What's new at HSE » 2009 » July

Enforcement guide ( England and Wales) updated

HSE — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 12:30:09 +0000

The Enforcement Guide provides legal guidance to HSE staff in respect of their enforcement powers and duties. It will also be useful to other health and safety enforcement agencies.

View the Enforcement guide ( England and Wales)

LPG Pipeline Survey - Have you completed yours

HSE — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 11:15:22 +0000

Still time to complete the liquefied petroleum gas survey into to the use of LPG in the United Kingdom, with the aim of prioritising improvements to service and industry. Fill in the online form and tell us about your LPG pipework.

Complete the online LPG pipework survey

CONIAC meeting minutes - 26 March 2009

HSE — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 10:04:03 +0000

Minutes of the Construction Industry Advisory Committee (CONIAC) meeting held in Rose Court, London on 26 March 2009 are now available online.

View the CONIAC minutes from meeting on 26 March 2009 [57KB]

Employers urged to take action after Chester worker cracks ribs

HSE — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 08:03:38 +0000

Employers are being urged to take action to prevent injuries after a Chester industrial worker became trapped in machinery, cracking his ribs.

HSE prosecuted Calder Industrial Materials Ltd, which manufactures lead products, following the incident at its Jupiter Drive site in the city. The company was fined £4,500 and ordered to pay full costs of £1,050 at Chester Magistrates Court on Thursday 30 July.

Read Chester worker cracks ribs press release in full

Illegal gas work costs lives warns HSE

HSE — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 11:00:41 +0000

HSE is warning anyone working on gas appliances and systems without having their competence assessed that they are acting illegally and dangerously.

The warning comes as Peter Tongue, a gas fitter from Brecon, was jailed for three years for each manslaughter charge, to run concurrently, after being found guilty by a jury at Cardiff Crown Court of two charges of manslaughter and six charges under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

Read Illegal gas work costs lives warns HSE press release in full

Safety Alert - Agricultural machinery - Rotating arm bale wrappers

HSE — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 10:38:48 +0000

This bulletin is being issued by HSE to alert users and manufacturers of bale wrapping machines of a potential problem with the pressure sensitive trip device located on the rotating arm. This information relates to both stand-alone machines and integrated baler/wrappers.

View the safety alert

Company fined after worker suffers fatal injuries after being run over at work

HSE — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 14:30:49 +0000

HSE is urging companies to ensure that sufficient safety procedures and risk assessments are in place to properly protect staff.

The call comes after the prosecution today (29 July) of John Stacey and Sons Ltd at Winchester Crown Court. The prosecution follows an incident at the company’s Tadley site on 1 June 2007. An employee, Frederick Aubrey, was run over and died five days later from his injuries.

Read the worker suffers fatal injuries after being run over at work press release in full

Companies urged to improve safety after Bury worker loses three fingers

HSE — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 12:15:12 +0000

HSE has warned of the danger of untrained staff using machinery after a worker in Bury had three fingers cut off.

Tetrosyl Ltd of Bevis Green Works, Walmersley, Bury, pleaded guilty to two offences under health and safety legislation at Manchester Crown Court, Minshull Street, on Wednesday 29 July. It was fined £50,000 and ordered to pay full costs of £6,141.

Read Bury worker loses three fingers press release in full

Biggest workplace killers tackled on Lancashire industrial estate

HSE — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 09:35:08 +0000

A large Lancashire industrial estate will be targeted next week as part of a new initiative to tackle the county’s three biggest workplace killers.

Representatives from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and Wyre Borough Council will visit nearly 120 businesses on the Red Marsh industrial estate in Thornton Cleveleys. They will provide information about the biggest risks to workers – asbestos, falls from height and workplace transport.

Read Biggest workplace killers tackled on Lancashire industrial estate press release in full

Views sought on european regulation on biocides

HSE — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 09:04:18 +0000

Views are being sought on European proposals for a revised regime for regulating the placing on the market and use of biocides. These include disinfectants, preservatives and pest control agents used to control harmful organisations such as bacteria, fungi and rodents.

HSE has launched a 10-week consultation on the European Commission proposal, which will apply directly in the UK.

Read views sought on european regulation on biocides press release in full

HSE Chair’s response to the Daily Express article “For safety’s sake, skip the playground games

HSE — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 08:01:03 +0000

I am delighted to see the results of the survey referenced in your article “For safety’s sake, skip the playground games” 28 July, which reveals that parents recognise the benefits of outdoor play in childhood.

But I can assure your readers that the supposed rules which ban skipping, conkers and other such pursuits are myths. There are no health and safety regulations which ban these activities.

Read the HSE Chair’s response to the Daily Express article in Full

Tree Work News - April 2009

HSE — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 07:30:55 +0000

This is the third edition of Tree Work News, HSE’s e-newsletter for the arboriculture and forestry industries. In this issue: Chainsaws continue to kill, Safety and Health Awareness Days (SHADs)…

View the Tree Work News - April 2009

HSE Chair’s response to the Edinburgh Evening News “Aiming to avoid some potential banana skins”

HSE — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 15:20:12 +0000

At HSE, we fully endorse the notion put forward by City Council health and safety advisor Graham Anderson (“Aiming to avoid some potential banana skins” 27 July 2009) that “The rule of thumb is: if it feels like common sense, it’s probably OK to do it…”

All too often health and safety is conveniently used as an excuse for events or activities not going ahead.

Read the HSE Chair’s response to the Edinburgh Evening News in full

HSE Chair responds to the Sunday Express campaign to ‘Save our Fetes’

HSE — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 13:52:04 +0000

HSE agrees wholeheartedly with the sentiments behind the Sunday Express ‘Save Our fetes’ campaign.

The message is simple – do what’s sensible and reasonable and then go ahead and enjoy yourselves!

Read HSE Chair’s response to the Sunday Express in full

Engineering firm fined after worker’s finger severed

HSE — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 11:30:26 +0000

HSE has highlighted the importance of managing health and safety risks effectively after a worker suffered a serious injury to his hand at a North East engineering firm.

TC Industries of Europe Limited, of Holborn Viaduct, London, was fined £5,000 and ordered to pay £1,357 in costs and a £15 victim surcharge after it pleaded guilty to a breach of health and safety legislation at East Langbaurgh Magistrates’ Court.

Read Engineering firm fined after worker’s finger severed press release in full

Construction e-bulletin

HSE — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 09:16:48 +0000

The Construction Infonet bulletin for July is now available. Some of the areas covered in this issue are; consultations, fatal statisitics and recent enforcement activity.

Construction Infonet is a free e-Bulletin providing a regular update on health and safety issues for all in the construction industry.

View July Construction Infonet e-bulletin

Biocidal products consultation

HSE — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 07:50:32 +0000

HSE seeks comments on a proposed European Regulation for the placing on the market and use of biocidal products. The European Commission has proposed a European Regulation for the placing on the market and use of biocidal products. This would replace the Biocidal Products Directive 98/8/EC and transposed into UK law by the Biocidal Products Regulations 2001.

Find out more about this consultation

Nuclear LLC reports

HSE — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 07:25:02 +0000

Local Liaison Committee Quarterly reports for the period 1 April to 30 June 2009 (Q2) are now available for for:

Hartlepool
Oldbury
Wylfa
Wylfa Welsh version

View Quarterly Local Liaison Committee (LLC) /Site Stakeholder Group (SSG) Reports for 2009

Work-related stress

HSE — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 06:10:19 +0000

This LAC presents current operational policy on work-related stress and guidance on how enforcement officers should deal with the topic. It provides information on the Management Standards for work-related stress, which form the core of LA’s work on stress. An overview of the Stress Programme Plan of work is given with information on how this work links with activity on Managing Sickness Absence and Return to Work.

Qualitative research amongst ‘hard to reach’ small construction site operators

HSE — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 05:40:35 +0000

Since 2000 there has been a significant reduction in fatal accidents and other injuries in the construction industry. This reduction has been attributed in part to the focus of HSE on influencing large firms. In order to encourage the continuation of this downward trend, the HSE’s Small Sites Project was established to bring about the adoption of sensible risk management strategies to improve standards of health and safety on Small Sites. There is a specific focus on those sites with 5 or fewer employees on site.

View RR719 - Report of qualitative research amongst ‘hard to reach’ small construction site operators research report