Latest News, updated 11th May 2008
This is where we'll announce the most recent additions to our web site. If you've visited us before and want to know what's changed, take a look here first. Please send any comments to webmaster@hastam.co.uk.
Andrew Hale receives Distinguished Service Award
Andrew Hale, director of HASTAM and Professor of Safety Science at the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands, was awarded the RoSPA Distinguished Service Award earlier this year.
He was present to receive the award during a RoSPA Directors' Conference on H&S Responsibilities at the Cavendish Centre in London on 26 November. He was given the award for his long and distinguished service, both in the UK and the Netherlands to the development of the science and profession of safety, and particularly for setting up the first postgraduate university-based courses in the subject in both countries.
His work as editor of the scientific journal 'Safety Science' was also mentioned. In replying, Andrew referred to the continuing challenge which had kept him busy all his career, and which faced all of the directors present at the Conference, namely to give safety a positive image as a challenge to ingenuity, to science and to clever and dedicated management, rather than as a boring set of rules set by nit-picking spoilsports.
Top Health & Safety News Items
Week ending 9th May 2008
HSE warns on work at height after roofing company proprietor jailed.
The HSE is warning companies to ensure its employees working at height have proper safety equipment and that the risk to them is fully assessed.
The warning comes after the proprietor of a South Wales roofing company was jailed for 10 months and was ordered to pay nearly £18k costs after admitting a manslaughter charge in relation to the death of one of his employees who fell through a skylight at a retail unit.
Daniel Dennis, 17, suffered serious injuries after falling through the skylight and nearly 30ft onto the floor below while employed with a company trading as North Eastern Roofing. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) later brought manslaughter charges against the company's owner, Roy Clark, from Cefn Cribbwr, Bridgend.
HSE investigated the incident which happened in 2003, and its evidence formed part of the CPS prosecution of Mr Clark.
The HSE is currently running a campaign aimed at raising awareness of the dangers of falls, slips and trips in the workplace. Called "Shattered Lives" the construction industry is one of the main areas being targeted. Last year alone, 45 workers in the UK died following a fall from height, and a further 3750 were seriously injured.
HSE Inspector Dean Baker said, "This tragic case demonstrates the need for employers to take serious steps to ensure anyone working at height is properly trained, and given appropriate equipment to do their job safely. These measures had not been taken in this case, and Daniel Dennis was never given any training or induction for working at height.
"Falls from height very often result in serious injury and death - it costs businesses and society money and ultimately can costs lives."More items on the Health & Safety News - This Week page
Week ending 2nd May 2008
HSE warning following prosecution of David Johnson formerly trading as Merlin Building and Roofing Contractors.
HSE are warning anyone that may have had any work done by David Johnson, formerly trading as Merlin Building and Roofing Contractors, to have the work checked. The warning comes following the death of a resident after Mr Johnson had worked on a house chimney. The chimney was found to be structurally unsafe, and the flue within the chimney was found to be blocked, resulting in carbon monoxide fumes being released into the house, killing the resident.
If you have had work done by Mr Johnson, that could have affected a flue connected to a gas appliance, HSE advice is to ensure that the appliance and flue are checked by a CORGI registered installer. To find a registered installer, visit: www.trustcorgi.com or telephone 0800 915 0485.
If you are concerned regarding other building work done by Mr Johnson, you should contact your local building control office. To find your local building control office, visit:www.planningportal.gov.uk or telephone 01733 453422 (Peterborough), 01354 654321 (Fenland).
Consumers should be vigilant to gas safety when having any type of building work done, as flues and ventilation can easily become blocked if the builder isn't aware of gas appliances.
More items on the Health & Safety News - Last Week page.
New PDA Add-on for CHASE
HASTAM has released an add-on to the CHASE program to allow users to use a Windows Mobile based PDA to collect audit data and then transfer it to the full CHASE program for analysis and reporting.
