trapped under his leg and the bucket of an excavator hit his leg.

Prosecuted under LOLER 1998.  Mr Radostin Stoyanov was fatally injured when struck by 5 plywood boards that fell from a load being lowered from a gantry scaffold using a beam hoist.

Fined total of £4,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2 and PUWER 1998.  An employee suffered serious injuries when he was trapped between a moving load and a large metal waste bin.

Fined total of £6,000 under CAWR 2002.  Very poor control of asbestos during demolition of building with asbestos cement roof.  Firm seems not to have taken effective action in relation to extensive HSE advice on shortcomings in safety management.

Fined £10,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2.  IP dropped a metal plate on his foot, resulting in the amputation of his big toe.

Fined total of £12,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2 and s3 and MHSWR 1999.  IP's hand crushed between roller carriage and bogey wheel.

Fined £2,000 under PUWER 1998.  Employee injured whilst operating unsuitable machine for grooving wood.