COMPANY NEWS
TRAINING
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, particularly for the First Aid and CITB courses, 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 Wenlock Health & Safety Ltd (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/
MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID
According to a recent survey, the annual cost of poor mental health has increased by a whopping 25% since 2019. It is therefore in everyone’s interest that potential mental health issues and difficulties are spotted within the workplace and that sensitive and timely action is taken to assist individuals before the symptoms lead to something much worse.
It is with these tragic statistics in mind that WHS regularly runs mental health ‘first aid’ courses in order to equip businesses with the tools to help their employees and colleagues (and friends and families). The next is as follows; they are always popular so do book your place/s early.
The 1-day FAA Award in First Aid for Mental Health (Level 2 RQF) provides the knowledge to recognise a range of mental health conditions, start a supportive conversation and assist to seek professional help.
Date: 5 August 2022 (Friday)
Cost: £85 + VAT per person
FIRST AID
1-day Emergency First-Aid at Work course dates are listed below; Covid-specific controls will still apply for this particular course for the moment and they will be advised within the joining instructions. Demand is always high, so book places as soon as possible to avoid disappointment:
Dates:
1 August 2022 (Monday) new date added
24 August 2022 (Wednesday)
27 September 2022 (Tuesday)
19 October 2022 (Wednesday)
21 November 2022 (Monday)
Cost: £85 + VAT per person
IOSH MANAGING SAFELY
3-day IOSH Managing Safely course
Duration: 3 consecutive days
Dates:
28, 29, 30 September 2022 (Wednesday – Friday)
Cost: £395 + VAT per person
PHONE ISSUES
Many of you, both at home and at work, may have recently had your landlines switched to digital by your providers. The switch to digital is nationwide and, whilst those of us who enjoy good mobile and internet coverage may not have noticed any difference, those in poorly serviced areas, may well have been experiencing serious issues (the worst being some people in remote areas where mobile signals are so poor they’ve not been able to summon emergency services when electricity supplies are down!).
WHS is suffering (and, we’ve been told, stuck with) similar issues, meaning that we are unable to make or receive calls when our internet is down for any reason. Neither are we necessarily aware that a caller has been trying to make contact if the line is in use.
So please bear with us as the faults are not of our making; do try both the landline and our mobiles if you need to make contact. Many thanks.
HSE NEWS
HSE DUST CAMPAIGN BITES
These newsletters have highlighted on many occasions that the HSE are currently engaged in a nationwide and industry-wide campaign against exposure to occupational dusts – and that campaign is now starting to have a deep effect. Many of our customers have received HSE visits recently, and it is very disappointing to hear just how many enforcement notices have been issued.
So, yet again we must remind everyone that it is mandatory to take care, not just of the safety of the workforce, but their health and well-being too – including dusts, hazardous substances, noise, vibration, manual handling and stress. In all cases, risk assessments must be carried out for the processes and tasks involved, and the individuals too in many cases so that personal capabilities are properly assessed. In all cases, risks must (legally) be eliminated where at all possible, or reduced to a reasonable level, with PPE only acting as a back-up precaution rather than a first option.
In addition, when it comes to dusts, there are many aspects that the HSE look for including the effectiveness and maintenance of extraction systems, methods of cleaning premises, dust monitoring and health surveillance. You will all have received a separate email on 7 July 2022 entitled ‘Safety Alert: HSE Campaign on Dust Management’ – make sure you read it thoroughly and adhere to what’s required.
Here are a few examples of the very poor conditions the HSE found during the campaign so far; every one of these businesses was hit with enforcement:
There is ample additional information on www.hse.gov.uk , for instance:
- Respiratory diseases: https://bit.ly/3RfARjM
- Control of wood dusts: https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/wis23.htm
And some excellent online HSE videos available which you would do well to show the workforce within a thorough tool-box talk to reinforce the points and let them all know that your work depends on their compliance:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUgskOJdB41CTygfAKAzlYdvry8WBj8yO
If you have any questions, please do contact your WHS consultant or the office; it is better to ask now than wait for enforcement.
SAFE USE OF JACKS
The HSE have issued an alert to anyone operating any type of motor vehicle workshop about correct use of car jacks; this follows at least 8 fatalities since 2019 involving incorrectly supported vehicles or cabs.
The following advice is common sense but obviously worth repeating to avoid further fatalities:
- Never work beneath a vehicle that is only supported on jacks:
- Use axle stands that are in good condition and inspected every year
- Use stands on firm, level ground and securely located under a strong point on the vehicle
- Securely chock wheels remaining on the ground
- Do not exceed the rated capacity of the stand
- Never work beneath a cab or tipping trailer unless it is propped:
- Always prop cabs, trailers etc that could drop under their own weight
- The prop should be locked in position before gaining access
- Never crawl beneath a vehicle fitted with air suspension unless it is properly supported:
- Prevent movement of air suspension, either by using suitably rated props or stands to prevent the chassis lowering or by deflating the system
- Don’t tamper with the ride height for the purpose of recovery or repair
Further freely downloadable information can be found on the HSE website: https://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/
Including working safely under motor vehicles (INDG434): https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg434.htm
PERSONAL RISK ASSESSMENT – PREGNANCY
The HSE issued a bulletin recently saying its advice on personal risk assessment for pregnant employees has been amended. There is little practical change but you are now obliged to carry out an individual risk assessment when the employee informs you that she:
- is pregnant
- has given birth within the last 6 months
- is breastfeeding
Good guidance on how to carry out that risk assessment, and many other issues, can be found on the HSE’s website: https://bit.ly/3yluDrc
including a short video: https://bit.ly/3QRgzwB
In addition, there is good advice and guidance for the pregnant ladies and new mums themselves also on the HSE’s website: https://bit.ly/3u9pekn
so please also pass this link to the employee/s in question.
N.B. And a pertinent reminder that personal risk assessment can, and really should, be carried out for all employees with any specific issue that may compromise their ability to carry out their work e.g. age (older as well as young employees), health, capability and personal issues, disabilities, etc as well as the obvious temporary health ‘condition’ of pregnancy
GENERAL NEWS
SKIN CANCER
We’ve reached that time of year again, the time when we’re all crossing our fingers that the summer sun comes out and stays out! And it’s a natural reaction for all of us to shed clothing when this actually happens in this country – but beware, apart from the legal aspect of shedding PPE, the risk of skin cancer is ever-present.
Read the shocking statistics: ( https://bit.ly/3o0NT7c and https://bit.ly/3RGjjh0 )
- Nearly 60% of construction workers and 40% of farm workers reported having sunburn at least once in the past year
- Approximately 50 people a year die from skin cancers caused by exposure to the sun
- There are approximately 240 new cases of malignant skin cancers each year; most victims are under 65
- There are at least 1,500 new cases on non-malignant skin cancers each year, with around 12 fatalities
So, before you cast caution to the wind, may we remind you of the following:
- The sun’s harmful UV rays are highest during the hours of 11 am to 3 pm when the sun is at its highest and strongest; spend as much time in the shade as possible during those periods
- Shade and clothing are better protection against UV rays than sunscreen, and sunglasses are only useful if the lenses have UV protection
- Sunscreen give protection if shade and clothing are impractical but should not be used as a substitute
- The risk to the individual of sunburn depends on a number of factors including sun-sensitivity; therefore, a suitable level of sun protection factor (SPF) must be sought by that individual (minimum SPF15 but can be as high as SPF50 for very high risk individuals…which include all those working outside)
- The UV index (given on daily weather forecasts) gives a good indication of how strong the Met Office expects the sun’s rays to be; the higher the figure, the higher the risk.
3 and above, you need to take precautions
The hour-by-hour Met Office UV forecast can be found on: https://bit.ly/3OowCAz
For more information, visit the Cancer Research page:
https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/causes-of-cancer/sun-uv-and-cancer/sun-safety
And one last point, there is no law on when it is too hot or too cold to work – as usual, everything revolves around sound competent risk assessment. Information on this, and suggestions for sensible approaches to caring for your employees, can be found on the HSE website: https://bit.ly/3A7UGTZ
AND A FINAL NOTE ON PPE
We have been (and maybe will continue to be) experiencing extremely high temperatures – which, don’t forget, need to be risk assessed, along with every other work issue, and suitable precautions established.
But just a reminder that high temperatures are not an excuse for shedding PPE! PPE is there for a reason – preventing contact with plant and vehicles, preventing exposure to dusts, not having your head split open when something falls on it, etc, etc. It is required by law for very good reasons so:
- Employees wear it
- Employers enforce the wearing of it!!
No excuses!!
LADDER SAFETY – A DISTURBING NEW REPORT
The Ladder Association has just issued a new report that makes extremely disturbing reading; they found that 82% of telescopic ladders tested did not comply to the requirements of industry standard EN131-6, despite many stating they were compliant and being purchased at some of out most trusted suppliers. The Association has called on government and trading standards bodies to do more to tackle this potentially lethal issue.
In the meantime, what can we do to make sure the ladder we buy is safe for use and EN131-6 compliant? The key thing is to do some thorough research before buying an item:
- Never make decisions based on price – your life is worth more than any cost saving
- Make sure the brand has a UK or EU address
- Check product reviews
- Avoid on-line purchases; see the item before buying it
- Buy a product with third party conformity e.g. from a Ladder Association member holding a conformity certificate; a full list of members can be found on: www.ladderassociation.org.uk
- Always thoroughly check the item’s condition before completing the purchase where possible, or as soon as received
- Make sure the item has the EN131-6 mark actually on the ladder
- Make sure there is an instruction manual enclosed, and keep that manual
- DON’T USE any ladder you suspect may be dangerous or non-compliant!!
The full report, together with additional advice, a video of the testing, and what to do about any ladders you currently have, can all be found on: https://bit.ly/3yY0GOl
where you will also find a link to report any ladders you suspect may be dangerous to Trading Standards:
https://ladderassociation.org.uk/report-unsafe-ladders/
PROFESSIONAL INDEMNITY
Do you know whether you should have professional indemnity (PI) insurance? Many businesses misunderstand the purpose of PI and are therefore not sufficiently insured. So, to summarise, any business within the following categories really should have PI unless prepared to run the risk of a law suit with no chance of someone else footing the bill:
- Providing advice or professional services to clients – including consultancy and contracting
- Providing designs of any description to clients – including contractors
- The client has requested that PI is arranged to cover work carried out for him/her – including consultancy, freelancers and the self-employed, and contractors
- An industry or regulatory body requires the business has PI
- Any business that wants to protect against allegations of mistakes or negligence in the work carried for clients
In addition to those mentioned above, the need for good PI insurance extends across many industries, including (but not limited to):
- Business and management consultancies
- IT professionals and web designers
- Technical personal and engineers
- Recruitment agencies and consultancies
Employer’s liability insurance is legally required, PI is not – but can you really do without it?
ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS
Of course, the biggest talking point for several years has been how to tackle global warming and the depletion of the World’s resources, and how to protect our wildlife and the natural environment. The issue is Worldwide obviously but we can contribute a huge amount ourselves by simply organising and improving the way we operate. Industry is seen as a destroyer of our environment but, with a little thought and planning, we can become leaders in tackling these issues both in the short and long term levels.
WHS has, for many years produced an Environmental Management System (EMS) which aims to impart the information necessary to avoid pollution and prevent waste; the EMS now contains additional information concerning planning ahead to reduce the impact on both their local environment and the planet.
As with health & safety, environmental law applies to everyone from the biggest business to the sole trader. So the EMS is very useful and necessary information for everyone, particularly the sections related to the legal requirements and how best to undertake your legal responsibilities.
If you don’t already have an EMS, now is the time to purchase one. For just £150 + VAT, you get all the information you need to ensure compliance, and this is renewed every year free of charge as long as you remain a subscribing WHS customer.
Just in case you are not yet convinced, here are a few very recent examples of the consequences breaching environmental legislation. As with the HSE, the Environmental Agency can visit and inspect any time at all, there doesn’t have to be an environmental incident for prosecution to result; the WHS EMS gives you the facts to avoid such incidents.
- Harron Homes fined £120,000 plus almost £9,000 costs for failing to control and prevent silt run-off from one of its Huddersfield developments entering a watercourse.
- Trevor Sieley (from Norfolk) was jailed for 8 months and ordered to pay costs for storing and burning waste illegally without a permit. Waste included scrap metal, agricultural equipment and commercial waste originating from family and friends to save them from incurring disposal costs.
- Raymond Wortley (from Lincolnshire) was fined £21,000 for storing waste on his land illegally without a permit, including tree cuttings, plastics, treated wood, carpets, domestic and construction waste. He also burnt waste including metal sheeting, aerosols, ceramic pots and plastic, despite only having permission to burn green waste produced at his site.
- Paul Rackham (from Norfolk) was fined £17,000 for work within a 2.4 km stretch of a river that destroyed vegetation, river banks and the habitat of water voles and invertebrates; the work had been carried out without the necessary permit.
- Martyn Parratt (from the East Midlands) and his company were given fines and charges totalling almost £9,000 for storing waste illegally without a permit including insulation, wood, plasterboard and electrical appliances.
The EA has commented that businesses must consider the potential environmental impact during the initial planning stages of projects and invest in appropriate environmental management systems to prevent pollution. The results of failing to do this are all to clearly demonstrated above; not only does the local environment suffer, but so does the offending company – fines and consequences can be extremely damaging.
RESPONSIBLE SOURCING OF MATERIALS
Still staying with the topic of environmental awareness, responsible sourcing of materials can contribute a lot towards sustainability. Always consider where your materials come from (certified sustainable sourcing, distance travelled, etc) and recycle or use recycled materials wherever possible. And question the need to use certain materials; just because ‘we have always used them’ doesn’t mean we have to continue to use them. There is a lot of innovation out there working hard to eliminate and reduce environmental impact so keep up to date and bring those ideas to the table to encourage a responsible approach.
Of course, the biggest environmental impact presented by industry is the massive use (over use?) of concrete. The production of concrete accounts for a whopping 8% of all carbon emissions worldwide, and one of the reasons for the huge increases in emissions over recent decades has been the push for development within large economies such as China. However, yet again, innovation has produced an answer to limiting the impact of our addiction to concrete. Hanson, Cemex and other concrete producers now sell low carbon concrete (in some cases, zero carbon concrete is claimed). So, if all avenues towards not using concrete have been exhausted (can we use natural building products instead?) the project team on new-builds or modifications should consider the use of these low carbon concretes. Every little helps, as they say!
AND FINALLY
Safe systems
We again highlight the absolute need to ensure ‘safe systems of work’ extend to every aspect of a company’s operations, including others coming into the premises and all ancillary work
- Bridghouse Pallet Services Ltd was fined a total of almost £9,000 and its client, Seal It Services Ltd, a total of almost £55,000, after the Bridghouse driver was struck by falling pallets being off-loaded by a Seal-It forklift. Neither company had established systems to ensure the delivery drivers were kept well out of the way whilst pallets were being off-loaded, a simple enough process to work out and instigate.
N.B. Note that the company who took the majority of the blame in this case was the client, the establishment where the delivery was being made. ALL businesses are liable for the safety of those entering their premises for whatever reason – and this includes delivery drivers. Make sure that you do have adequate systems in place to segregate ALL personnel from loading/off-loading operations and fork-lifts, including delivery drivers. And, if the delivery drivers themselves are loading/off-loading, everyone else should stay out of their way too.
- Company Director, David Sharp, was fined a total of almost £33,000 and disqualified from being a director for 7 years after an employee was very seriously injured when he attempted to retrieve something from the mixing pan of a concrete mixer; he had been pulled into the mixer and, as a result lost his left arm and his right arm from the mid-forearm, as well as sustaining injuries to his face and many other parts of his upper body. Sharp was found to be wholly responsible for the incident.
- Watford Timber Company Ltd was fined a total of almost £19,000 after an employee lost a thumb when it came into contact with a saw blade; the employee had been setting up the floor mounted band saw when his hand was drawn into the blade whilst the power was on. The company had failed to take the machine out of use when the guard became defective.
Falls from height
As always! And a reminder that the Work at Height Regs apply to ALL industries
- NSG Pilkington (UK) Ltd was fined almost £81,000 after an employee sustained serious injuries falling 3 metres through a roof; no safe system of work had been discussed or established.
- Floors ‘n’ Carpets Ltd were fined a total of almost £133,000 after a worker fell 9 metres through a skylight. Three employees of contractor, Nizmuddin Gorji, (who had already pleased guilty to failing to provide fall prevention systems or training) were over-cladding the existing premises, when one fell through the unprotected skylight.
N.B. Again, it must be noted that the employing company who took the majority of the blame in this case too. A reminder that the employing company is responsible for ensuring that contractors are both competent and provided with adequate information about existing conditions (the fragility of the roof components)
- Manufax Engineering Ltd was fined a total of over £29,000 after a worker fell 3.9 metres from the top of a machine during maintenance, sustaining multiple fractures. The worker had to step beyond an access gantry in order to reach a certain part of the machine – with predictable consequences.
- Two men were both given suspended prison sentences after a worker fell 5 metres through fragile asbestos roof sheets and later died of his injuries. Ian Blacklin was given a 16 month sentence and Dennis Spence given 14 months and ordered to pay £1,800 costs. The method of work was unsafe, there were inadequate fall prevention measures and no appropriate supervision.
- Abbots Mead Ltd was fined almost £24,000 after an apprentice fell 6 metres through a skylight during roof repairs and gutter cleaning, sustaining significant fractures. The company had failed to properly assess the risks from the fragile roof and provide appropriate fall prevention or protection measures.
Asbestos
- Two former company directors of Keebar Construction were each given 14 month suspended prison sentences, order to pay costs of almost £45,000 and to carry our 120 hours of unpaid community work, and suspended from being directors for 10 years, after allowing disturbance and breaking up of large quantities of asbestos containing materials (ACMs) during a department store refurbishment. When the HSE visited, they found 1,315 sq.m. of contaminated waste strewn across shop floors and the stairwell.
- Company director, Salar Zardooi, was ordered to pay £2,000 costs and carry out 200 hours of unpaid community work after allowing disturbance of ACMs during refurbishment of student accommodation in Manchester; the company, Sal Construction Services Ltd, was fined a total of over £32,000. When the HSE visited, they found debris, including lagging, strewn across the site and yard; as we all know (don’t we?), lagging is one of the most harmful forms of asbestos and must be removed by a law by a properly licensed contractor.
Vibration
- Westbridge Furniture Designs Ltd was fined a huge total of over £164,000 after two employees developed carpal tunnel and nerve damage from uncontrolled exposure to vibration from hand-held tools. The company had failed to recognise or assess the issue, even after carpal tunnel was first diagnosed, and no health surveillance or mitigation measures were taken.
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