Respiratory protective equipment Tight-fitting respirators (such as disposable FFP3 masks and reusable half masks) rely on having a good seal with the wearer’s face. A face fit test should be carried out to ensure the respiratory protective equipment (RPE) can protect the wearer. Minimise the risk of transmission People who have symptoms of COVID-19 or […]
Admin Construction Safety
COMPANY FINED AFTER WORKER FALLS FROM UNPROTECTED LANDING AND SUFFERS BROKEN HIP
A construction company has been fined after a painter and decorator fell from an unprotected landing on the second floor of a house. The Court heard that the employee suffered life changing injuries when he fell from a second floor landing down to the first floor, and then over the unprotected edge and down the […]
COSHH – EH40/2005 WORKPLACE EXPOSURE LIMITS REVISION PUBLISHED
On 17 January 2020 HSE published a revised version of EH40/2005 ‘Workplace exposure limits’. This has been updated in order to implement amendments to the Carcinogens and Mutagens Directive (2004/37/EC) which introduces or revises 13 binding occupational exposure limit values for a number of carcinogenic substances. Occupational exposure limits are implemented in the UK via […]
COMPANY FINED £50,000 AFTER VEHICLE STRUCK AN OVERHEAD POWER CABLE
A stone merchant has been fined for safety breaches after a vehicle made contact with an uninsulated overhead electric power line. The court heard that in July 2018, a wagon delivering materials to the company’s ready-mix plant was directed to tip its load close to the overhead power lines. During the tipping procedure the vehicle […]
Amputation after glove was entangled on rotating drill
An architectural metalwork company has been fined after an employee suffered a serious hand injury on a pedestal drill. In August 2018, an employee, who was an apprentice, suffered an amputation injury to his right-hand middle finger whilst operating a pedestal drill at the company site in Nottingham. His gloved right hand became entangled on […]
PROPERTY MANAGEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT ORGANISATION FINED £600,000 AFTER FIVE EMPLOYEES DEVELOPED HAND ARM VIBRATION SYNDROME (HAVS)
A property management and development organisation has been fined after five employees developed Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS). The Court heard that between 2009 and 2014 five employees of the company used vibrating powered tools to carry out grounds maintenance tasks at various sites An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found the […]
DUMPERS/MOBILE PLANT AND VEHICLES GUIDANCE – CONSTRUCTION COMPANY FINED AFTER DUMPER TRUCK OVERTURNS AND FATALLY INJURES WORKER
A leading construction company has been fined following an incident in which a worker was killed when a dumper truck overturned. The court heard that in October 2016, a groundworker working for the construction company, was manoeuvring a 9T front tipping dumper truck on a spoil heap to offload top soil. He lost control of […]
UPDATE: REVISED HSE GUIDANCE ON EXPOSURE TO WELDING FUME
In February 2019 HSE issued a safety alert to inform industry of a change in relation to the control expectations for exposure to welding fume including that from mild steel welding. This followed new scientific evidence from the International Agency for Research on Cancer that exposure to mild steel welding fume can cause lung cancer […]
CONTROL OF WELDING FUME: HSE TARGETED INSPECTION OF ENGINEERING & FABRICATION SITES TO COMMENCE JANUARY 2020
Following the strengthening of enforcement expectation for all welding fume (including mild steel) in February of this year (see safety bulletin http://www.hse.gov.uk/safetybulletins/mild-steel-welding-fume.htm), HSE Inspectors will be carrying out visits to engineering and fabrication sites between January and March 2020, ensuring high-risk activities – particularly those affecting the health of workers – are being properly managed […]
IS HEALTH SURVEILLANCE REQUIRED IN YOUR WORKPLACE?
Is health surveillance required in your workplace? Risk assessment and controls (first part of the health surveillance cycle .) The starting point is your risk assessment. Through this you will have found out the hazards in your workplace, identified who is at risk and taken measures to do something to control the risks. Where some risk […]