You only need to take a look at the safety statistics to see that accidents on construction sites are responsible for a disproportionate number of all fatal workplace injuries – although the construction sector accounts for just 5% of employees in Britain, it accounts for 27% of all fatal injuries to employees, many of which... Continue Reading →
Top 10 most shocking health & safety myths
Have you heard the one about the trapeze artist being ordered to wear a hard hat? Or how about the students ordered to wear goggles while they play conkers? Whichever way you look at it, heath and safety is an easy target whenever reporters are facing a slow news day. Amusing as some of the... Continue Reading →
Playground tactics: The scourge of the workplace bully
While some of you might be keen to reminisce about your own school days – first years’ heads being flushed down the toilet, writing lines in detention and perhaps (for those of you of a certain age) even a sound thrashing from the head teacher – the rest of us are glad to have left... Continue Reading →
What’s happened to HSG65 and POPIMAR?
If you're one of the generation of safety managers and osh professionals raised on 'Successful Health and Safety Management' (HSG65) and its POPIMAR model then the HSE's recent changes may feel daunting. If so, hopefully this post - in which I'll briefly talk you through the changes - will help set your mind at ease.... Continue Reading →
Bad vibrations? A short guide to hand-arm vibrations
If you work with power tools of any variety, the chances are you have experienced some degree of hand-arm vibrations. While limited exposure to these vibrations is unlikely to cause any lasting damage, over exposure can lead to hand-arm syndrome (HAVS) or carpal tunnel syndrome. With the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) estimating that 2... Continue Reading →
Profile of a killer: 6 surprising facts about asbestos
Nowadays, the mere mention of asbestos is enough to send a shiver of concern through most people – and rightly so. Despite updated asbestos regulations coming into force in 2012, asbestos is still the single greatest cause of UK work-related deaths and remains a source of misery and ill-health the world over. However, in recent... Continue Reading →
Machine safety: using machine guards to reduce risks
Crushed digits, lacerated body parts, fractured bones... this litany of horrors may bring images of grim Victorian workhouses to mind, but tragically such injuries are far from confined to the past. In fact, in modern day UK 40,000 such injuries, and a dozen or so deaths are sustained each and every year. And the cause? Mechanical equipment used without adequate... Continue Reading →
Company Directors – The 4 new health and safety challenges you face
Changes in the law in recent years mean that a health and safety failure could now result in criminal convictions for both your organisation and you personally. What’s more a ‘hear no evil, see no evil’ defence simply won’t cut it. As a director, the onus is on you to manage health and safety proactively,... Continue Reading →
Who else wants the latest Health & Safety legislation low-down?
This quick summary will get you up to speed with changes to the workplace first aid regulations, fit note guidance and proposed changes to ACoPs. Workplace first aid No doubt you’re aware that under the current First-Aid Regs the HSE must approve the training and qualifications of appointed first aiders. However, did you know that... Continue Reading →
A dummies’ guide to PUWER
With the world of occupational health and safety overflowing with acronyms, it’s perhaps understandable that you might occasionally mix up COSHH with COMAH or DSEAR with DSE. However, if there’s one piece of safety guidance that you can’t afford to confuse, it’s PUWER. Thankfully, our simple guide tells you everything you need to know about... Continue Reading →
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