Health & Safety

HSE continues to tackle Health and Safety myths by publishing its top 10 worst. A lack of understanding has led to Health & Safety often being cited as the source of unnecessary controls. All the points listed below are NOT required by Health & Safety law. Children being banned from playing conkers unless they are wearing goggles Office workers being banned from putting up Christmas decorations Trapeze artists being ordered to wear hard hats Pin the tail on the donkey games being deemed a health and safety risk Candy floss... Read More

Safety chief uses high-hazard visit to distinguish real health and safety from the nonsense The Chair of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has used a visit to a Cheshire oil refinery to highlight a shining example of a proper approach to health and safety. Judith Hackitt visited the Stanlow Oil Refinery in Ellesmere Port on Tuesday 31 January, where she met apprentices taking part in training to work in the chemical and oil industries.   Ms Hackitt, who herself worked in the chemical industry for more than 30 years,... Read More

New BS-8599 British Standard for Workplace First Aid kits   The New BS-8599 standard for workplace first aid kits has been effective since 30th of June.  This standard replaces the BHTA-HSE kits universally used in the UK, and are based on HSE guidelines.  The old standard, first published in 1997, will be withdrawn from 31st December 2011.   Despite many EU states having a national standard for workplace first aid kits, until now, the UK did not.  The BHTA guidelines were in need of revision because training protocols have changed,... Read More

    The lack of a safe system of work and the failure to ensure the health, safety and welfare of a man who ventured on to a fragile roof led to a fatal accident and prosecution. The joint owners of Allenbrooks Developments Ltd, one of whom was the accident victim, were replacing skylights in the roof of one their units in Wymondham, Norfolk, in the company of an employee. On 6th April 2010, the deceased fell 10m through the corrugated asbestos cement sheet roof. Edge protection was in place... Read More

There have been two recent fatalities involving shellfish diving in inshore waters leading to HSE issuing a safety. In recent weeks, HSE has investigated two separate fatalities involving diving for shellfish. This can be a dangerous activity and needs to be carried out by competent and appropriately qualified divers. Suitable plans and procedures are key to the whole diving team conducting activities safely and reacting effectively in a diving emergency. Any diving activity undertaken without regard for the Diving at Work Regulations 1997 will be putting people’s lives at risk.... Read More

  According to the HSE Workers are as likely to have an accident in the first six months at a workplace as during the whole of the rest of their working life. This extra risk  has been attributed to a number of  factors:- lack of experience working in a new industry or workplace – not recognizing hazards as a potential source of danger lack of familiarity with the job and the work environment –  may not understand ‘obvious’ rules for use of equipment; reluctance to raise concerns (or not knowing how to) – may be... Read More