Man Has Life Changed Forever Due to Accident at Work

A young father of two has had his whole life changed after an accident which has left him paralysed. David Collins has been told he will never be able to walk again after metal tubes fell from a crane on top of him while he worked.

The 31 year old was working for Spectra Scaffolding at the time of the accident. The metal tubes were being unloaded from the back of a truck using a crane that was being operated by Mr Collins. Each tube was 21 feet in length and weighted almost one and a half tonnes. As Mr Collins worked the controls of the crane a sling which was attached to the hook of the crane came off. As a result the tubes fell directly onto Mr Collins who was left with severe injuries to his leg, back and his head.

Health and Safety Services Provide Training for Employers and Employees

It was discovered by the Health and Safety Executive that Mr Collins had not been given adequate training to man the crane by his employers, Spectra Scaffolding.  In addition to the lack of training the inspection conducted after the incident also discovered that he was not being supervised as he unloaded the tubes.

Another problem came to light when it was found that the safety hook was faulty and had been in this state for some time previous to the accident involving Mr Collins. This fault is the reason why the tubes fell, and despite Spectra Scaffold being fully aware of the fault they did not address the issue and replace the faulty equipment.

£40,000 Fine for Failing Their Employee

As a result of the findings discovered through the investigation Spectra Scaffolding were prosecuted by the HSE. They were fined £40,000 for breaching Regulation 8(1) of the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment and Regulation 5(1) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998. In addition to the fine the company have been ordered to pay £45,000 in costs.

Training and Maintenance Need to Be a Priority

In this case Mr Collins needed to have been given full training when dealing with lorry mounted cranes. The removal of the tubes had not been planned and the equipment being used for the job was not in good working order. It is clear that all of these failings have resulted in one man being left paralysed and his life has been changed permanently.

Prevention is Better than Any Cure

Veritas Consulting offer various health and safety services designed to help prevent accidents like this from happening. It is your duty as a company owner and employer to know the regulations which are in place to prevent injuries and loss of life in the workplace.

Health and safety consultants are able to help you to understand what you are legally and morally obliged to do. This includes full and complete training and the importance of risk assessments and planning. Call 0800 1488 677 for help and advice on the various health and safety services available.

Four Workers Killed in Birmingham Alone

Health and Safety Services Can Save Lives. Fact!

Health and safety services are there for businesses to use. The legislations surrounding health and safety can be confusing and time consuming and unfortunately many businesses find they are taken to court and prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive for breaching one or more of the many regulations and laws designed to protect the lives of others.

Four Workers Killed in Birmingham Alone

During the last twelve months a total of four people died in the workplace in Birmingham and the Black Country. In addition to the deaths a further 900 were seriously harmed in accidents which could have been avoided.  The Health and Safety Executive have called out to employers warning them to be vigilant when it comes to the health and safety of others.  The fresh warning comes at the start of the New Year after the numbers increased during 2010/2011.

Legal Responsibilities Cannot Be Ignored

As an employee it is essential to remember that it is their legal duty to do all that is possible to create a safe environment in the workplace.  Health and safety services can help you to stay within the law by choosing to gain assistance from experts who can explain what is expected by the HSE. Combine this knowledge with training, auditing and risk assessments and your workplace can become safer while you follow the laws regarding what is expected.

High Number of Deaths Recorded

The total statistics for Great Britain are workplace deaths 171 and 24,700 major injuries.  This is an increase on the previous year and goes to show that not everyone is following the legislations. Taking risks has resulted in many people suffering and the HSE has prosecuted many firms throughout the year for their lapses in health and safety.

Use Consultants to Make Your Policies Fall in Line with the Law

The Health and Safety Consultants are able to provide multiple services which can help prevent tragic and unnecessary accidents. The experts and the health and safety services are designed to teach you, or provide a service, which can potentially save lives and reduce the number of accidents in the workplace through methods which meet the demands of the regulations.

Whether your business is considered to be high risk or not the laws remain the same and need to be adhered to. Failing to do so can cost your company and yourself hundreds and thousands, could mean closing doors and more importantly can result in others being seriously injured or to lose their lives when trying to earn a living.

Multiple Services Available

Use the health and safety services to create procedures and policies within your business which work and protect everyone. Some of the services on offer include:

• Health and Safety Audits
• Fire Risk Assessments
• Asbestos Surveys
• Construction Safety Advisory Services
• Competent Person
• Document Writing

To find out more about what is available for businesses in Great Britain contact the expert consultants who are ready to assist you. Telephone 0800 1488 677 to speak to a consultant who can help.

David Cameron Speaks Out about Health and Safety Changes

David Cameron has spoken to the Health and Safety Executive asking them to bring forward the proposed changes in Health and Safety legislation. The Prime Minister, who called Health and Safety “a monster”, wants the new methods of monitoring, recording and maintaining health and safety in the workplace as early as the end of 2012. By doing so he is hoping to bring an end to the confusion and problems caused by the extensive paperwork and help businesses deal with the red tape in a more productive manner.

Compensations fears a major concern according to David Cameron

One of the main reasons for bringing in the simpler rules is to help businesses to overcome their fear of health and safety. Many firms find it a daunting task to keep up with paper work and ensure that they maintain a safe environment for their workers. Many self-employed people find it hard to get the head around the duties and regulations which are relevant to them, and so the self-employed are likely to be taken out of the whole equation.

The Prime Minister put heavy focus on the fact that businesses are worried about being sued in this compensation seeking era. As it stands lawyers’ fees are carefully controlled in traffic accident claims where the compensation is less than £10,000. In the near future it is likely that this will be further increased to cover claims worth £25,000 and will also include any employees seeking compensation from their employers.

Inappropriate handling of vital services designed to protect lives

Not everyone approves of the way that David Cameron went about discussing the problems, especially when using the term ‘monster’.  The head of policy and public affairs at the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health, Richard Jones spoke about the way that the government has exaggerated the fear of being sued which is being encouraged through marketing.

Mr Jones stated that the reason there is legislation is to protect workers from injuries and death on the workplace, and therefore the term ‘monster’ is unfair.  The caps are in place on the amount of fees so that defendants do not need to concern themselves too much with the costs which may be involved, therefore reducing the fear.

Health and Safety Services still available to those confused about current legislations

Until the time when the new legislations come in to practice it is vital that businesses maintain their current policies and follow the rules and laws in place to protect employees and employers alike. Health and Safety services will be able to help by offering complete health and safety audits and other necessary services which will highlight problems which are not being correctly addressed.

Veritas Consulting health and safety consultants will also be able to provide training and help businesses understand, interpret and apply the new legislation once they have been disclosed.  Call 0800 1488 677 to find out more about audits, training and the various health and safety services available to businesses of all sizes.

Tsunami and Earthquake Rock Japan

Huge loss of life and Extensive Damage during one of the worst Earthquakes ever recorded

A state of emergency has been announced in Japan after a devastating Earthquake and Tsunami hit the Country today.  At 05.46 GMT the earthquake struck at an approximate depth of 24km.   The death toll is expected to exceed more than 1000 although no official figures have yet been released.

The 8.9 quake resulted in a Tsunami shortly afterwards which resulted in buildings, cars and ships being devastated by the powerful wave which crashed onto the coast around 250 miles away from Tokyo.

The whole of the Pacific was placed on Tsunami alert, and the first waves crashed on to the cost of Oregan.  Many people were evacuated from coastal areas in California and Washington.  The warning has now been lifted in nearly all of the affected areas including Australia, China and Indonesia.

State of Emergency after Nuclear Power Station Hit by Quake

The state of emergency was announced after the cooling system at a nuclear plant was wiped out.  So far there have been no radiation leaks according to the officials at the plant. 3000 people have been evacuated due to the problems at the Fukushima Power Plant.

Train services have stopped running which has resulted in millions of commuters have been left stranded.  Roads have been destroyed along with buildings, homes, cars and ships.  Many people stated that they have never felt such a strong earthquake, and are waiting to discover the extent of the loss of life.

One train has been reported missing along with a ship which was reported to be carrying 100 passengers.  Fires have broken out across the city including an oil refinery which suffered a major explosion.  An estimated 1800 homes have been wiped out in Minamisoma and a Dam has burst washing away more homes in Fukushima.  On top of this 4 million homes have suffered power cuts in Tokyo.

Many people have found they are stranded and having to spend the night in their work place.  Lifts have broken down in the buildings making it impossible for the workers to escape from the building.  The workers who were able to leave their buildings gathered in the car parks while the aftershocks continued.

Prepare for the Worst

Events like today do not happen frequently especially in our part of the world and our thoughts are with those who have been effected.  However it is times like these when realisations are made concerning health and safety and protecting the lives of workers and the public in the event of an emergency.

It is important to make sure that you have procedures in place to cope with any kind of disaster, large or small.  There need to be plans in place which will help you and your workers know how to react safely in the event of an accident whether caused by man’s hand or Mother Nature.

Health and Safety regulations in the workplace are there to help you protect your employees and have contingency plans in place.  Risk assessments and office and workplace safety are all essential to ensuring a safe environment.

Dummies Guide to PPE in the Workplace

If you’re planning to enter an industrial occupation known for its hazards, chances are you’ll already have heard the term PPE. However, if you’re new to your industry it will prove useful to learn a bit more about PPE and the role it will play in your everyday safety. Below are answers to some common questions on the subject:

What is PPE?

PPE stands for Personal Protective Equipment; this refers to any sort of clothing worn to reduce the risks posed by a variety of hazardous work environments. PPE could include anything from protective coveralls and steel-toed safety footwear to hard hats, ear plugs and safety goggles.

When should PPE be Used?

Protective equipment that meets acceptable standards of quality should be worn to preserve the health and safety of employees with dangerous occupations. Construction workers, electrical contractors and fire fighters are just a few examples of those who would need to wear PPE on a daily basis. Other types of PPE may be worn by workers who handle hazardous chemicals or asbestos.

How is PPE Tested?

Before PPE workwear or safety equipment can be sold by suppliers, the products must undergo rigorous testing at a reputable technology centre. Here the equipment will be exposed to the hazards encountered in the relevant work environments. This may include exposure to heat, flames and chemicals, impact testing, cut and snag testing or blunt trauma testing. Once it meets safety regulations, all PPE sold should carry the appropriate official mark to prove that it meets or exceeds the industry standards.

Some common examples of PPE are: high visibility clothing, flame-resistant clothing, Haz-Mat suits, heavy-duty safety gloves and waterproof safety boots. Before you start work in any type of hazardous environments, be sure you are well-informed and supplied with the appropriate PPE to help you perform your daily tasks with confidence!



Construction (Health and Safety) Risk Management

If it is accepted that good management involves;

• The use of competent persons/organisations

• The availability of background information

• The pre-planning of work activities

• The recording of crucial data

• Reviewing work on completion to learn from mistakes and experiences

Then one needs look no further than the CDM Regulations for an ideal management model to follow (notwithstanding the statutory obligation to do so). Pragmatic application of the Regulations will bring business benefits as well as compliance and will also go a long way to achieving the aims of the ‘rethinking construction’ agenda.

The Approved Code of Practice for the CDM Regulations makes it very clear that the client has a major role to play in the management of risk. This is particularly so during the design stage when the tone of the project is often set by the client, and a number of important actions are carried through, for example,

• Appointment by client of competent organisations

• Provision of information

• Provision of any existing Health and Safety Files

The Client may have little involvement during the construction phase, unless the site is an integral part of his business – or undertaking as the HSW Act calls it – when there will be an obligation to monitor the contractor to a greater extent. The law is complex in the area of monitoring and checking of those engaged to undertake work and has been largely determined by various landmark cases  (see Port of Ramsgate Case: ‘Ramsgate Walkway Collapse: Legal Ramification’ The Structural Engineer Vol 76, No 1, Jan 98 ).

Designers are, of course, at the heart of the process during the design stage; in most projects however they are also still involved during the construction phase, as not all design is complete prior to commencing on site. Their responsibilities however stretch beyond these phases into the operational life of the facility and its eventual de-commissioning.

It is the manner in which this responsibility for risk is managed that makes the difference between a mediocre designer and a good one. The latter will:

• Think as a contractor or maintenance engineer when considering the risks introduced as a consequence of his design. (How would I wish to construct/maintain this item safely?)

• Liaise with other designers, and if at all possible the contractor and specialist suppliers, in order to ensure that the best expertise is brought to bear and that issues are viewed from a broad perspective.

• Consult with the client and end user, if known, in respect of assumed maintenance philosophies.

• Have a particular regard to site wide issues (site access, contamination, adjacent third parties) and the adequacy of the site and its services for the contractor.

This holistic approach is often best implemented through ‘risk management’ meetings where all those present may contribute, and ‘thinking out of the box’ is encouraged.
The role of CDM Coordinators is largely one of Management; it is the duty of the CDM Coordinators for example to ‘ensure that designers communicate and co-operate’. The effective CDM coordinator therefore is able to significantly influence the management of risk and encourage best practice.

The role of Principal Contractor is wholly devoted to the management of risk. Although the duty holder will often also be the ‘main contractor’, and hence be involved in construction itself, there is no requirement for this. As is the case for the CDM Coordinator, the manner in which this role is implemented has a major impact upon the management of the project. A pro-active principal contractor that understands the needs and benefits of good health and safety management will bring the same added value to the project as has been described elsewhere. This is likely to be manifested through:

• Regular meetings with sub contractors to discuss work activities, interfaces, access to the workplace etc.

• Involvement of the workforce.

• Review of accidents and near misses.

• Provision of training and appropriate inductions.

Contractors, as employers in their own right, will have their internal procedures for managing health and safety risk, and are also obliged to liaise with other contractors and the principal contractor. The good contractor will see this obligation as a benefit rather than a burden, and will seek to gain advantage from close working relationships.

The essence of good management is clearly set out in the Management of Health and Safety at Work (MHSW) Regulations, Regulation 5 ‘Health and Safety Arrangements’ which emphasises that the arrangements should be integrated with management for other purposes. The four elements are, quoting from the Regulations:
Planning:
Adopting a systematic approach which identifies priorities and sets objectives. Whenever possible, risks are eliminated by the careful selection and design of facilities, equipment and processes or minimised by the use of physical control measures.
Organisation:
Putting in place the necessary structure with the aim of ensuring that there is a progressive improvement in health and safety performance.
Control:
Ensuring that the decisions for ensuring and promoting health and safety are being implemented as planned.
Monitoring and Review:
Like quality, progressive improvement in health and safety can only be achieved through the constant development of policies, approaches to implementation and techniques of risk control.
It will be noted that although this advice is directed at health and safety issues, it will apply equally to any aspect of management eg ordering goods, employing sub contractors, programming the works. This again emphasises the benefits of treating health and safety risk as an integral part of project risk management.

Now here’s the summary

Construction projects are complex technological processes involving the management of people, processes and products. Although in respect of health and safety issues there is a legal obligation to manage the risks emanating from the project, this note demonstrates that there is a business advantage in doing so, and furthermore, that health and safety frameworks such as the CDM regulations, provide an excellent tool for achieving this overall aim.

Current industry initiatives such as Rethinking Construction are providing additional management tools in the form of key performance indicators and benchmarking standards in order to facilitate the essential monitoring and review associated with all good management systems.

Another article by Veritas Consulting Health and Safety Consultants

Hearing Health and Safety Tips

The UK has over 9 million people with some type of hearing loss. The reason for hearing loss amongst those varies from age related hearing loss to a medical condition related hearing loss. Some however have lost their hearing either fully or partially due to poor hearing health and safety practices. Loud noise is part of everyday life and it’s hard to escape from, however prolonged exposure to noise such as at the work place can lead to permanent damage. Here is a selection of hearing health and safety tips to help you reduce the likelihood of hearing loss.

Hearing Health and Safety Tips:

1. Prevention – Do not put yourself in extreme noisy situations if you can avoid it. For example, if riding a motorcycle is part of your work, consider wearing a full faced helmet as apposed to any other type as it will reduce the extreme noise generated by the wind at high speeds.

2. Wear hearing protection – If you are given hearing protection and trained on how to use them, be it muffs or ear plugs always wear them. This protection should be warn at all times while at work and removed only at safe areas as designated by the health and safety team or by the employer.

3. Care for the hearing protection – Products are only as good as the condition at which they are kept. Treat your hearing protection with great care, it will help you save your hearing. If you are unsure how to care  and maintain the protection which you are given then your employer will help explain.

4. Share your concerns – If you feel you are placed in a situation which exposes your hearing to loud noise without the appropriate protection, you must flag it up immediately. It pays to be proactive when it comes to your wellbeing.

5. Pay attention to instructions – Make sure you understand what is required from you and how you are meant to deal with loud noise. Follow any working methods that are put in place.

6. Test your hearing – If you suspect your hearing might be impaired consider seeing your GP for a hearing test. You might also consider taking an online hearing check, though this check does not replace an audiologist or GP hearing test

If you still have any unanswered questions about your hearing health and safety you can speak with a health and safety consultant, your health and safely team or your employer.

Tips by the team at Hearing Direct which offers a range of hearing protection as well as a wide range of hearing aids for those with a hearing disability.