What's new at HSE

Location and design of buildings at major accident hazard establishments

Julian — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 14:14:43 +0000

The purpose of this SPC is to provide ongoing inspection guidance on the location and design of occupied buildings at both lower and top tier COMAH sites, and also highlight the importance of ensuring that the national project (which finished in 2006) is completed at all the COMAH top tier sites to which it applied.

In all cases, operators need to assess the risks to people in occupied buildings on site from fire, explosion and toxic hazards, and, where necessary, identify measures to reduce those risks to as low as reasonably practicable (ALARP). A timebound action plan should be agreed where remedial measures will take time to implement.

Read the full SPC from the HSE FOI pages

HSE enforcement policy statement: Welsh version

Julian — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 13:53:23 +0000

This document sets out the general principles and approach which the health and safety enforcing authorities (mainly HSE and local authorities) are expected to follow. All local authority and HSE staff who take enforcement decisions are required to follow HSE’s Enforcement Policy Statement. The Enforcement Policy Statement is in accordance with the Regulators’ Compliance Code and the regulatory principles required under the Legislative and Regulatory Reform Act 2006.

Read the Welsh version of the enforcement policy statement [51KB PDF]

Energy saving compact fluorescent lights (CFLs)

Peter — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 13:44:26 +0000

The Health Protection Agency has undertaken research which shows that some energy saving light bulbs emit ultraviolet radiation which could expose people above recommended guideline levels.

Find out more about this research

National asbestos campaign starts next week

Gavin — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 09:24:21 +0000

HSE’s national campaign; “Asbestos: the hidden killer” launches online on Monday 13th October with a new website. Visit the preview page now to listen to radio adverts that will feature in the campaign.

Asbestos: hidden killer campaign

Small business owners - leadership advice

Gavin — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 09:16:55 +0000

Advice specifically aimed at small and medium sized business leaders - how to plan, deliver, monitor and review to manage and reduce the risks in your organisation.

Advice for small and medium sized businesses

International workers in food and drink manufacturing

Gavin — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 09:09:16 +0000

Guidance and advice for employers, focussing on the key risks that migrant workers face and communication issues.

Guidance for food and drink manufacturing

Visual display unit checklist for safety reps

Gavin — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 09:01:27 +0000

A display screen equipment assessment checklist to help safety reps and other officials to assess the risks to workers from visual display units and comply with legal requirements.

View the checklist [PDF 270KB]

Organising a firework display?

Gavin — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 08:53:19 +0000

General tips and advice when organising a firework display at home, from preparation before the event and clearing up the morning after.

Visit HSE’s guide to using fireworks at home.

Building firm fined £6,000 for safety at height failures

Julian — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 08:45:09 +0000

HSE today warned employers that they face prosecution if they fail to ensure the safety of people working at height, after a North East roofing company failed to ensure that roofing work was carried out safely on an industrial building on Wearside.

Read the full press realease

GE-Hitachi request suspension of GDA

Peter — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 09:44:43 +0000

On 11 September 2008, GE-Hitachi wrote to both HSE/NII and the Environment agency requesting that the regulators temporarily suspend their assessment of the ESBWR nuclear power station design. As a result, both regulators have ceased all assessment work on the ESBWR until further notice.

New nuclear reactors - latest news

Working together to reduce stress at work in Harrogate

Gavin — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 09:21:51 +0000

15 October in Harrogate - a free seminar for local businesses. The event will help you to recognise and manage stress in the workplace. It will cover the law, HSE’s stress management standards and risk assessment.

More event information

Employers’ Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act 1969: A guide for employers

Julian — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 15:48:50 +0000

Revised DWP/HSE guide for employers includes advice on complying with regulatory changes that came into force on 1 October 2008. These changes, about which DWP consulted in 2007, now permit the display of ELCI insurance certificates electronically and remove the requirement to keep copies of out of date insurance certificates (although employers are strongly advised to keep a complete record).

Read the web version of this document [288KB PDF]

HSE announces top communications role

Julian — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 15:43:13 +0000

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has today named Sally Sykes as Director of Communications. Ms Sykes will be based at HSE’s headquarters in Bootle and will oversee the building of a team as the organisation gears up to unveil its five year strategy for health and safety in Great Britain.

Read the full press release

Radiation Protection news

steve — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 11:56:04 +0000

The latest edition of RP news is out now - covers: EC proposal to recast the Basic Safety Standards ( and other Euratom) Directives, UK Radiation Passbook revision and work on ionising radiation equipment in hospitals.

Vibration e-Bulletin

steve — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 11:48:36 +0000

Latest edition out now covers - recent court case and calculating daily vibration exposures.

Keep up to date sign up for your e-Bulletin

Ladders Exchange 2008

steve — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 11:24:49 +0000

If you plan to use a ladder at work make sure it’s the right ladder for the job, stay up to date with the latest campaign news

Noise and Vibration Specialist Inspector Vacancy

Julian — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 10:58:03 +0000

HSE has a vacancy for a noise and vibration specialist as a member of HSE’s nationally distributed team of Noise and Vibration Specialist Inspectors. Based in one of the HSE locations in the East or South East, closing date 23 October 2008.

Construction firms must act on advice warn HSE

Julian — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 08:21:02 +0000

HSE has reminded construction companies that if they ignore advice about risks they are likely to face prosecution.

The reminder follows the prosecution of a Lancashire property developer after it failed to act on a series of warnings about poor security and lack of systems for managing site traffic.

Read the full press release

Asbestos - the hidden killer

Peter — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 08:17:18 +0000

Launch of the revamped asbestos topic site, with greater focus on campaign and key themes.

View Asbestos - hidden killer website

HSE issues safety alert on gas appliance flues in ceiling voids

Peter — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 08:13:24 +0000

HSE has issued a safety alert aimed at builders and developers, managing agents, landlords and occupiers of residential properties with gas central heating boilers sited on internal walls. The purpose of the alert is to raise awareness of a potential poisoning risk.

View the press release in full