A fun Health and Safety Christmas message to all,
During this festive season, I would like to remind you that any employees planning to dash through the snow in a one horse open sleigh, going over the fields and laughing all the way, are advised that a Point of Work Risk Assessment will be required addressing the safety of an open sleigh.
This assessment must also consider whether it is appropriate to use only one horse for such a venture, particularly where there are multiple passengers. I would also advise against “dashing” and would recommend a maximum speed of 10MPH unless seat-belts are fitted.
Please note that permission must also be obtained in writing from landowners before their fields may be entered.
To avoid offending those not participating in celebrations, we would request that laughter is moderate only and not loud enough to be considered a noise nuisance.
Benches, stools and orthopaedic chairs are now available for collection by anyone working as shepherds during this festive season and are planning or required to watch their flocks at night. While provision has also been made for remote monitoring of flocks by CCTV cameras from a centrally heated shepherd observation hut, all users of this facility are reminded that an emergency response plan must be submitted to account for known risks to the flocks. This must be briefed to all shepherds and copies of signatures recorded.
The angel of the Lord is additionally reminded that, prior to shining his/her glory all around, s/he must confirm that all shepherds are wearing appropriate Personal Protective Equipment to account for the harmful effects of UVA, UVB and the overwhelming effects of Glory.
Following last years well-publicised case, everyone is advised that Equal Opportunities legislation prohibits any comment with regard to the redness of any part of Mr R Reindeer. Further to this, exclusion of Mr R Reindeer from reindeer games will be considered discriminatory and disciplinary action will be taken against those found guilty of this offence.
While it is acknowledged that gift bearing is a common practice in various parts of the world, everyone is reminded that the bearing of gifts is subject to our bribery policy and all gifts must be registered. This applies regardless of the individual,
It is particularly noted that direct gifts of gold is specifically precluded, while caution is advised regarding other common gifts such as aromatic resins that may evoke allergic reactions, such as frankincense, myrrh and other well known High Street body & bath oils.
Finally, in the recent instance of an infant found tucked up in a manger without a crib for a bed, Social Services have been advised and will be arriving shortly.
Have a Merry Christmas and a Safe New Year
County Council in Warwickshire Fined for Failing Self-Employed Worker
The Health and Safety Executive have prosecuted the Warwickshire County Council. They decided to prosecute the council after one of their contractors was injured on the job. A self-employed heating contractor was badly injured when he was working around machinery which was not properly guarded. As a result of the accident the contractor, John Shields, severely damaged his fingers, losing most of two of his fingers.
Dangerous Machinery Costs Worker His Fingers
Sixty four year old Mr Shields was working at Shire Hall which is in Warwick. While he was checking a pump which supplied heat his hand was caught and pulled into the belts which were running. As a result of the injuries Mr Shields had to have two fingers almost entirely amputated. Now he lives with a constant tingling and a stinging sensation in his hand. The pain is managed by pain killers and gets worse in the cold weather.
Completely Avoidable Accident Had the Legal Requirements Been Followed
The injuries have meant that Mr Shields has not been able to return to work since the accident which occurred in October 2009. He finds it difficult to perform many daily tasks which others may take for granted. All of these problems could have been avoided if the county council in Warwickshire had followed the legal requirements in place about the exposure of moving parts in machinery. Had they worked with health and safety consultants the accident could have been avoided and the Health and Safety Executive would never have prosecuted.
Adequate Guarding a Must
The Nuneaton Magistrates Court heard Warwickshire County Councils guilty plea. They admitted that they had breached Regulation 11(1) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations of 1988. As a result the council were then given a fine of £7,000 and a total of £5,235 in court costs.
This case is a clear example of what can happen when the laws and regulations are not adhered to. Adequate measures must be taken to ensure safety in the workplace and that workers are not exposed to dangerous machinery parts. It is your legal duty to make sure that all workers on your site are protected whether they are self-employed contractors or employees.
Learn the Regulations for Your Industry
Health and Safety Consultants are able to help any business in any industry discover the requirements of the Provision and Use of Work Regulations in order to avoid accidents and prosecutions. The health inspectors working for the HSE made it fully aware that it is not acceptable to fail to guard dangerous machinery parts.
Use the health and safety services to make sure that your employees and any contractors are working in safe environments. If you would like to discuss the health and safety services in greater detail call the consultants at Veritas. Contact the experts by calling: 0800 1488 677. You will be able to choose between many different services including:
- Health and Safety Audits
- Training for you and your employees
- Workplace, office and construction safety and more.
Risk Assessments – Are You Doing them Right?
Many businesses are using health and safety consultants to teach them how to perform the required, adequate risk assessments in everyday operations. There are all sorts of occasions in the workplace which demand the use of risk assessments. By failing to perform these vital taks you are putting your employees and possibly the public at risk of harm and opening yourself up to prosecution by the Health and Safety Executive.
Points to Consider When Creating a Risk Assessment
There are several questions you need to ask when creating a risk assessment. These include looking for potential dangers in the workplace and who is at risk from harm from these dangers. You will also need to evaluate any risks and come up with ways of controlling these risks, which also includes any controls which are already in place.
The risk assessments will need to be recorded and kept for future reference. You will also need to frequently review them and make changes when necessary. The best times to perform a review are when any new changes are brought into the workplace. This may involve new equipment or methods of work which were not previously taken into account. Should any incidents occur it is also wise to go over the assessment and see how similar incidents could have been avoided and so bring in new control measures.
Method Statements
Although method statements are not required by law they are extremely useful when it comes to health and safety in the workplace, especially the construction industry. A method statement is different to risk assessments; the statement states a sequence explaining how the job needs to be carried out to reduce any risks which have been described in the risk assessment. With a method statement you are able to carefully plan any work and make sure you have in place all the resources necessary.
Receive the Proper Training
One of the health and safety services provided by Veritas Consulting involves risk assessments and training. Although assessments can be performed without professional assistance it is useful to make sure you are fully up to date with all the laws and regulations in your industry, as well as learning how to create adequate assessments and the skills required for method statements.
Health and safety consultants are able to teach you these skills, or perhaps perform the tasks on your behalf. If you are concerned about the strength of your health and safety skills it can be extremely beneficial to use the expertise of health and safety consultants with extensive knowledge and experience in this field.
By making sure that your workplace is safe you can protect your workers and the public from harm. Call 0800 1488 677 to discuss these services in greater detail. You can show any inspectors that you are doing everything that is feasibly possibly to manage your work environment and reduce the risks faced each day in the workplace. By doing you may be able to potentially avoid prosecution should an incident arise where you can prove you did everything possible to follow the health and safety regulations and laws.
Build Timber Frame anywhere, with “IWS-Built” In
Following the launch of the eagerly awaited guidance from the UK Timber Frame Association (UKTFA), “Design guide to separating distances for buildings during construction”, Intelligent Wood Systems (IWS) are delighted to announce the launch of our tested and UKTFA approved Category B and C compliant systems. IWS holistic systems have been proven to reduce the radiant heat flux from a site fire, radically reducing required separating distances and critically enabling contractors to build IWS systems for timber frame in all environments, even in densely populated inner city developments.
IWS compliant solutions will provide peace of mind for:
- Architects – Timber Frame can be designed and built in any environment
- Builders – Category B & C compliant with only a modest increase in cost
- Timber Frame manufacturers – No need to change your current manufacturing processes
- CDM coordinators – Simple and efficient compliant solutions
- Building regulators – Industry recognisable and third party approvals
IWS supply the technology and component parts to ensure compliance with Category B and C environments for high risk projects and our solutions are available through a number of timber frame manufacturers throughout the UK.
The Resource available
For further information please download the Purple Book which is compliant with the UKTFA separation distance document or go to the IWS website. The practical, innovative and commercially sensitive solutions from IWS have been proven to deliver compliance with a single figure percentage increase, please contact IWS on 01592 630774 for a value engineered solution.
Changes in Health and Safety Regulations
The Lofstedt Review was carried out by Professor Ragnar Lofstedt after being appointed by Chris Grayling, the Employment Minister. This was an independent review of the current health and safety regulations with an aim of reducing the amount of bureaucracy involved yet still making sure that the health and safety in Britain was still maintained.
Cutting Red Tape While Maintaining Health and Safety Standards
The government will be using the findings in the report to try and reduce the regulations which have to be followed by businesses up and down the country by approximately half. The idea is to simplify the rules and to help reduce the deaths, injuries and health problems caused by or in the work place.
One of the reasons behind the proposed restructuring by Chris Grayling is because of many low risk activities being stopped due to the current red tape. By reducing the laws and regulations it should become a lot easier to organise events and trips and also should help employers to provide their employees with a safe environment to work in.
Reducing the Amount of Unnecessary Regulations
The Lofstedt Review showed that it is not really the regulations which are causing a problem. Instead it is the way that the regulations are applied within the workplace and how they are being interpreted which is standing in the way. Some of the regulations required for high areas of risks are also being applied to low risks and this is not always deemed necessary.
The review also highlighted that the necessary workplace risk assessments have caused many problems for businesses. Understanding the current laws surrounding risk assessments are causing many managers and supervisors unnecessary headaches. Health and safety consultants can help when it comes to risk assessments and in the future it is hoped that more recommendations will be put into place to protect employers who do everything possible to reduce the risks within the work place.
Self-Employed Health and Safety
Unlike now one of the other changes which have been recommended is the abolition of health and safety rules for the self-employed who pose no risks to others. It is thought that there could by up to one million self-employed workers who would feel the relief of having the health and safety services cut from their workload.
Still in the Early Stages
Although work is now being done to try and reduce the confusion surrounding the regulations and laws as yet nothing has changed. It is thought that it will take around three years to implement the recommendations.
As it stands it is still important to use the health and safety services to make sure that you are working within the law at all times. Once the changes come into play you may further need to discuss the changes with health and safety consultants so that you have a good grasp on what is expected, and so that you are able to implement any necessary moves and changes which may need to be made. Call 0800 1488 677 for help with your current health and safety requirements.
5 Workplace Hazards To Avoid This Christmas
The crispness in the air and the subtle jingle of bells around the community signal a festive time of year and what better way to celebrate the holidays than at the place you spend the most time. A little decorative flare, inspirational music, spirited lights and office parties are a few of the many ways to perk up the work space. In choosing to liven up at work use caution and safety to avoid the common hazards of carelessness that can occur around the holidays.
Common workplace mishaps coinciding with the holidays:
1) Unnecessary injury from falls and slips when hanging celebratory decorations or poor workspace lighting from using festive lights instead of normal overhead illuminations.
2) Fire and electrical problems from exposed wires, shortages or leaving lights on for extended periods of time. This also extends to use of an open flame decoration or improper care with Christmas trees.
3) Too much alcohol involved celebration after hours.
4) Placing decorations or tools carelessly in the path of traffic.
5) Acts of nature that spill into the workplace, including improper cleanup of melted ice from winter storms or contagious illness spreading amongst workers feeling pressure to prevent lost work time.
Employers and employees can take measures to ensure fellow colleagues and the workspace remains a safe and pleasant haven for conducting business while also portraying holiday cheer.
• Get permission to use, assemble or display any holiday items intended for decorating the office. Talking to the boss can help you figure out if your decorations meet safety standards.
• Hang decorations using appropriate tools, such as a ladder instead of the countertop or swivel chair. Ask a colleague to help stabilize the base of the ladder. Avoid placing decorations in spaces that are hard to reach or that require elaborate construction to reach. You can create a marvellous display without hurting yourself by falling or pulling a muscle.
• Use the appropriate workspace lighting during work hours. The newly hung lights might look amazing but are not appropriate for illuminating the office.
• Remain extremely conscious of fire safety: keep paper, plastic, rubber or flammable decorations away from hot surfaces, lights or heaters. Check all wires of electrical items to ensure they are properly encased and insulated. Avoid using open flame candles. It is against most health and safety regulations in businesses to have an open flame in the workspace. Keep a fire extinguisher on hand and ensure all co-workers know where and how to operate the extinguisher. Remember: Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep, or P.A.S.S., if you must use the extinguisher.
• If drinking at the office party occurs, do so responsibly and with a sober designated driver.
• Pick up all straggling tools or decorations and remove them from the path of traffic.
• If you experience inclement weather that leaves ice on the shoes or soaks your wardrobe, do not leave these items dripping to dry around electric decorations. Use common sense when it comes to covering cough or sneezes like washing your hands and if at all possible take time off to heal.
Have fun during the holidays. Enjoy your workspace and your co-workers but use good common sense to prevent unnecessary hazards on the job. Sensible decisions, reviewing compliance regulations, having a pre-holiday pep talk and heeding the tips can help your office have a festive, tragedy-free holiday season.
This post has been provided by a guest Blogger
Machinery Needs to Be Handled Carefully and Operated by Trained Professionals
There are constant risks involved when dealing with any type of machinery. In the past there have been many accidents, injuries and deaths caused by machines which have not been treated with the respect they deserve. Workers often are put at unnecessary risks however due to bad management and companies who are ignoring the laws and regulations put in place to help reduce some of the risks which come with the territory.
Know Your Responsibilities to Your Employees
If you are in control of any workplace it is essential that you are fully aware of your responsibilities to yourself and your employees or colleagues. Health and safety consultants should always be contacted if you are in any doubt of your legal standing to make sure you are doing everything you should be doing in the eyes of the law, and out of moral respect for those who work for you.
Crushing Accident Could Have Been Avoided
In the news this week there has been one case which saw an employee suffer a horrendous accident while working for a company which failed him. The worker who did not want to be named was informed about a problem with a machine which mixes animal feed. The air slide was not working so the supervisor decided to clean the slide which had a build-up of sticky deposits.
While the supervisor tried to fix the problem his hand was caught in the moving parts and he was seriously injured. He lost two of his fingers and suffered from nerve damage which will cause problems for the rest of his life. As yet he has not been able to return to work since the accident which occurred in August 2010.
Lack of Safety Measures and Training
The investigation carried out by the Health and Safety Executive discovered that there were no measures in place which would have stopped the employee from coming into contact with the dangerous moving parts of the machine. It was also found that the supervisor was not trained in the methods of cleaning and clearing the machine, despite having undergone two months of training in other areas.
The firm, One Feed Supplements based in Thirsk, were fined £15,000 and ordered to pay costs of an additional £2594.30. They pleaded guilty to an offence under the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998.
Health and Safety services are available to every business in the UK. These services not only involve training for managers, owners and employees on all levels, they can also make owners aware of their legal duties and the laws which need to be adhered to.
Contact the health and safety consultants to discover how they can help you to avoid accidents like these from happening. Call 0800 1488 677 to find out how their health and safety services can make your workplace safer for everyone. The HSE revealed that there have been 3800 serious injuries and 27 deaths in the manufacturing sectors during 2010/2011.
