HSW Latest News

Inquiry uncovers poor PPE and lack of training in meat factories

sasha.wood — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 18:00:00 +0000

The report, published by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), says more than half the food factory workers it interviewed raised concerns about health and safety. Meat processing plants employ almost 89,000 people in the UK.

Common complaints included firms failing to provide appropriate PPE, such as protective gloves for staff working with knives and frozen products or warm clothing for workers in cold areas, and employees having to share wet or dirty overalls and boots.

Tories stick to plans for firms to sidestep HSE inspections

Kellie Mundell — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 11:00:00 +0000

The Conservative shadow business minister John Penrose says consultation with industry bodies has shown positive support for the proposal to allow “low risk” businesses to commission independent health and safety audits and, if they pass, to refuse entry to enforcement inspectors afterwards except in emergencies.

The idea was first floated by shadow business secretary Kenneth Clarke last October as one way to reduce the compliance burden for business.

HSE campaign aims to tackle noise at source

sasha.wood — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 10:00:00 +0000

The Buy Quiet initiative aims to bring together manufacturers, suppliers, employers, consultants and insurers to work more closely with the HSE and see what can be done to dampen machinery noise.

To kick off the initiative, the executive hosted a workshop for stakeholders to share ideas and discuss the commercial and health benefits of producing low noise equipment.

The event also offered information on the legal requirements for workplace noise.

HSE issues guidance for firefighters on balancing duties with risk

sasha.wood — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 17:35:00 +0000

The document, Striking the Balance Between Operational and Health and Safety Duties in the Fire and Rescue Service, sets out guiding principles for the fire service to follow when weighing up safety risks and operational duties, and aims to foster a culture that deals with hazards in “a sensible, proportionate and thought-through manner”.

The HSE developed it in collaboration with Fire and Rescue Authorities, the Chief Fire Officers Association (CFOA), the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) and other stakeholders.

Government launches new wellbeing tool

Kellie Mundell — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:00:00 +0000

The free online tool replaces an existing spreadsheet-based “business healthcheck tool”, which many employers found cumbersome and difficult to use.

Minister resists extending RIDDOR to work-related road injuries

Kellie Mundell — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 18:15:00 +0000

The minister was attending road safety charity Brake’s annual “Fleet Safety Forum” conference in Birmingham when several speakers challenged him over the continuing lack of data on work-related road crashes.

HSE calls on industry to improve safety alerts

Kellie Mundell — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 12:00:00 +0000

The call follows a revamp of the HSE’s own safety bulletin system, which now warns duty holders of critical safety problems that could lead to injury or ill health via email, text messages or RSS feed, as well as posting the warnings on the website.

Rail regulator raises Network Rail maintenance fears

Kellie Mundell — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 16:10:00 +0000

While the regulator supports the core principles of Network Rail’s planned new maintenance structure, it remains worried about the tight timetable for implementation, the absence of proper staff engagement and the fact that a series of crucial “how to” guides to the changes is not yet available.

Employers urged to sign up to new MSD charter

Kellie Mundell — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 14:00:00 +0000

The Alliance, which is an umbrella body of 34 organisations ranging from research charities to support groups, is urging all public and private sector employers to sign up to its newly launched “Charter for Work”.

First corporate manslaughter trial delayed

Kellie Mundell — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 16:00:00 +0000

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) announced in April 2009 that the firm would be the first to face a corporate manslaughter charge, following the death of an employee in September 2008.

Junior geologist Alexander Wright, who was 27, died when the sides of a trench — excavated as part of a site survey — collapsed and crushed him as he collected soil samples near Stroud in Gloucestershire.

Pub landlord ignored fire brigade notices

louis.wustemann — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 12:00:00 +0000

When London Fire Brigade (LFB) officers inspected the Star Public House in Hillingdon in August 2008, they found a wide range of problems including no fire extinguishers, emergency signage or fire risk assessment.

During subsequent visits there was little improvement, so officers issued an enforcement notice detailing what needed to be rectified.

But when they inspected the premises again, the situation had deteriorated to the extent that the brigade decided to serve a Prohibition Notice on 20 February 2009 preventing staff or guests from using the upper floors.

Shell worker receives £77,000 for pleural thickening

sasha.wood — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 12:00:00 +0000

The 62-year-old from Manchester worked as a plant operator at Shell’s Carrington site between 1979 and 1986 where he often had to remove asbestos insulation from pipework as part of routine maintenance work. No one warned him about the dangers to his health and Shell did not provide him with any protection.

He was diagnosed with asbestos-related pleural thickening in 2008, which left him breathless and forced him to give up his job working in an airport car parking service.