As part of our ever popular Backstage Pass series, we speak to people who’ve ‘made it’ in their health and safety careers, asking them to share the secrets of their success and hopefully offer some words of wisdom. This month we’re delighted to talk to Anita Gough. After all, if anybody should be able to... Continue Reading →
Brave new world of work: How to keep young workers safe
Do you remember your first job? Was it bar work as a student, stacking shelves in the summer holidays or temping in a call centre? Whatever it was, you probably found it a daunting task on your first day. For many young people, the world of work is often a strange and confusing place. Inexperience... Continue Reading →
Health and work: the perfect mix?
Dr Karen McDonnell, CFIOSH, CBiol MIBiol, MIPD, AIEMA looks at the best ways we can blend together best practices in order to get the best mix of health and work challenges. Whether you order a Manhattan, Cosmopolitan or a gin and tonic you expect the mixologist to get it right every time. Mixing together the... Continue Reading →
Surprisingly deadly: 5 of the UK’s most dangerous jobs
Ask anyone to name the most dangerous jobs they can think of, and you’ll usually be greeted with the same old answers. Racing car driver? Astronaut? Bomb disposal expert? While there’s no doubting these can be perilous ways to earn a living, health and safety statistics from the HSE suggest that some of the most... Continue Reading →
Back attack! The real cost of manual handling injuries
As we’ve discussed in previous posts about manual handling, heavy manual labour, awkward postures and previous or existing injury can all increase the risk of injuries. In this short piece, which originally appeared in RoSPA’s Occupational Safety & Health Journal, we explore some real life examples that show just how devastating manual handling injuries can... Continue Reading →
Up in smoke? How to carry out a fire risk assessment
Although industrial fires are relatively rare, when they do strike they can be utterly devastating. In order to combat this threat, The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 came into effect in October 2006, sweeping away over 70 different pieces of fire safety law. Under the Order, a responsible person must carry out a fire... Continue Reading →
An inspector calls – What to expect when a H & S inspector visits
If you’ve never been visited by a health and safety inspector – and, depending on the nature and level of risk of your workplace, many of you won’t have been – there is perhaps a tendency to worry or be nervous about what might happen during a visit, but if you've been managing your health... Continue Reading →
Coping with stress in turbulent times
This week marks the return of the annual European Week for Safety and Health at Work, which this year focuses on the issue of work-related stress. As we have discussed previously, stress and related illnesses are a major problem in workplaces, and are estimated to cost the UK economy a staggering £26 billion pounds each... Continue Reading →
H & S failings: The devastating costs in numbers
When an organisation has a strong health and safety record, a serious accident seems like a distant possibility. However, nobody is immune – just one slip-up could realise your worst fears. The infographic below is a reminder that the financial and personal cost of failure is high. Whilst prevention is the best cure, it’s essential... Continue Reading →
Display screen equipment – Is your workstation set up correctly?
As we discussed in our post on DSE regulations, display screen equipment (DSE) can give rise to a variety of ill health conditions when used habitually. The most prevalent damage to users is repetitive strain injury (RSI), which is a general term used to describe the pain felt in muscles, nerves and tendons caused by... Continue Reading →
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