Has Health and Safety Taken a Step Too Far?

Alison Hume’s Life Could Have Been Saved. Has Health and Safety Taken a Step Too Far?

In the news last week there was the story about the tragic and preventable death of Alison Hume who dies in July 2008. The 44 year old mother fell down and old mineshaft on Galston while walking home and was found by her daughter who called for help. Ms Hume suffered a collapsed lung, broken ribs and sternum. However it has been found that Ms Hume would have most likely survived these injuries had there not been a delay in bringing her up to the surface.

Health and Safety Regulations Cost a Woman Her Life

The senior officer in charge of the rescue operation would not use the equipment needed to winch out Ms Hume in time to help treat her. The fire fighters present were willing to go down and help her but due to the senior officer following the health and safety guidelines Ms Hume remained down in the mineshaft for six more hours. When they finally rescued her she died from a heart attack which was brought on by hypothermia.

The equipment needed to rescue the 44 year old mother was only to be used to help the rescuers and the regulations surrounding its use stated that it should not be used for the public. The officer would not move from these regulations and the inquiry has now discovered that the death could have been avoided of it wasn’t for the delay due to the health and safety regulations.

Lack of Training Also a Contributing Factor?

The inquiry also showed that the Strathclyde Police and Fire and Rescue workers did not have adequate knowledge of the resources that they had available to them in order to aid the rescue of Ms Holmes. They were not familiar with the potential uses of the equipment and did not understand how it could have been used. There was also a lack of training among the emergency services and the fire crews did not have an advanced knowledge of first aid.

Health and Safety Is Necessary

There has been a public outcry and now demands are being made that there should be a get out clause in some of the laws and regulations, such as those which stopped the senior officer from using certain equipment to save Ms Hume.

Health and safety consultants would like to remind people that regulations are there to protect lives, and without the regulations more people each year would die due to inadequate safety measures in the workplace, especially in industries such as agriculture and construction where in the past adults and children have lost their loves from being exposed to asbestos, mercury and having to operate extremely dangerous equipment.

Knowledge and Education

The correct training is always an important part of running any business. Health and safety services are able to provide in depth training courses to help increase knowledge and prevent terrible accidents leading to tragic losses of lives.  To discuss the type of training which could benefit you or your employees contact the health and safety consultants at Veritas. Call 0800 1488 677 for further

Health and Safety Demonstration Goes Wrong and Becomes a YouTube Hit

Viral videos zoon over the Internet thanks to sites like YouTube.  Once a video has been caught it spreads quickly, amassing thousands of viewings.  Sometimes this can create superstars, and other times it can bring serious matters to the attention of the public and corporation owners.

A Series of Mistakes Shown to over 200,000 People World Wide

The latter is what happened to a Health and Safety officer who was employed by Morrisons in Gateshead.  Despite being well aware of health and safety protocol Mr Cavanagh is clearly seen up a ladder without wearing a hardhat. His aim of the video was to demonstrate the use of a safety harness designed to stop accidents from occurring while working on ladders.  He was supposed to demonstrate the harness as a brand new safety measure; however it didn’t quite work out that way.

When Mr Cavanagh was asked to step off the ladder to show that the system was safe the ladder slipped and he came crashing to the ground.  Thankfully he was not hurt as one of the other Morrison employees threw a hard hat to him just before he side stepped off the ladder.

Head Injuries a Major Concern in the Construction Industries

Any health and safety consultant will be able to tell you the amount of head injuries which occur within the construction industry.  Hard hats are essential kit, and it was a huge error when Mr Cavanagh choose to be filmed giving a safety demonstration.  Therefore since the video can be used as proof Mr Cavanagh has now been suspended from work while Morrisons carry out a full investigation.

Companies like Morrisons have to take safety extremely seriously as they could risk being investigated and potentially prosecuted by the HSE. Health and Safety consultants work with many businesses across the West Midlands and over the UK to make sure that all their employees understand the safety protocols and are properly trained in the hope that accidents will be completely avoided.

Health and Safety Services for the Construction Industry

Another of the health and safety services besides training is assisting with complying to the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007.  A legal requirement of the CDM regulations is the production of a Health and Safety File.  This is a document which is provided for the client and is where all the health and safety details are recorded during the duration of the product.

Health and safety consultants also make certain services readily available for the construction industry.  The construction phase plan template can be instantly downloaded and provides a template which is fully compliant with the CDM Regulations.  This can then be edited and completed by the Principal Contractor before work is started on site.

To find out more about basic health and safety training for all of your employees and for assistance complying with the legal requirements set out by the CDM Regulations 2007 contact the health and safety consultants.  Call 0800 1488 677 and enquire into all of the various services which can protect your from prosecution and reduce the risk of accidents and injuries from occurring in site.

Fall from Scaffold Results in Serious Head Injury

As health and safety consultants we often try to point out the dangers involved in working in construction.  Falls from height are one of the most common forms of injuries and deaths, and yet there are still construction firms who fail their employees by breaching the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.

Accidents of this type will always result in the firm being prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive.  They are avoidable incidents which ruin lives and could be prevented if companies follow the laws and regulations which are in place.

Scaffolder Seriously Injured

A London property development company were recently taken to court after one of their workers fell five meters from scaffolding.  The 46 year old migrant employee fell when he was working in Hackney.  As a result of his accident he suffered injuries to his head, spine and pelvis.  His injuries were life threatening, and now he is left being able to walk only with extreme difficulty.

His employees, Nabiganj Investment Company, were investigated by the Health and Safety Executive who discovered that they had failed the worker simply because they had not implemented several measures which could have prevented the accident.

Asbestos Found at the Scene

In addition to the fall the inspectors also discovered that there was asbestos in the debris at the site.  They found that there had been no asbestos survey and that at least six other workers had been working in demolishing the floors of the building and had potentially been exposed to the asbestos.

Asbestos surveys are also a vital precaution to take and are demanded by law as asbestos is a known killer. A survey can be carried out through Health and Safety Consultants such as Veritas Consultants.

Fines for Company for Multiple Breaches

The London firm were taken to the City of London Magistrates Court where they pleading guilty for breaching several sections of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007.  As a result of their irresponsible failings they were fined £37,500 and ordered to pay £5,459.90 in costs.

The London court was also informed that the firm had been dealt with by the HSE on a few occasions.  They had enforcement actions which were related to some of their other sites.  These included Improvement Notices as they failed to comply with their client duties as stated in the Construction Design and Management Regulations and a couple of Prohibition Notices concerning working at height.

The experienced property development firm continually avoided their responsibilities.  The workers had little knowledge of the English language and the firm had put them at risk which left one of the workers with terrible injuries which he will have to live with.

Construction Safety

Veritas offers numerous health and safety services including multiple services aimed purely towards the high risk construction industry. Asbestos surveys help you to comply with the law as it is your legal duty to manage the risks involved with exposure to asbestos. For further information on all the health and safety services offered by Veritas Consulting call 0800 1488 677 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 0800 1488 677 end_of_the_skype_highlighting today.

Electric Shock Seriously Injures Employee- Firms Find for Health and Safety Breaches

A construction worker was left severely burnt after the scissor lift he was working on came into contact with an overhead power cable. Mark Rushbrook who was self-employed, was busy building a couple of brand new units for poultry at Sunny Farm in Bedfordshire.  The lift was being used so that Mr Rushbrook could clad the outside of the units.  When the steel frame of the lift made contact with a power cable Mr Rushbrook was hit with an 11 Kv shock.

External Burns and Internal Muscle Damage

The accident occurred back in June 2009.  The injuries consisted of substantial burns to Mr Rushbrooks hands and stomach.  He also suffered severe damage to his internal muscles.  An investigation carried out by the Health and Safety Executive discovered that the end of the structure that the worker had been cladding was only just over 4 meters away from a power line.

Multiple Charges for Two Companies and Two Individuals

As a result of the accident the HSE decided that several parties needed to be prosecuted.  They took C and P Bird Brothers Ltd who own the farm and the manufacturers of the steel frame, Morspan Construction Ltd to court.  Furthermore they also prosecuted the director of C and P Bird Brothers, Peter Bird, and a self-employed sub-contractor who was organising the project, Michael Skayman.

The court was told how the defendants had not identified the risks that were involved when working so close to an overhead power cable.   As a result of this lapse in risk assessment there had been no suitable and necessary precautions which could have prevented the accident from occurring in the first place. They also failed to notify the authorities.

Workplace Risk Assessment is a priority and as Health and Safety Consultants we are able to assist you in all your risk assessments and all other aspects involved in organising projects to help prevent accidents and deaths from happening.

Fines Awarded to Each Defendant

All of the defendants admitted their breaches of the health and safety at work etc. Act 1974 for which Mr Skayman was fined £25,000 and £4,000 in costs. The director, Mr Bird, was fined £5,000 and £2,000 costs.

The farm owners C & P Bird Brothers Ltd and Morspan Construction Ltd were also charged with breaching the Construction Regulation 2007. C & P were charged a total of £40,000 for both breaches and ordered to pay £5,500 costs and Morspan were fined £60,000 and ordered to pay £5,250.

Construction Health and Safety Must Be a Priority

Health and Safety consultants constantly hear about tragic accidents which could have been avoided if the correct measures were taken before work began.  Veritas Consultants offer a full range of health and safety services including construction safety which help to prevent accidents and make sure that construction firms are complying with their legal duties.

The accident involving Mr Rushbrook could have easily been fatal and was one incident which could have been avoided entirely. Construction work is a high risk industry and lapses in Health and Safety is not acceptable.  If you work in construction contact our team of health and safety consultants on 0800 1488 677 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 0800 1488 677 end_of_the_skype_highlighting today.

Improving Construction Safety Economically

Construction safety has to improve. Fast. There has been an increase in accidents and deaths globally on construction sites with about 1,200 people dying each year in the United States; an average of 4 deaths each workday. Unfortunately, in today’s economic climate many construction companies face diminishing revenues and uncertain future. As a result, budgets tighten and initiatives, including those for improving construction safety and health, are put on hold or cut. However it is important to realize that significant safety improvement does not require substantial investment.

To be effective construction safety needs to be managed just like any other company function, regardless of the economic condition. Adopt one single rule: Only do work that is in the condition to be started and completed without interruption. Following that rule will reduce exposure to hazards.

• Ready work means just one round trip on a ladder to perform a task.

• Ready work means trenches that are opened just long enough to perform a task.

• Ready work eliminates making do — using the wrong tool, wrong method, wrong person — resulting in safer work conditions.

More attention should be given to education and employee involvement. Many construction personnel, management and crafts-level employees are paid based on performance, and when employees have to choose between productivity and safety, construction safety loses. Create a safety steering committee made up of respected hourly employees. This is one of the easiest and overlooked ways to encourage employee involvement in construction safety procedures.

Basic safety measures should not be neglected. Training and hi vis workwear should still be incorporated with the above mentioned. Thorough knowledge, involvement and procedures will ensure construction safety is kept at a maximum. When safety becomes second nature, productivity won’t be affected by construction safety regulations and policies.

Construction Clothing: Setting A Standard

The construction industry demands the very highest in safety standards and thanks to its adherence to the value of human life, the equipment, machinery and construction clothing within this ever-evolving field of business continues to improve. Yet which safety clothing is best for the men and women of the UK who work day and night to complete the structures which we work and live in? We delve further into the clothing options for the construction industry:

• Trousers

A simple pair of trousers which are not designed with the specific safety standards of a construction site in mind will not be suitable for a work site. Trousers need to be designed for the most rigorous of conditions, with triple stitching to prevent tearing and multiple pockets to store tools, loose parts and so on. With a sturdy poly-cotton blend, construction trousers are able to provide maximum protection and minimum heat loss. There is even the possibility of acquiring work trousers with detachable knee pads as well as paneling detail to reduce excessive hem wear. For those who require trousers for the factory, it is best to ensure that they are EN470 compliant, or flame retardant. For welders, or those who require safety clothing in the most extreme of conditions, this level of protection must be met.

• Safety Boots

What are the correct safety boots to select for your business? Do you require steel-toed boots to protect from falling equipment, shock-absorbing soles (a must for electricians) or boots which are designed for chemical resistance? For both men and women, a water-resistant pair of boots with non-slip soles is a necessity. If you are in the market for a steel-toed boot, then ensure that it is of the correctly graded puncture-resistant material. Protective shoes with steel-toed caps must be EN345 compliant, this ensures that they cap can withstand up to 20kgs of pressure or 1.5 tons rested on the toe area.

• Outdoor clothing – Jackets, Hi-Vis shirts and so on

A thick, lined jacket is the best purchase, no matter what the season is. When this is combined with removable lining (suitable for summer or winter) and pre-work joints for freedom of movement, your chosen jacket suddenly becomes a useable clothing item which will protect in the harshest of conditions. PVC coating is another optional extra which has become standard on many of the newer jackets – PVC ensures that the jacket remains warm and water-proof. Hi-Vis garments are enforced under the EN471 safety classification. The higher the code (from 1 to 3), the better the chance that you will seen in your clothing.

As an added note we recommend that for full body protection, overalls may be the ideal option for your industrial needs. While overalls may not be to every construction workers tastes, they can turn any outfit into a construction clothing-grade uniform. Always ensure that your chosen protective clothing item is stamped with the approved safety code.

Fall at Work Could Cost You Thousands

Many accidents in the work place happen due to carelessness and the lack of general health and safety procedures being set up. Breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act means that you open yourself up to huge fines and a bad reputation.
This can put your job and the jobs of your employees at risk. At best you will receive a fine, at worst you could lose your company, and face a custodial sentence. Health and Safety should be a priority as it really is a matter of life and death.

Firm Receives Fine for Accident in the Workplace

Construction worker Kevin Clark suffered serious injury when scaffolding he was standing on to clean windows dislodged beneath him on May 1st 2009. The platform gave way and as a result Clark fell to the ground four meters below.
The injuries Clark sustained included a fractured foot and crushed vertebrae in his spine. Clark spent two weeks in hospital and has had steel rods placed in his spine. He lives in constant pain and has lost a lot of mobility which has affected his quality of life. As a direct result of this he is now unsure if he will ever be able to return to the construction trade.

HSE Investigation Pinpointed Failings

As with all accidents which occur in the work place, Clark’s employers Ian Allan Building Contractors Ltd were investigated by the Health and Safety Executive. The investigators discovered that the company had failed to protect the safety of Clark. They had failed to oversee and manage the alterations which had made the scaffold become an unsafe platform to work on.
The scaffold should have been inspected every week to ensure it was safe, and the company had failed to carry out these inspections. They also failed on the count of locating the risks which had occurred due to the incorrect alterations and they were also accused of allowing their employees to use the unmonitored scaffolding.
In total Ian Allan Building Contractors Ltd were fined £3000. £1500 of this fine was for breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act of 1974 for which the company pleaded guilty.

Lack of Checks Cost Employee Health and Livelihood

Mr Clark stated that he used the scaffolding trusting that it was safe. He said that if the scaffolding had been checked the dangers would have been identified. This would have meant the accident would have been avoided.
The HSE inspector Andrea Robbins, who concentrates on the construction industry, wanted to stress the importance of health and safety at work. Scaffolding has to be built in a standard, recognised method. All alterations need to be performed by a competent employee and once erected it is essential that it is continually inspected at least once a week.

Construction Sites have a Responsibility to the Public and their Employees

Veritas Health and Safety Consultants use construction expertise to help you ensure that you are working and maintaining a safe environment. If you would like to discuss our Health and Safety construction services please contact our experts. We have a wide range of services from helping you with your CHAS application, to writing risk assessments and your health and safety policy. Avoid accidents in the work place and call us on 0800 1488 677.