COMPANY NEWS
TRAINING – COURSES AVAILABLE
We list below, as usual, the programmed courses we have on offer over the next few months. Please don’t forget though, that Wenlock Health & Safety Ltd (WHS) can also provide a multitude of other courses to suit your needs. For example:
- H&S Management
- H&S Awareness
- Safety for Site Management
- Risk Assessment
- CDM
- Manual Handling
- Asbestos Awareness
- COSHH Awareness
- Work at Height Awareness
- Abrasive Wheels
- Lone Working
- Fire Warden / Extinguisher
This is not an exhaustive list so do feel free to contact Vicki Brown at the WHS office on 01952 885885, or via email on enquiries@wenlockhs.co.uk or vicki@wenlockhs.co.uk , to discuss your particular needs
TRAINING – NEW ONLINE COURSES AVAILABLE FROM 8th APRIL!
WHS will now be providing a suite of online courses to help with quick turnaround and as a temporary solution for your staff training. We would always recommend face-to-face training to get the most out of the content for your workforce, but we can offer the following courses for £25 per course and all take only 30-40 minutes to complete online.
Accident Investigation Interactive
Asbestos Awareness Interactive
Display Screen Equipment Interactive
Environmental Awareness Interactive
Fire Safety Interactive
Home Working H&S Interactive
Legionella Awareness
Manual Handling Interactive
Office Safety Interactive
Personal Protective Equipment
Working at Height Interactive
An Introduction to LOLER
COSHH Interactive
Driver Safety Interactive
Equality and Diversity
Hand-arm Vibration (HAVS)
Ladder Safety
Lone Working Interactive
Menopause Awareness
Permits to Work
Stress in the Workplace
You’ll be asked to create an account, which is easy to do, and you can do this as an individual or as a training manager who can then allocate courses to staff via their email address. You do need to be sat in front of the course as there are interactive modules and test questions throughout, with an exam at the end of every course, so we’d recommend a tablet or laptop/computer to complete them. Certificates can then be found in your user area ready to save and send.
From Monday, you can check out our website for the online shop at www.wenlockhealthandsafety.co.uk
TRAINING – CITB COURSES
When booking courses, all necessary criteria and restrictions will be personally communicated both directly at the time of booking and again through joining instructions ahead of all planned courses. It is vital that these are understood and relevant information clearly passed to candidates.
And do please be sure to inform us ahead of the course date of any candidate who may require assistance in any way, especially with reading or writing; we need advance notice to be able to provide this help.
Please contact Vicki at WHS on 01952 885885 or enquiries@wenlockhs.co.uk or vicki@wenlockhs.co.uk to book places. In addition to those below, please enquire about our other courses available; the full range is also detailed on our website: https://wenlockhealthandsafety.co.uk/
It must be noted that CITB attendance rules are very strict; they must be understood and are reiterated here:
- CITB specifies that candidates must be available to attend each session within the course; failure to do so may require a repeat course.
- Attendance is absolutely vital once booked; because of CITB rules, we may be forced to cancel a course on that morning if some candidates fail to take part, to the detriment of all candidates.
- Basic refreshments will be available; however, no lunch is provided and candidates are to make their own provision (bring their own or there are shops nearby and a small café on site).
Candidates must arrive by 8.15*am for registration; all courses start at 8.30am and finish at around 4.30pm.
* Please reiterate to all candidates the absolute need to make their way up to the WHS offices and log their vehicle registration numbers immediately upon arrival in the car park to avoid being charged for parking.
CITB COURSE DETAILS
- CITB Asbestos Awareness
N.B. refer also to the UKATA certificated asbestos
awareness course below
Duration: Half-day
Date: 3 May 2024 (Friday)
Cost: £60 + VAT per person
- CITB CDM 2015
Duration: Half-day
Date: 8 May 2024 (Wednesday)
Cost: £60 + VAT per person
- Site Management Safety Training Scheme (SMSTS)
Duration: 5 days; 1 day per week
Dates:
18, 25 April, 2, 9 &16 May 2024 (Thursdays)
6, 13, 20, 27 June & 4 July 2024 (Thursdays)
17, 24, 31 July, 7 & 14 August 2024 (Wednesdays)
Cost: £495 + VAT per person
- Site Management Safety Training Scheme (SMSTS) Refresher
Duration: 2 days
Dates:
8 & 9 April 2024 (Monday & Tuesday) fully booked but a wait list is operated
3 & 4 June 2024 (Monday & Tuesday)
19 & 20 August 2024 (Monday & Tuesday)
Cost: £285 + VAT per person
(10% discount when booking 2 or more people on all courses)
- Site Supervisors Safety Training Scheme (SSSTS)
Duration: 2 days
Dates:
20 & 21 May 2024 (Monday & Tuesday)
1 & 2 July 2024 (Monday & Tuesday)
2 & 3 September 2024 (Monday & Tuesday)
Cost: £250 + VAT per person
(10% discount when booking 2 or more people on all courses)
- Site Supervisors Safety Training Scheme (SSSTS) Refresher
Duration: 1 day
Dates:
15 April 2024 (Monday)
17 June 2024 (Monday)
12 August 2024 (Monday)
Cost: £170 + VAT
(10% discount when booking 2 or more people on all courses)
- CITB 1-Day Health & Safety Awareness
Duration: 1 day
Dates:
4 April 2024 (Thursday)
10 June 2024 (Monday)
1 August 2024 (Thursday)
Cost: £145 + VAT per person
(10% discount when booking 2 or more people on all courses)
TRAINING – OTHER COURSES
UKATA Asbestos Awareness
UKATA certificated asbestos awareness half-day course
Date: 3 May 2024 (Friday)
Cost: £60 + VAT per person
FIRST AID
1-day Emergency First-Aid at Work course dates are listed below; specific requirements and controls will be advised within the joining instructions.
Dates:
17 April (Wednesday) now fully booked but a wait list is operated
29 April 2024 (Monday) fully booked but a wait list is operated
22 May 2024 (Wednesday)
24 June 2024 (Monday)
22 July 2024 (Monday)
21 August 2024 (Wednesday)
25 September 2024 (Wednesday)
Cost: £85 + VAT per person
MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID
1-day FAA Award in First Aid for Mental Health (Level 2 RQF)
Dates: 3 July 2024 (Wednesday)
Cost: £85 + VAT per person
IOSH MANAGING SAFELY
3-day IOSH Managing Safely course
Dates: 13, 14 & 15 May 2024 (Monday – Wednesday)
Cost: £395 + VAT per person
HSE NEWS
ASBESTOS MANAGEMENT
We have discussed the issue of asbestos and asbestos management year in, year out, but it’s worth mentioning yet again because:
(a) WHS STILL encounters contractors who either take risks or blatantly ignore the law with ACMs (asbestos-containing materials)
(b) The HSE has launched a fresh campaign to both highlight legal duties and to heavily enforce the law
There is a huge amount of information available from the HSE (www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos) which clearly explains the responsibilities placed on all duty holders, from premises managers or owners to contractors; also within the WHS health & safety pack you receive annually. So there’s absolutely NO EXCUSE for ignorance or wilful non-compliance of the law which has, after all, been around since the beginning of the 21st century!
You can follow these useful links to some of the HSE information:
- steps to the duty to manage asbestos in buildings (a short video)
- prepare for a duty to manage asbestos inspection and what to expect from an HSE visit (a short video)
- asbestos management plan template (WHS can provide a full asbestos system to include a template)
- asbestos register template
(WHS can provide a full asbestos system to include these and other useful templates, and full guidance)
- examples of how asbestos risks can be managed
- where asbestos can hide
- Industrial ‘where asbestos hides’ A3 poster (a useful poster for additional information and display)
Penalties are harsh because the risks are great. So, if you are in any doubt at all about any aspect of asbestos-related duties, contact WHS immediately on 01952-885885.
Important footnote:
If you have or suspect that you may have an asbestos-related disease, there’s valuable help available through the National Asbestos Helpline, www.nationalasbestos.co.uk.
The helpline can help with diagnosis, advice and support, provide lawyers and solicitors towards getting the compensation and benefits you may be entitled to, and much more.
They are there for you; call them free of charge on 0800 116 4332 or email info@nationalasbestos.co.uk
NOISE MANAGEMENT
HSE research has found that around 20% of all workers in the UK are at risk of developing noise-induced deafness, tinnitus or other conditions due to exposure to noise levels of more than 85 dBA, the legal limit for addressing the issue. And, of course, the estimated figure will be so much higher in the construction industry.
Whilst it can be difficult to monitor noise levels at work, particularly in construction, the HSE is urging employers to at least adopt the ‘shout test’ which, although primitive, can be far easier to implement and understand than other methods. Take a look at the HSE’s article about this basic test on its website link: noise at work article
In addition, valuable information on how to manage the issue of noise in construction can be found on the HSE website link: construction specific guidance
And, of course, all such issues are covered in full in the health & safety packs issued annually to WHS subscribers.
HEALTH SURVEILLANCE
The HSE is reminding employers that health surveillance for all workers at risk of exposure to dusts, mists or fluids is legally required, even if control measures have been implemented unless those controls reduce the risks to zero or what the HSE would consider negligible. Information about what’s required and how to establish a sound health surveillance system can be found on the HSE’s website:
- occupational health and health surveillance schemes
- HSE G402 (occupational asthma)
- HSE G403 (occupational dermatitis)
Of course, exposure to dusts, mists and fluids aren’t the only issues that warrant (by law) health surveillance – other harm issues such as manual handling, noise and vibration are also subject to mandatory health surveillance unless the risks can be eliminated or reduced to a negligible level.
You only have to look at the prosecutions highlighted in our newsletters over recent years to see that the HSE will certainly enforce the law with regard to both risk reduction and health surveillance. And beware too that all these issues, if monitoring and risk reduction cannot be proven, run the very real risk of claims from employees and these can prove to be extremely costly.
Again, all such issues are covered in full in the health & safety packs issued annually to to WHS subscribers.
INDUSTRY NEWS
THE VITAL IMPORTANCE OF ESTABLISHING SAFE SYSTEMS
An electrician who was carrying out cabling and jointing works on a new apartment block suffered serious life-changing burns from an electrical flash. He subsequently underwent multiple surgeries and a skin graft.
The electrician and a colleague were working on the building’s main switchboard but had left nearby bus bars live and covered with a guard panel. However, a gap around the panel led to a nut rolling behind and coming into contact with the bus bars, causing the flash. It had been incorrectly assumed that the guard was sufficient protection from the live bus bars and had ignored the possibility of small items slipping through the gap – with devastating consequences as can clearly be seen in this photo.
The contractor, Aberla M&E Ltd was fined £40,000 plus £20,000 as it had totally failed to properly risk assess the situation and establish safe systems of work – which certainly necessitated a permit-to-work system to ensure that all live systems in close proximity had been made dead before work was allowed to begin.
This dreadful case is, sadly, not that unusual but serves as a warning to all electricians that the need for foolproof safe systems can’t be overlooked. These things are law for a very good reason.
AND FINALLY
Work at height
Firstly, we are sad to report to death on 27 March 2024 of 40-year-old Gogglebox personality, George Gilbert, as a result of a fall from height. George was on a warehouse roof when he fell 80 feet, apparently through a skylight, to the concrete floor below. A man has been charged with gross negligence manslaughter; no further details are available while the police carry on with their investigations:
https://www.thesun.co.uk/tv/26994024/george-gilbey-colleague-arrest-death-warehouse/
Falls from height can happen to anyone unless the proper, and legally required, controls are established. It’s so sad to see that so many people still take risks with their own lives and the lives of others. Health & safety laws are there for very good reasons – and, unless they are followed, falls from height can happen to anyone.
- Alba Construction (Midlands) Ltd was fined £40,000 plus £1858 costs, and its director, Bujar Cekrezi, personally fined £2,000 plus costs also of £1858, after a worker suffered injuries from a fall through an open stairwell onto a concrete floor.
Although both prosecutions were made under the Work at Height Regulations, this case also proves the importance of project planning in advance to ensure that the right equipment and risk management processes are ready before work begins.
Equipment safety
- FJ Church & Sons Ltd was fined £200,000 plus £5,125 costs after an employee’s arm was severed in a sampling machine. The victim had passed her hand through an unguarded rotary valve to remove a blockage; the valve closed, trapping and severing the arm. The Company had failed to prevent access to the dangerous parts of the machine by fixed guarding or interlocking guards.
- Edwards Engineering (Perth) Ltd was fined £10,000 after an employee lost two fingers in a rotary fan on a grain dryer; the victim had inadvertently placed his hand into the blades of the machine. No guarding or risk assessment had been in place.
Yet again, the Company had failed to guard dangerous parts of machinery or provide adequate isolation and locking-off procedures. How many times do we hear of this type of needless incident happening, when will employers learn?
Storage safety
- Wastecare Ltd was fined £120,000 plus costs of £4,937 after an employee was severely injured by batteries, each weighing 300+kg, fell on him. Three workers were in the process of restacking the batteries (which had been previously stored in flexible intermediate bulk containers, FIBCs, in an unsafe manner), when they toppled. The use of FIBCs must be risk assessed and controls implemented in line with industry guidance, none of which had happened, with unnecessary and serious consequences.
Guidance on the storage of FIBCs can be found on the National Bulk Bag website: https://rb.gy/ec6m5b
WHS is working for you; help us to help you.
Our aim is to keep people safe and to keep your company working.
To contact WHS, ring: 01952-885885