H&S News April 2008

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According to new research by Brake and Green Flag, at-work drivers are more than twice as likely as other drivers to use hand-held mobile phones whilst driving.  They found that 11 per cent of at-work drivers break the law at least once a week using a hand-held phone, compared to 5 per cent of leisure drivers.

H&S guidance needs to be simplified, representatives of SMEs have told the Work & Pensions Select Committee.  During one of a series of evidence sessions, the Committee heard that SMEs often struggle to meet their legal requirements for H&S for a variety of reasons.

According to the construction union UCATT, a Government turf war over which Whitehall department is responsible for H&S policy is putting workers' lives at risk.

A new attempt is being made by an MP to raise the level of penalties available to the courts for H&S offences.  The mantel of resurrecting the Health & Safety (Offences) Bill, which has previously failed to make its way through the Parliamentary process on numerous occasions, has been take up by Keith Hill, MP for Streatham.

The provisional total of deaths across the construction sector has reached 50 for the 2007/08 period.

Children in schools nationwide could be at risk of exposure to asbestos as a result of strict rules for the control of asbestos being ignored by local councils.  This allegation was made in an ITV news report, which claimed that some local education authorities had not carried out necessary checks more than a year after being warned to do so by the HSE.

New official guidance will make it much easier for teachers to take children on school trips in the future, the Government has promised.  The plans include more advice, less bureaucracy and quality badges for popular destinations.

English trades unions are heaping pressure on the Government in an attempt to get the Law Lords' decision on compensation for pleural plaques reversed.  With moves afoot in the Scottish Executive to introduce a bill which would once again allow those north of the border to claim, workers' groups in England and Wales are lobbying for the same.

Maurice Agis, the artist, has been charged with manslaughter by gross negligence as well as a safety offence after two women died when an inflatable artwork of his lifted from its moorings.  A promotions company, a Council and the Council's director of development services have also been charged with breaching HASAWA 1974.

As one of the largest distributors of automotive glass in the UK, Laddaw prides itself on providing excellent customer service.  A look at how it does this whilst keeping everyone safe.  (Joanna Gurman)

Does your organisation employ lone workers?  Are you doing enough to protect them from violence and aggression?  An explanation of how important it is to protect these particularly vulnerable employees and suggested solutions to reduce the risks they face.  (Jo Walker)

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order came into force a year and a half ago, so now is a good time to look at the key changes it introduced, and to see how companies have responded.  (Don Scott)

HSE has published five new sector-specific example risk assessments covering a plastering co, a call centre, dry cleaners, private car hire firm and a poultry farm.

Parlvin Moyo, an ex-employee of Hydro Aluminium Extrusion, has received a five-figure sum in an out-of-court settlement.  Parlvin had to have two fingers amputated after they were badly damaged when his glove got caught in a rotary cutter and grinder.  The company had failed to fit an adequate safety guard and had not properly trained him to use the machine.

Astra Demolition fined a total of £10,000 plus costs of £5,839 under WHR 2005.  Following complaints that workers were on the roof of a property without any precautions, an HSE Inspector found workers with no edge protection around the roof, or other measures to prevent people from falling.  Further investigations revealed that a lack of netting meant that debris and material was falling into the garden of an NHS Trust-occupied property next door putting patients, staff and visitors at risk.

The Law Lords have held that an employer is liable for compensation after an ex-employee committed suicide six years after suffering an industrial accident.  They upheld a Court of Appeal verdict that IBC Vehicles should pay compensation to the widow of Thomas Corr, who suffered depression and headaches after an accident at the plant and eventually jumped to his death in 2002.

The HSE has launched a new display screen equipment site, offering guidance on working with VDUs, a list of FAQs, case studies including reducing ULDs among hotdesking office staff.

Calendar of new and upcoming legislation.

Almost four out of five safety professionals are still not confident they understand the requirements of the Fire Safety Order, 18 months after it came into force.

The overwhelming emphasis on written risk assessments has sent us off the right path.  (Paul Smith)

Where do your safety duties begin and end in a multi-tenanted site.  (Lucie Ponting)

Adjusting to the corporate manslaughter legislation: an explanation on how to plan for a fatality investigation.  (Mark Tyler)

The challenges of complying with the Fire Safety Order.  (Sara Bean)

Management basics for smaller businesses: how to draw up a health and safety policy.  (Paul Reeve)

How the Executive's new campaign to stop slips and falls is aimed at helping practitioners win hearts and minds.  (Eddie Bailey)

The best sites on the web for guidance on tackling work-related stress.  (Bridget Leathley)

The uses of automatic alarms for site-based lone workers.  (Peter Swan)

HSE warned businesses to make sure that workers and contractors are properly trained to carry out risk assessments and operate safe systems of work.  RCP Macpress (UK) Ltd fined £15,000 and costs of £2,496 under HASAWA 1974 s2 and SCA Recycling UK Ltd fined £15,000 and costs of £3,042 under HASAWA 1974 s3.  James Adams lost the tips of two fingers at a paper recycling plant in Greenwich when his fingers were trapped by a panel weighing approx 100kg.

Every 25 mins, someone breaks or fractures a bone at work according to the latest figures from the HSE.    The HSE launches "Shattered Lives" in Yorkshire and Humber.  Prosper de Mulder, a national company, has been involved in trialling a new type of footwear.  Since the start they have only recorded one slip accident amongst staff wearing the new design.

The University of York is pioneering a "cleaning school" for its cleaning staff, in which they are taught how to clean effectively because proper floor cleaning can play a key part in reducing the risk of slip and trip accidents.

Redcar and Cleveland Council has pledged its support to the HSE in its latest campaign to highlight the devastating consequences of slips, trips and falls in the work place.

Asbestos - the hidden killer, campaign aimed at young tradesmen.  The HSE is launching its latest campaign in Cumbria, Lancashire, Merseyside, Cheshire and Greater Manchester.

HSE has launched its "Shattered Lives" campaign in the East to highlight the devastating consequences of simple slips, trips and falls on workers and businesses.

The HSE launches "Shattered Lives" in St Albans.  Ambala Foods, a manufacturer of Indian sweets, has been using anti-slip paint on the floor and providing anti-slip shoes for their employees, to reduce the risk of slips and trips.

Wakefield Council and the HSE launched "Healthy Working Community" week with a 30 minute lunchtime walk to celebrate the launch.

Beamish Country House Hotel, Durham's newest country house hotel, has experienced first hand how injuries from slips, trips and falls can be prevented through the installation of anti-slip flooring in the hotel's kitchen.

Fined total of £9,000 under CHSWR 1996.  A labourer fell approximately 4.2m through a floor opening on a development in Maidstone that was not protected.  Originally boarded over but removed and not replaced.

Fined £25,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2.  Failure to ensure the H&S at work of employees while unloading of containers, containing sacks weighing 45-50kg.

Fined £20,000 under CHSWR 1996.  Company went for cheaper option of using their own operatives to lay a floor and use a crane, instead of a specialist company.  Resulted in a floor collapse.

Fined total of £7,000 under PUWER 1998 and MHSWR 1999.  Failure to prevent access to dangerous machinery and not carrying out a sufficient risk assessment.  Worker caught his hand amputating his left index finger.

Fined £2,750 under PUWER 1998.  Employee had to stand on a table to reach a machine seven foot off the floor, slipped of the table, put his hand out to break fall, hand was drawn into machine by the unguarded rollers.

Fined total of £28,000 under WHSWR 1992, MHSWR 1999 and HASAWA 1974 s2.  IP was run over by FLT while working in a loading yard after dark.  Yard lighting was poor and defective.  FLT had defective headlamps.  No suitable, sufficient risk assessment had been done for work place transport risks.

Fined £7,000 under HASAWA 1974 s3.  Hull County Council attended the site of a demolition and instructed contractors to cease work.  No permission was given by council allowing contractor to do the work.  The contractor put public and vehicles at risk.

Fined £14,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2.  Massey power hammer shattered during operation due to long term inadequate maintenance.  Resulted in serious injuries to both legs of the operator of the hammer.

Fined £500 under HASAWA 1974 s3.  IP hospitalised for approx 2 months due to serious injuries.  Further months of continuing surgery.  Incident was easily avoidable.

Fined total of £60,000 under HASAWA 1974 s8, s5 and s3.  DP was a respite client at home.  Staff went to get him up from bed, found head jammed between bed and the wall.  Case resulted from investigation of fatality.

Fined total of £6,000 under GSIUR 1998.  Landlord installed central heating boiler in a flat.  Tenant smelt gas and gas supply was disconnected by emergency services.  Landlord carried out works, not CORGI registered.  Pleaded guilty but has appealed against sentence.

Fined total of £3,000 under GSIUR 1998.  Work on gas fittings and fixtures without being CORGI registered.  Pretended to be, having previously been CORGI registered.

The Noise Regulations came into force on 6th April for the music and entertainment sectors and will now apply to pubs and clubs, amplified live music events, orchestras and other premises where live music or recorded music is played.

Train accidents last year resulted in the death of one passenger, but no railway employees.  However, six passengers died following station incidents and two workers were killed in trackside accidents.

The Council for the EU has backed new safety standards for air travel, licensing rules covering flight crews and strict conditions for foreign companies operating planes within member states.

A new study shows that employers often pay for legal advice which they could get for free.  Many owners of small firms are ignoring a business website set up specifically to help them deal with issues from recruitment to controlling workers' exposure to toxic materials.

Fatalities resulting from fires are at their lowest level since the 1950s, according to a report by the Audit Commission.

Trade associations, unions, and builders merchants are joining with the HSE to warn people about the dangers of asbestos exposure.  They are targeting groups who carry out maintenance and repair work, including plumbers, electricians and carpenters.

Geologists and health specialists have drawn up a new atlas on radon affected areas across England and Wales.  They have also released details on individual properties on a new website.

HSC/E have launched a staunch defence of their efforts to improve H&S, saying the ball is now in the court of other key stakeholders to similarly step up the plate.  They were giving evidence to the W&P Select Committee.

The merger of the HSE and HSC into a new unitary body came a step closer with the laying before Parliament of draft legislation to facilitate it.

In its reaction to the Chancellor's budget in March, in which he announced an extra £60m over the next three years to provide "new opportunities for people to gain the skills they need …", IOSH have said that any new skills training to facilitate people's entry or return to workplace must have H&S elements.

The Government is doubling the number of inspectors who have the power to investigate breaches of H&S against agency workers. 

The latest survey by the Assoc of Teachers and Lecturers shows a worrying picture of sliding standards of pupils' behaviour.  34 per cent of teachers surveyed have suffered mental health problems and stress, with 12 per cent needing to visit a doctor and 8 per cent having to take leave from work.  One in ten has suffered actual physical harm.

Mark Stanbridge has been fined £1,000 under PACAR 1998 for allowing his 12 year old son to drive farm machinery whilst underage.  Sam Stanbridge died following an accident when he was crushed by the roller the tractor was pulling.

In two separate incidents, two kitchen assistants have been burned by slipping into containers of hot oil on their employers' premises, where the oil was at a far higher temperature than was safe to drain.  George Tambaros and his restaurant, The Omelette, fined a total of £6,250 and costs of £2,500 under HASAWA 1974 s2 and MHSWR 1999.  Marston's plc fined £10,000 and costs of £4,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2.

Following the report of two cases of Legionnaires disease in the area, South Glocs Council visited a B&Q store as part of their investigation.  They took samples from a hot tub on display in the store and found that the pool water was contaminated with legionella bacteria.  Although the two cases were not connected to the store, Inspectors found that the store's RA for the pool was inadequate, with insufficient monitoring for bacteria.  They were fined £20,000 and costs of £8,405 under HASAWA 1974 s3 for failing to protect those not in their employ.

The Court of Appeal says that more attention should be paid by the courts to the importance of RAs, as they provide a plan on which the employer should act.  (Kevin Bridges)

The Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007 is finally with us after more than 10 years of fuss, but has it been worth the wait and will it actually save lives.  (Michael Appleby)

A year on from the revised Construction (Design and Management) Regulations, missed opportunities to really improve H&S in the industry, and suggestions as to how reparations can be made.  (John Anderson)

Ten years on from the introduction of the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations, there is still confusion over the examination requirements they lay down.  (Derrick Bailes)

Fatalities involving the collapse of tower cranes have highlighted serious gaps in their safe erection, management, examination, and maybe even design.  Key stakeholders from across the country have now joined forces to try and bring about significant improvements.  (Shelley Atkinson-Frost)

Those who regularly plan and organise work at height activities will have also communicated safe systems of working for those activities.  The question is: which methods have the most influence on workers' perception of the risks from falling from height and, ultimately, their behaviour and compliance with a safe system of work?  (Debbie Shrives)

Since the Work at Height Regulations 2005, there remains some confusion over the correct use of ladders and access equipment.  Separating the fact from the fiction, and some advice on working at height. (David Wilson)

Gerald David Wyatt has been prosecuted following serious injuries to a colleague in January 2007.  Wyatt was fined £1,750 under HASAWA 1974 s7 for failure to take reasonable care for the H&S of other persons.  He was driving a rough-terrain FLT loaded with a stack of 12 modular sheds, moving forwards the load significantly obscured his vision and a fellow employee was struck b the load causing a fractured pelvis, cuts and bruises.

Early unvalidated figures from the HSE suggest that around 69 construction workers were killed in 2007/8.  Release of these figures comes very soon after HSE inspectors stopped work on a third of the 1000 sites visited during their recent spot checks.

Every 25 mins someone breaks or fractures a bone at work according to the latest figures from the HSE.  The HSE launched the "Shattered Lives" campaign in Mansfield.

City of Bristol College fined total of £14,000 and ordered to pay costs of £18,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2.  A welding tutor received serious burns and cuts when a bottle of concentrated nitric acid exploded on his desk.

HSE is currently running the "Shattered Lives" campaign in Scotland to help reduce the number of slips trips and falls in the workplace.

HSE's campaign of raising awareness of slips, trips and falls in the workplace continues in the south east with companies being told to beware that they are not "skating on thin ice" by the HSE.

HSE launched the "Shattered Lives" campaign to highlight slips, trips and falls in the workplace.  Two Cramlington supermarkets are going head to head to be the best when it comes to preventing slips trips and falls in their stores.

HSE is currently running the "Shattered Lives" campaign in Cornwall to help reduce the number of slips trips and falls in the workplace

HSE is currently running the "Shattered Lives" campaign in Devon to help reduce the number of slips trips and falls in the workplace

Air Plant Dust Extraction Ltd in Leicester was fined £5,000 with £5,147 costs under HASAWA 1974 s2.  Mark Lowen was approx 6 foot off a stepladder when he fell off and landed on the ground.  Suffered severe damage to his back and was off work for around 4 months.  HSE said that a proper risk assessment was not carried out for the work and Mark had not been trained in working at height safety.

Edeco Petroleum Services Ltd fined total of £200,000 and costs of £47,400 under HASAWA 1974 s2 and s3.  Neil Millar, a sub-contractor, was asphyxiated when his neck became trapped by a descending arm used to lift materials on a drilling rig.

SP Power Systems Ltd fined £32,000 and costs of £15,000 under HASAWA 1974 s3.  A cable had been left in a live condition for five months, and not made safe.  Peter Mason was engulfed in flames and his colleague, Kieran Williams, thrown to the ground, after one of them tripped and fell onto a live cable during construction work.

Wienerberger Ltd fined total of £2,000 and costs of £8,516 under COSHH 2002.   Two employees were asked to do a "one-off" job cutting up galvanised dryer trams using oxyacetylene burning equipment.  An assessment of the risks was not carried out, neither did the company take steps to control any resultant exposure.  Both workers received high exposures which led them to suffer symptoms of metal fume fever.  One worker was hospitalised.

Fined £4,500 under HASAWA 1974 s3.  Scaffolding contractors were accused of erecting and altering the working platforms on a site. An employee of the Principal Contractor sustained injuries when he fell through a working platform.

Fined £19,750 under HASAWA 1974 s2.  IP lost 4 fingers and part of his left hand whilst attempting to unblock a screen at a sewage treatment works. The screen has an interlock device to prevent access. This had been broken for some time.

Fined total of £5,000 under MHSWR 1999 and PUWER 1998.  Employee sustained serious injuries to his fingers after using polybend machine.

Fined £2,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2.  Failure to ensure health, safety and welfare of employees. They were exposed to risks to their health and safety while working on a rising tide.

Fined total of £6,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2 and MHSWR 1999.  Employee got fingers trapped in rollers of machine while attempting to clear blockage of polythene.

City of York Council were fined £20,000 and ordered to pay costs of £20,423 under HASAWA 1974 s2.  A 54 year old council worker died from a grass cutting accident on the slopes of the riverbank.  The slope and mowing machine had not been risk assessed.

The legislation which govern the operation of fatal accident inquiries in Scotland is to be reviewed.  The review will be led by Lord Cullen  and is expected to take around a year to complete.

Oil and fuel depots across Britain must improve environmental and safety standards for the bulk storage of hazardous liquids, with the release of a new containment policy that comes in the wake of the Buncefield investigation.  In October 2006, the joint regulator/industry BSTG recommended 6 measures to improve the primary containment at sites storing large quantities of fuel.

In a new report from Chartered M'ment Inst, 89% of managers regularly work over their contracted time, a figure that has barely fallen since 2000.  It appears to show that efforts to reduce managers' working hours have failed to have a positive impact.

HSE has published guidance for lift owners on what they need to do to ensure they are complying with the law.

A set of minimum core competencies needed by emergency service staff who drive "blue light" vehicles has been published by DSA.

Some recent H&S cases involving PUWER 1998.

This month, the Noise at Work Regs 2005 extend to include workers in the music and entertainment sector, once more focussing all employers' attention on the need to control risks associated with exposure to noise in the workplace.  A practical look at the assessment and control of noise risks at work.  (Ian Glendenning)

In 2007, the Dept of Health announced the funding of a 3-year pilot project which aims to increase the availability of occup health services and support to small businesses.  An explanation of how these services will be delivered and if any lessons can be learned from projects with similar aims that have gone before.  (Elizabeth Gates)

In the final part of the series on trade union influences on workplace H&S improvements, the work of union safety reps today.  (Nick Cook)

Underpinning HSE's approach to raising standards of H&S management is a very substantial body of guidance.  But is there sufficient consistency and cohesion across this guidance?  Is there a need for an HSE doctrine management system?  (Roger Bibbings)

Businesses across the North East that use chemicals in their daily business were advised, in a seminar on 17th April, about new regulations known as REACH - Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of CHemicals. 

MRX Engineering Support Services Ltd T/A Stackright Building Systems were fined £100,000 and ordered to pay costs of £16,941 under HASAWA 1974 s2.  HSE has warned of the dangers of allowing cranes to operate over the heads of employees.  A man was killed and another seriously injured after they were struck by a load that fell from a crane.

Recent results from the Pesticide Residues Committee's testing of the fruit and vegetables supplied to school children showed none of the samples contained residues above the legal trading limit.

Partnership between London Luton Airport, Luton Borough Council and the HSE, will bring together businesses to inform and advise of the dangers of slips, trips and falls in the work place.

HSE and the Duchy College in Cornwell have raised awareness of the risks to children playing on or near  farms by holding two seminars at the Duchy College near Camborne.  Thousands of children will be playing in or on farms this summer, and tragically, some of these children will be injured - or killed - by farm machinery.

Fined £10,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2.  Company failed to show a safe system of work and showed disregard for safety of their employees, carrying out high risk work activities, filling and moving one tonne sacks of granulated rubber.

Fined total of £75,000 under HASAWA 1974 s3.  No Sep Penalty under CHSWR 1996.  Ram Services Ltd was a sub-contractor during scaffolding works.  A trainee of 3D Scaffolding fell to his death.  The company failed to ensure safety of people not in their employment and failed to ensure scaffolding used by their own staff had been properly inspected to ensure safe to use.

Fined £75,000 under HASAWA 1974 s3.  A 17 year old trainee scaffolder fell approximately 18 metres to his death, whilst working to construct a scaffold within a 20 metre high sewage digester tank.  Mowlem Group PLC failed to ensure safety of people not in their employment.

Fined £20,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2.  The IP was emptying materials into a large mixing vessel, which was in operation.  IP dropped the bag he was pouring into the mixer and instinctively reached out to grab bag, on doing so left hand entered mixing vessel and got trapped.  Injuries resulted in hand having to be amputated.  Following a successful prosecution case, the company also given max compensation award for Mr Feather of £5,000.

Fined total of £2,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2.  HSE inspector visiting the premises saw an employee being lifted 8 feet on a pallet on an FLT to fit a company sign to their own premises.

Fined £200,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2.  Employee was killed by a reversing skip lorry.  Company failed to ensure the safety of its employees in the yard and effective measures to segregate pedestrian workers from moving (reversing) vehicles. 

Fined £4,500 under HASAWA 1974 s3.  A 5 year old was pulled under a miniature train and dragged along.  The attendant only 15 years old.  Train was stopped and lifted off IP who suffered cuts and bruises.

Fined £30,000 under MHSWR 1999.  Prosecution of company following fatal accident in confined space.

Fined total of £18,000 under PUWER 1998 and HASAWA 1974 s2.  Maintenance engineer caught his finger in the unguarded running machinery of the conveyor belt he was adjusting when it suddenly started up.

Fined total of £15,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2 and s3.  A 585 kg cow escaped from the penning area of the Cattle Market trampling an employee.

Fined £8,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2.  IP was passing behind FLT when it reversed and trapped his leg between the forklift and a wall.  Not a crime of neglect but company had untrained FLT drivers which put employees at risk.

Fined £2,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2.  Mr Mark Goodwin became trapped between a fertiliser hopper on the rear of tractor and the front tyre of a Meatbro telehandler.  Suffered multiple pelvic fractures.

Fined £2,000 under HASAWA 1974 s3.  Mr Mark Goodwin became trapped between a fertiliser hopper on the rear of tractor and the front tyre of a Meatbro telehandler.  Suffered multiple pelvic fractures.

Fined £2,000 under PUWER 1998.  Employee was repairing a frame-making machine, which makes doors.  Diagnosis of fault was done while machine live, his fingers dragged into machine resulting in 2 of them being broken.  Machine had function which would have allowed fault to be diagnosed safely, but company did not make use of it.

Fined £2,500 under WHR 2005.  IP fell approximately 3 metres when carrying out maintenance work from an unsecured ladder.

According to safety campaign group the Centre for Corporate Accountability, fines against most companies convicted following work-related deaths represent less than 1/700th of their turnover.  It equates to an individual earning the average annual income of £24,769 receiving a fine of £35.

The public inquiry into Scotland's most serious industrial disaster in over 30 years has begun with the preliminary hearing on 25 February.  The explosion at the Stockline plastics factory in 2004 killed 9 and injured a further 33.

The DoH has announced that, after the smoking ban came into effect, smoking inspectors have issued 1,449 written warnings to employers during 2007 for failing to prevent smoking in their premises.  Out of these, there were 9 court hearings.  In the last 6 months of 2007, a further 6,941 warnings were issued to firms failing to display proper "no smoking" signs in their premises or vehicles.

Despite the belt-tightening of its parent organisation, HSE will not see its budget cut in the next three years.  The settlement is set to come to £724 million over the 3-year period up to 2011, £9 million more than the allocation for the previous 3 years.  This is a rise of just over 1 per cent - below the current rate of inflation.

Gateshead Borough Council fined £10,000 and costs of £6,830 under HASAWA 1974 s3.  An inadequately maintained boiler was leaking fumes into the classroom above, overcoming the class and two teachers present.

With its looming gothic spires and grand presence over the Thames, the Houses of Parliament are steeped in history.  How they manage their H&S.  (Thomas Mendelsohn)

The revised Construction (Design and Management) Regulations came into force one year ago - with a promise they would make compliance easier.  A view on how successful the changes have been.  (Gavin Taylor)

Although the selection of PPE may seem like a straightforward process, many employers struggle to get it right, thereby putting their workers at risk of injury.  Some tips on how to identify and provide the correct equipment.  (Geoff Hooke)

One way of selecting suitable PPE is to work closely with suppliers to identify the appropriate equipment for your staff.  How one company introduced a mandatory eyewear policy across its construction sites.  (Graham Abbott)

The Government has announced its intention to publish new guidance on child employment.  The "Staying safe action plan" covers all aspects of child safety, from abuse through internet chat rooms to play activities.  There is no timetable for the new guidance, beyond completion between 2008 and 2011.

HSE has added four further leaflets to its information and guidance pages on REACH.

HSE marked "RSI awareness day" by launching a new DSE website.  The site offers guidance, checklists, case studies and advice on call centres.

HSE has published proposals for approval and monitoring arrangements to support the introduction of new first-aid training courses.

According to the HSE's "Statement of forthcoming legislation" employers are likely to face just three new pieces, and one extension, of H&S legislation in 2008.  Control of Noise at Work Regs 2005 extend to apply to the music and entertainment sectors.  H&S (Misc Amends and Revocations) Regs 2008 will correct issues that have arisen in regard to Regs on noise and manufacture and storage of explosives, and repeal outdated mining legislation.  The 2nd adaptation to technical progress to the Dangerous Preparations Directive is due to come into force on 1 Oct.  At some point in 2008 the UN Globally Harmonised System for the Classification and Labelling of Chemicals in the EU should come into force.

An HSE commissioned report on oil industry workers and civil servants has linked "high supervisor support" with lower rates of MSDs, lower pain severity, and fewer MSD related absences.  Any association between MSDs and "co-worker support" is less clear.

HSE has published reports on the first two phases of research into back pain in drivers.

Updated welfare guidance has been published.

According to an HSE commissioned evidence review, successful management strategies for work-related upper-limb disorders "require all the players to be onside and acting in a co-ordinated fashion".

Teachers who stick to official guidance and act reasonably should have little to fear if things go wrong on school trips.  (Howard Fidderman)

A look at how tool hire firms are helping raise workplace H&S standards.  (Lucinda Ponting)

The Chair of the HSE reminded board members and senior business directors to put effective health and safety performance high on their agendas.

Two reports from the Pesticides Forum, the Pesticide Forum's 2007 Annual Report and the "2007 Report of indicators reflecting the impacts of pesticide use", confirm that farmers and growers are delivering reduced impacts on the environment from the use of pesticides.

Head chef Heather slipped on a wet floor and suffered horrific burn injuries a year ago.  This is the kind of injury the HSE "Shattered Lives" campaign highlights. Every 25 mins, someone breaks or fractures a bone at work according to the latest figures from the HSE.

R H Phillips & Sons Ltd were fined £2,500, ordered to pay £1,600 costs, plus a £15 victim surcharge under WHR 2005.  Employee John Dennis suffered fractured ribs following a fall from the top platform of the unguarded mobile tower scaffold.

Duke John York fined total of £1,800 under HASAWA 1974 s3 and s33, and GSIUR 1998.  HSE is warning gas fitters to ensure that they are competent and registered before undertaking work.

Businesses in Scotland will be encouraged to learn from their peers as part of a new initiative to tackle fatalities, injuries and illness in the workplace.  The initiative, led by the Scottish Centre for Healthy Working Lives and Partnership on Health and Safety in Scotland, will include a programme of activities and events at locations across Scotland.  Amongst other events, free business to business seminars will take place on 25 and 29 April, 6, 8 and 16 May.  The biggest causes of injuries are falls and transport accidents, with construction and farming being two industries where employees are most likely to be at risk.

Contractors from across the South West region will be focussing on the importance of H&S in the workplace, on an awareness day organised by HSE and Tamar Foods Limited.

Chemence Ltd fined £9,000, ordered to pay costs of £1,835.60 under MHSWR 1999.  HSE has warned companies to protect employees from dangerous machinery and have suitable risk assessments after a 31 year old lost part of her finger in a machine. 

Fined £125,000 under HASAWA 1974 s3.  11 year old female was struck by refuse vehicle collecting waste, causing fatal injuries.

Fined total of £750 under MHSWR 1999 and WHR 2005.  Failure to provide the plant (sic) system of work etc to pass safely, across or near a fragile roof.

Fined total of £25,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2 and s3.  Roof work undertaken without necessary precautions for working at height and for working near fragile material. No risk assessment or method statement undertaken.

Community (sic) under GSIUR 1998.  Three separate complaints concerning work carried out on gas appliances and fittings. Mr Mees not CORGI registered, not competent to carry out work relating to gas fittings and faults identified could have led to a fire, explosion or carbon monoxide poisoning.

Fined £12,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2.  Employee fell from a height of approx 3 metres attempting to access conveyor line and was injured. Company failed to take measures to prevent employee falling.

Fined £1,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2.  IP was cleaning Shirley Wheel.  Power not switched off and wheel was running, his gloved hand was pulled into the wheel, causing injury to right hand.

Conditional Discharge under PUWER 1998.  IP lost 4 fingers and suffered serious abrasion injuries to left arm and hand when he was entangled in the tail pulley of a conveyor.

Fined £2,000 under HASAWA 1974 s3.  IP received severe head injuries when he fell off edge of roof.  Parapet wall only 28cm high with no edge protection.

Fined total of £50,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2.  17 year old trainee died after falling approx 18 metres whilst working to construct a scaffold within a 20 metre high sewage digester tank.  3D Scaffolding Ltd had failed to provide adequate training and supervision and a safe system of work.

Fined £7,500 under HASAWA 1974 s3.  Two workers fell through asbestos cement roof during demolition of a barn.  Principal Contractor, failed to effectively control risks of work at height to its subcontractor's employees.

Fined total of £30,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2 and WHR 2005.  Two workers fell through asbestos cement roof during demolition of a barn.  Failed to effectively control risks of work at height to its employees.