Fine for London Construction Firm
An unfortunate incident has changed the lives of one construction worker who was severely injured while working in Belgravia. Vasile Lonel Vatca, a 28 year old man from Romania, was working on the refurbishment project which included replacing the roof and constructing a new basement. Mr Vatca was working on the roof making sure the area was clear of debris after some work had been completed. It was during this task that he fell seven meters to the floor.
The Health and Safety Executive investigated the accident and found that the roof which Mr Vatca was working on no longer had the scaffolding in place which was there previously. The scaffold had been put in place to protect the contractors while they worked on the roof but had been taken down a month before the accident. There was some fall safety equipment being used but this was found to be inadequate.
Tragic Incident Resulted in Life Changing Injuries
As the scaffolding had been removed before Mr Vatca began clearing up the debris the employee was using a ladder to get up and down. As he began his descent down from the roof the ladder came away from the building which resulted in Mr Vatca losing his footing and falling approximately seven meters to the floor below.
As a result of the fall the employee was left with a broken leg, a broken heel and a broken wrist. He spent a week in the hospital and has not been able to return to work since the accident which happened back in March 2011. Mr Vatca has since been registered as disabled and the judge took the extent of his injuries into account when sentencing the London construction firm, R & G Construction Ltd.
Construction Specific Health and Safety Services are Available
Speaking after the sentencing which took place at Westminster Magistrates Court a HSE inspector spoke about the duties surrounding construction firms when it comes to health and safety. It is the duty of companies to protect their workers from falls and safety equipment must be used to reduce the risks. Planning, organising and risk assessments can all help to prevent accidents and these simple procedures could have prevented the incident which has changed Mr Vatca’s life.
R & G Construction Ltd based in Harrow were fined £30,000 and ordered to pay £7,515 in costs after they were found guilty for breaching two regulations of the Work at Height Regulations 2005. If the firm had invested a little more time and money into their health and safety services the whole incident could have been avoided.
Take Action and Protect Against Injuries and Work Related Deaths
If you are in the construction industry it is a good idea to do all you can to follow the laws and regulations regarding safety. A good idea is to ask health and safety consultants to carry out an audit to show areas of your strengths and any weaknesses which need attending too. Call 0800 1488 677 to request an audit to find out more about the construction health and safety services which are readily available.
Stay Gas Safe When Renting Property
Gas safety is important whether you run your own business or have a supply into your home. Many students who move into their first rented accommodation are not aware of the risks and preventative measures which can save their lives. If you are a student it is important to know your rights and be aware of the signs which can signal a leak in your flat, room or house.
One of the biggest dangers of gas is carbon monoxide poisoning. The Health and Safety Executive have released statistics which state that about 15 people per year die from carbon monoxide poisoning, and all of these deaths could have been prevented.
The Duties of the Landlord
When you rent it is the duty of your landlord to organise yearly gas safety checks with a competent gas man who is listed on the Gas Safe Register which has now taken over from the CORGI register. When you sign your new contract be sure to ask about the gas safety checks and you should be supplied with a copy of the latest check, and provided with a copy with every subsequent check which is performed during your tenancy.
By law the landlord must give you a copy of the gas safety record within 28 days of you moving in. Although you will have many exciting new developments happening in your life it is essential to know your rights and demand that you have your copy which shows the gas has been checked. If you are present during the gas check ask to see the workers ID before work commences. If your landlord does not arrange the gas checks you should report them to the Health and Safety Executive as they are breaking the law and putting loves in danger.
Signs of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
There can be some signs which indicate carbon monoxide poisoning. The problem is that many people mistake them for hangovers or illnesses and so the signs go unnoticed. Here is a list of the symptoms to help you become aware of the signs.
- Headaches
- Breathlessness
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Collapsing
- Losing consciousness
What You Can Do
Even if you have a competent landlord it is still a good idea to be aware of the symptoms and to help prevent tragic losses of lives. In D.I.Y stores you can find very cheap carbon monoxide detectors which change colour if the lethal gas is detected. For a few pounds more it is possible to find a battery operated detector which will sound an alarm to make you aware if the gas is present.
Carbon monoxide can leak from any gas appliance in the house and not just the gas boiler. Remember to ask the gas engineer to check your gas cooker and your gas fires and install detection devices close to these appliances throughout the home. Check the batteries in your audible alarm when you check your fire alarm and try and get into good habits regarding carrying out quick safety checks on a regular basis.
If you have any concerns about being a landlord or renting property contact health and safety consultants for assistance. Call 0800 1488 677 for more information about the health and safety services available.
Following Health and Safety Regulations during Times of Refurbishment
It is important to make sure that any activities in your work premises are carried out in accordance to the multiple health and safety Acts currently in place. The Health and Safety Executive will prosecute your company if they discover that during any time you have not been following good practices which are designed to keep you and others safe.
Not only do you need to carry out safe procedures during normal working routines, additional vigilance is required at times when work is being carried out in the premises. One hotel has made the news this week after reports have been released that health inspectors visited the site and discovered a number of areas of safety negligence. The Allesley Hotel in Coventry has now been charged over £50,000 after admitting their breaches of the health and safety regulations during a period of maintenance.
Series of Errors Discovered
The hotel was inspected back in December 2010. It was discovered that while extensive refurbishment was being carried out the hotel was still open and receiving guest. Both the guests and the employees were at risk from harm as they were forced to manoeuvre around the work being carried out.
In one of the function rooms the flooring had been disturbed. There was exposed wiring, building materials and the unfinished flooring which had to be negotiated by the staff and the guests. These slip and trip hazards could easily cause a serious injury and there are regulations in place to limit these risks.
Another serious issue was found in the kitchen of The Allesley Hotel. The builders were mixing their materials in the kitchen, such as plaster and grout, which cause dust. The food being served to the guests was being carried through the kitchen which could have caused contamination. Furthermore there were cables and gaps in the flooring which again was a hazard for anyone walking through the room. In the bar the inspectors also found a lot of dirt and plenty of waste materials left lying around.
Health and Safety Consultants Could Have Helped Avoid the Situation
Five months after the initial inspection the HSE returned and discovered many more issues. One of these was a function being held in a room while the lights were being installed. During the function there were exposed electrical cables hanging down into the room, a blocked stair case and ladders on the stairs. The inspectors also discovered that broken glass had been swept under the table and that the contractor working on the light was not wearing the appropriate safety equipment as he worked on the roof. Other workers were using tables piled up to fit a chandelier.
Use Health and Safety Services
These numerous serious breaches are shocking, and as a result the hotel admitted their errors in front of a court where they were charged. Health and safety is a serious matter but it doesn’t need to be confusing. Find reliable health and safety consultants to help you carry out any kind of maintenance in the correct manner.
Health and Safety services are able to help teach you how to understand your responsibilities to your guests, employees and contractors. Call 0800 1488 677 for more information about staying within the law in your work premises.
Dealing with Snow and Ice Safely
The recent spell of wintery weather has caused a lot of chaos in the United Kingdom and the rest of Europe. There are many concerns about the dangers of ice and snow. Obviously the risks of slipping over are greatly increased and the amount of road accidents dramatically rises due to the ice on the roads, freezing fog and falling snow.
Anyone Is Able to Clear Away Snow from Public Pathways and Pavements
One common health and safety myth surrounding snow is that members of the public are not allowed to clear the paths and public places of the accumulation of snow. However this is not the case, anyone is able to help reduce the risks of slips and falls by clearing away the snow and ice from any pavement either in their home or outside public places.
Follow the Snow Code
The government released The Snow Code to help the public work safely while carrying out the work in order to reduce any risks involved. Here are the tips and advice which you should follow and use to help you if you decide to start clearing pavements during this wintery period:
- It is the responsibility of people walking on the ice or snow to be careful. It is highly unlikely that you will be sued if someone falls once you have responsibly cleared the path.
- Work early in the day. Freshly settled snow is a lot easier to shovel and scrape away than hard compacted snow. By getting out in the morning it is possible to remove the excess before it is walked on and should be a lot more manageable. If any ice remains cover it with some salt and the sunshine should help to quickly melt it away.
- If you are trying to make steps or steep paths clearer it is important to have plenty of salt. Add more than you would normally once the snow has been removed as an extra safety precaution.
- Do not use the salt found in salt bins by the sides of roads. This is salt which is used on the roads to help prevent traffic accidents. Any type of kitchen or dishwasher salt is ideal for pathways. If you have no salt ash or sand can also be used to help people grip to the path.
- Never use hot water to melt the ice. There is a high chance that the water will cause black ice which can cause many injuries. Black ice is extremely slippery and not visible.
- When spreading the salt be careful to contain it to the path and away from plant life or grass as it could cause damage.
- Pay attention to where you place the snow which has been removed from the paths. Make sure that you do not block any drains or other paths in the process of clearing the one you are working on.
- When you start working on the path start by shovelling the middle of the bath first. This means you have a good surface to work on.
- Be a good neighbour and friend and offer to clear away the paths of your neighbours who may need a little helping hand. Check on your elderly or disabled neighbours and make sure they are coping in the colder weather.
If you have questions regarding health and safety in the workplace, and the additional issues surrounding wintery weather, contact health and safety consultants for advice. Call 0800 1488 677 for further assistance.
Make your Building Site Safer with Specialist Insurance
Summary
If you work on different sites, with different equipment and contractors, it’s important that your insurance policy is kept up to date.
Make your Building Site Safer with Specialist Insurance
Everyone knows that building sites can be dangerous places. With the right safety precautions in place they can be made as safe as possible, but accidents can still happen. The nature of the construction industry means there’s a certain amount of risk with every job: heavy machinery driving around warehouses; cranes lifting awkward and heavy loads; and people working with dangerous equipment, mean that accidents are more likely to occur here than in other areas of the workplace. This means that warehouse insurance should be at the top of every construction firm’s list of priorities.
If insurance is one of your job responsibilities then it’s something you should pay very close attention to. If you think about it, the health and safety of the workers and any visitors that come onto the site are not just down to site security but also a result of the quality of your insurance. If there’s an unforeseen accident, the insurance company will have to deal with the claims and payouts so if the insurance isn’t there in the first place, the onus will be on you and your company.
If it’s time to get a new quote for your construction insurance, make sure you shop around and don’t just buy the first policy that appears to tick all the boxes. Look carefully at what’s included in the policy and think about using a company that specialises in your area of cover. For example, you’ll need full liability cover for your industry and you should also look out for comprehensive cover for your own equipment, as well as any hire-in equipment that might be used on site. Plus, think about the various contractors you use in the course of any one construction project. It’s important that you have insurance cover in place for them, as well. A specialist firm should be able to provide all these elements as part of your policy, so make sure you check this out before you commit your money.
It might also help to have flexible payment terms or different payment options to suit your business. For example, you might want to pay your premium in one installment, or you might prefer monthly payments, to spread out the amount during the financial year. Again, specialist providers will be well aware of the particular nature of the construction industry and are therefore more likely to offer more flexible payments options, to work with the specific needs of your business.
If you haven’t looked into your current insurance cover for a while then take some time out to check. It’s such an important part of the business that it shouldn’t be overlooked for any reason – in fact, it should be a priority. It will only take a few minutes of your time to ensure all your details and those of your business are up-to-date, and that your cover reflects the current nature of the work you do, the premises you operate from, and the staff you employ. It will be time very well spent.
Do You Provide the Necessary Facilities for Your Employees?
You may think that all businesses will at least provide the bare essentials for their employees. Unfortunately there are employers who fail to consider the health and welfare of their workers, and this only leads to prosecution by the Health and Safety Executive and more than likely a very bad reputation too.
One of the very basic requirements is to provide adequate rest room facilities for employees. This is especially important when the duties of the day involve substances and materials which can cause dermatological problems if left on the skin for long periods of time. One industry where this is a concern is the construction industry. It is essential that workers on these sites has the ability to use a room to clean up where there is hot and cold running water, soap and hand drying facilities. In addition to this it is essential to provide working and clean toilets.
Know Your Legal Duties
One firm, CR Construction SW ltd, has been prosecuted by the HSE this week after their facilities were found to be well below the expected standard. The requirements are clearly set out in Regulation 22 of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007 which state that it is the duty of the principal contractor to ensure that there are sufficient facilities which are provided throughout the construction phase. In addition to this there is also a Section, number 33(1) (c) of the Health and Safety at Work Act which says that it is an offence to contravene any of the health and safety regulations.
At a hearing at the Bristol Magistrates Court the HSE prosecuted CR Construction Ltd for failing to provide adequate wash room and bathroom facilities. Their investigation showed that the firm had not provided good facilities for the duration of one year and there were up to sixteen workers at a time that had to use poor facilities over that period.
Fine for Construction Firm Who Provided Poor Facilities
Bristol Magistrates Court fined CR Construction Ltd £2,000 and an additional £2,014 in costs for not considering the welfare of the workers on site in Clifton. The HSE inspector, Sue Adsett, spoke to the press after the hearing and said that workers not only need adequate toilets and washing facilities there is also a legal requirement which states that a heated room must be available to workers on site where it is possible to make a hot drink, food, have a break and get changed.
Health and Safety Consultants Can Help You Know Your Legal Duties
If you are in any doubt about the facilities you provide your employees or any of the other legal requirements set out to protect the welfare of others a health and safety consultant can help. There are many health and safety services which can prove to be educational and informative and prevent problems with the HSE and accidents in the future.
Call 0800 1488 677 to find out more about the current health and safety services provided to all industries by the Health and Safety consultants, Veritas Consulting.
A Brief History of Health and Safety in the Workplace
It is possible to trace the formation of a structured health and safety system back to 1833 when the Factories Act began. It was the duty of inspectors to help to prevent injuries to young children working in terrible conditions and also to try and prevent overworking. In these early days the inspectors faced a lot of negative reactions from the politicians of the day. Despite the lack of support the Factories Act was able to bring in certain laws and regulations which helped the Act to be enforced.
The Factories Act 1833 also led to some lifesaving regulations being introduced some of which are still important in modern life. Two of these legislations include having guards on dangerous machinery to prevent injuries as well as the reporting of accidents. Between 1860 and 1871 the Factories Act was extended and covered almost all workplaces. As well as enforcing the new regulations and laws the 35 employees who worked as inspector or sub inspectors were also able to give advice to owners to help ensure the laws were understood and followed.
Women Join the Factory Inspectorate
Almost 60 years after the first Act was created the first women joined the team of inspectors. The Women’s Protective and Provident League were joined by other groups including the London’s Women’s Trade Council to campaign for the rights of females to be employed in this sector. In 1893 they were successful in their campaign and as a result two women, Amy Abraham and Mary Paterson were awarded positions in the inspectorate and were paid £200 per year helping to enforce the Truck Acts. Their roles included making sure that the health and safety laws and regulations were enforced as well as monitoring the hours of women’s employment.
Between 1833 and 1900 other Acts were formed such as:
- The Mines Act 1842 which was a result of the 1840 Royale Commission aimed at investigating the working conditions of miners.
- In 1895 the Quarry Inspectorate was formed to investigate and enforce health and safety at Quarries where steam machinery was being used. Two Acts were introduced, the Quarries Act and the Metalliferous Mines Regulation 1872 which led to the formation of the Quarry Inspectorate.
Between 1900 and 1974 there were further Acts created:
- Agriculture – The Agriculture (Safety Health and Welfare Provisions) Act 1956
- Nuclear Power – Nuclear Installations Act 1959
One of the Acts which is most commonly known was formed in 1974 which was the Health and Safety at Work Act. Both employers and their employees were consulted in the formation of the Act which was considered to be a major move away from current legislations. This act led to the establishment of the Health and Safety Commission and in 1974 the Health and Safety Executive were also established. The HSE are still the major authority when it comes to enforcing health and safety today along with local authorities.
Since then there have been numerous changes and Acts introduced including but by no means limited to:
- Safety Representatives and Safety Commissions Regulations 1977
- Control of Lead at Work Regulations 1980
- Notification of Accidents and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1980
- Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1991
- Asbestos (Licensing) Regulations 1983
- Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 1997
- Construction (Design and Management) Regulations (CDM 2007)
- Control of Artificial Optical Radiation at Work Regulations 2010
Health and Safety at work has a rich history which has evolved with changes in technology, industry and scientific advancement. To this very day the HSE is continuing to enforce the laws and regulations to try and prevent accidents and work related deaths.
Health and Safety consultants are able to assist you by providing you with accurate advice surrounding the numerous Acts now in place. For further assistance call 0800 1488 677 and speak to advisors about the many health and safety services built around the current laws and legislations.
