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.
340 Bristol, Bath and Gloucester Workers Are Seriously Injured
Warning for Employers from the Health and Safety Executive
Statistics collected from the local authorities in Bristol, South Gloucestershire and Bristol show that during last year there were 340 serious injuries caused by accidents in the workplace. These shockingly high statistics have resulted in the Health and Safety Executive calling for employers to pay closer attention to health and safety in the form of a warning.
The high level of injuries combined with the increased amount of workplace deaths during 2010/2011 resulted in the fresh warning about the legal responsibilities which lie with employers in Great Britain. In total there were 171 deaths in Britain alone, and 24,700 serious injuries, 342 of which happened in Bristol, the South of Gloucester and Bath. The HSE are hoping that during 2012 the employers will work hard to improve the situation and make their health and safety procedures a top priority.
Getting Help to Prevent Accidents
The statistics show that in Great Britain one out of every million workers lost their lives in the workplace over a twelve month period. Half of the total 171 deaths happened in the industries which are known to be of high risk to workers. The construction industry saw 50 deaths, agriculture saw 34 deaths and there were also 9 deaths in the waste and recycling industries.
Health and Safety Consultants can be contacted by any employers who are looking at ways to help reduce the amount of accidents and lower the risk of loss of life within their workplace. There are many different services available depending on the sector the company is in. You can request specialist construction health and safety services and even help with office workplace safety.
Lives Need Protecting, and it is Your Responsibility as an Employer
Speaking about the statistics Nigel Long, a Health and Safety Executive Principal Inspector, stated that employers will need to focus their attention on the potential dangers which occur in their workplace. By spending their time on these real dangers and reducing the work carried out on some of the more trivial risks and the paperwork the number of accidents could be reduced.
Mr Long did mention the fact that Great Britain does have one of the lowest rates of deaths in the workplace in Europe; however one loss of life is too many. Businesses need to make sure that they are following the laws and regulations to cut down the amount of deaths in the next 12 months.
Contact the Professionals
If you are looking to improve the conditions and reduce risks within your company contact the Health and Safety Consultants for assistance. A simple phone call can help to establish what is needed to be done, whether it is a full Health and Safety Audit or training courses for you and your employees.
To speak to an advisor call 0800 1488 677, the experts will be able to give you an idea of the relevant health and safety services which are available. Make 2012 the safest year yet.
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.
Molten Metal Burns Worker in Avoidable Accident
Copper Alloys, a foundry based in Stoke on Trent in the West Midlands, has been prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive after one of their workers was seriously injured. A 28 year old man, who has not wished to be named, suffered terrible burns caused by molten metal which was around 900 degrees Celsius.
Unprotected Pit Containing Molten Metal Mould – An Accident Waiting to Happen
On May 5 2010 the employee was using a tool which allows the workers to remove the impurities off the top of the poured casting. The pit which was where the cast mould is situated was unfenced, and when the worker tripped he very nearly fell into the mould. Luckily with his quick thinking he used the tool he was working with to save himself. However, his arm was immersed into the molten metal and he was also injured by the hot impurities which he had recently removed from the top of the mould.
The Stoke on Trent employee suffered terrible burns on his left are as well as his upper legs. His injuries required skin grafts and now he is scarred for life. The worker is also extremely traumatised and therefore he is unable to return to his old job at the Copper Alloys foundry.
Investigation by the HSE Followed the Incident
After the incident the Health and Safety Executive visited the foundry and discovered that the pit containing the mould was not properly fitted out with the necessary guard rail. The investigation also highlighted the company had not taking into account the extreme risks that a worker could easily fall into the moulds containing the molten metal.
At the court case Copper Alloys pleaded guilty to breaching the regulation of the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations which states that all employers must ensure that any pit, structure or tank needs to be covered or fenced if there is any danger of an employee falling into a dangerous substance. For this breach the court fined the firm £8000 and they were ordered to pay an additional £4798 in costs.
No Excuses for Breaches in Health and Safety Regulations
It is sad that cases like this are still happening in the West Midlands and all over the UK where health and safety services are easy to come by. By working with health and safety consultants the firm would have been made well aware of the risks that their workers were facing on a daily basis. A risk assessment would have showed the risks and the consultants could have explained the Workplace regulations to make sure that both the company and their workers remained safe at all times.
The employee who suffered the burns could very easily have died if it wasn’t for his quick thinking. As it stands his life has been changed forever and he will require physiotherapy for a long time in order to regain full use of his arm. It is imperative that all firms where workers are working around dangerous substances are able to create safe working environments.
If you require assistance to discover if you are meeting all the demands of the laws and regulations it is advisable to contact the health and safety consultants. Veritas have a huge range of health and safety services which can mean the difference between life and death. Call 0800 1488 677 today and speak to the experts.
Brewery Firm Fined after Serious Caustic Soda Burns Workers
One of the many brewery firms based in Burton-on-Trent was prosecuted at Cannock Magistrates Court last week. The Health and Safety Executive decided to prosecute after three sub-contractors working at Molson Coors Brewing Company were seriously injured.
The workers were a specialist engineers and were asked to come and carry out some maintenance. While they were working to repair one of the valves approximately 6000 litres of caustic soda was released from a detergent tank and spilled from the tank.
During the incident the three subcontractors were all injured as they were covered completely by the caustic soda. One of the men was blinded temporarily; the other has had to cope with suffering 25 per cent burns. This has left him for sensitive scarring and problems coping with any sort of heat. The final sub-contractor had minor burns and also suffered with some irritation to his eyes.
Health and Safety Services Could Have Been Beneficial
One of the ways that health and safety consultants can prevent accidents from occurring is by providing training. This is available for workers and company owners at all levels. Had Molson Coors undertaken the training health and safety services they could have perhaps prevented the accident from happening.
The Inspectors told Cannock Magistrates Court about what they discovered after the caustic soda incident. According to their findings they told the court that the three sub-contractors were not provided with detail instructions to help them carry out the job safely. The other area of concern was the lack of protective items which would be required for such work.
Health and Safety Consultants Can Help Ensure Worker Safety
The sub-contractors were provided with visors to wear and some overalls. The problem was that the overalls were not made of anything which could have protected the men from the chemical. Cloth is not a good enough material to wear while carrying out that type of work and so the liquid socked all the way through.
The Judge from Cannock Magistrates Court fined the Burton firm £14,000 and also ordered them to pay £43,674 in costs. The firm admitted their guilt of breaching section 3 of the Health and Safety at Work Act. Section 3 states that it is the duty of every employer to ensure workers are not exposed to risks to their health.
Health and Safety Services Help Companies Follow the Laws and Regulations
After the case an Inspector, Lyn Spooner, spoke on behalf of the Health and Safety Executive. Ms Spooner said that it was lucky that the caustic soda had been diluted otherwise the injuries would have been far more severe. The inspector went on to say that all companies need to make sure their subcontractors follow health and safety procedures.
Furthermore the health and safety of Molson Coors made the mistake of not undertaking a risk assessment before the contractors began their work. Due to these lapses the three men were left injured and the company have been prosecuted.
To prevent incidents like this occurring in your work place contact Veritas and ask about their health and safety services. Call 0800 1488 677 and speak to the health and safety consultants today.
Employee Lucky to be alive after falling on Spikes
One employee suffered some serious injuries after he tried to load up a hopper grill. After climbing on top of the hopper grill he fell and was impaled on the spikes of the machine. The spikes are what the machine uses to rip open the sacks which are placed into the machine.
During the accident Simon Lowe aged just 30 years old suffered some extremely painful injuries. The spikes broke his pelvis and he was also left with a fractured spine. Mr Lowe had internal bleeding and he lacerated the tendons in one of his thumbs. A year has passed since his fall and he is still unable to return to work and is receiving treatment for his injuries.
Health and Safety Consultants Could Have Spotted the Dangers
An investigation showed that the firm that Mr Lowe worked for, Dupre Minerals Ltd, allowed their employees to be left alone without supervision and there were no controls in place to prevent their employees from climbing on to the hopper grill.
Once again this case highlights how important it is to make use of the health and safety services offered by companies such as Veritas Consultants. One way to prevent such awful accidents, which could easily have proved to be fatal, is by conducting in depth and adequate risk assessments.
The Firm Pleaded Guilty and Were Subsequently Fined for Their Failures
The company was taken to Fenton Magistrates Court where they pleaded guilty for breaching section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act and they also pleaded guilty for not making suitable or sufficient assessments for the risks that the employees are exposed to at work, which is Regulation 3(1) of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations.
The judge fined Dupre Minerals £8000 and the firm was also ordered to pay the costs which added up to £5236. The health and safety inspector, Wayne Owen, spoke to the press after the court hearing. He mentioned the fact that the company had not carried out a suitable risk assessment. These are provided by health and safety consultants and there really is no excuse for not having an adequate assessment carried out.
In this case there employees had not been given the proper training which could have stopped the employees from climbing on the hopper grill. The Health and Safety Executives discovered that many of the employees had been operating in the same was as Mr Lowe for some time. If they were given training by health and safety consultantsthey would have been made aware of the dangers and a new method of operation could have been used.
Contact the Professionals
If you run a business you must make sure that you do everything possible to prevent accidents and injuries in your work place. There are multiple health and safety services which include the process of risk assessments and many health and safety consultants also provide training. Call 0800 1488 677 to speak to Veritas about their available services.
