Dean Howells Essential Safety, Health & Safety Blog

HSE clamp down on unsafe construction sites in the East Midlands - Posted 17th February 2011

This week the HSE announced that, starting in March construction sites across Northampton, Leicester, Lincoln and the High Peak will be visited as part of an intensive inspection initiative aimed at reducing death and injury in one of Britain's most dangerous industries.

On the unannounced visits, inspectors will consider whether

• Jobs that involve working at height have been identified and properly planned to ensure that appropriate precautions are in place
• Equipment is correctly installed / assembled, inspected and maintained and used properly
• Sites are well organised, to avoid trips and falls
• Walkways and stairs are free from obstructions
• Work areas are clear of unnecessary materials and waste

 For the full announcement and details follow the link http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2011/coi-em-construction.htm

 Essential Safety

Health & Safety Risks of Electrically Powered Gates - Posted 28th January 2011

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) recently issued a Safety Notice, regarding the use of electrically powered gates in areas open to the public eg, work buildings, schools etc.

The potential dangers were highlighted in two recent, separate, incidents that both led to the deaths of young children.

The HSE have given advice for those that have such gates on their premises and for those that install or modify electrically powered gates. The following link will take you to this useful information. HSE/electrical gates.

Essential Safety

 

 

Health & Safety, 8 out of 10 said they preferred! - Posted 20th January 2011

A Survey asking 550 companies about their view of Health and Safety regulations, came back with, what some may think is a surprising result – that 9 out of 10 said they had enough freedom in their decision making and management of Health and Safety.

The law firm Norton Rose also found that 8 out of 10 said they “experienced little negative impact”.

At Essential, we agree that sensible risk management does not need to be a burden when managed in a responsible and proportionate manner. We have long argued that proportionate health and safety makes good business sense. As an accident will cost a business more than preventing the accident.

The key word here is proportionate, and completing straight forward risk assessments for individual workplaces and activities is the way to go.

Essential Safety

Fire Alarm Contractor Fined - Posted 12th January 2011

In a bench mark case a fire alarm contractor has been found guilty under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. We believe it is the first time a fire alarm contractor has been convicted in such a situation.

The electrician failed to maintain a fire detection and alarm system at a care home in Greater Manchester, and also failed  to inform the owners of the deficiencies in the system. The prosecution stated that the electrician had taken over the responsibility of the maintenance of the system and had also issued certificates of worthiness to the care owner.

At Essential Safety we believe this story highlights the importance of checking that any contractor employed to complete a task have the appropriate experience and competences required, this includes those giving fire safety advice and completing Fire Risk Assessments.

 

Essential Safety

Water In Lead Pipes - Posted 25th October 2010

We recently researched about water in lead pipes and came across the following useful information from South East Water:

Since the 1970’s, the use of lead as a material for water pipes has been phased out and lead solder has also been banned for use with copper drinking water installations. Consequently the level of lead allowable in drinking water has been reduced from 50 μg/L (micrograms per litre or part per billion) to 25 μg/L which is the current standard. This standard is to be reduced in the future to 10 μg/L by 2013.

The only other source of lead in drinking water in some buildings is fittings made from brass. The extent of lead pick up depends on various factors; temperature, acidity (pH), water hardness, the length of pipe and the time that water is left to stand in the pipe (stagnation) before it is drawn off. Lead can build up in the body and it can be harmful. It is sensible to avoid excessive exposure from any source and it is therefore important to keep lead levels in water as low as possible. There are two options.

You can either replace your lead pipes with other materials such as copper or plastic or follow some simple precautions to minimise your exposure to lead in drinking water. This includes:

 -Do not drink water that has been standing in pipes for long periods, for example, overnight or if no one has been in for several hours.

-Run at least a washing up bowl of water off and use on the garden or for something other than drinking or cooking. If the length of lead pipes exceeds 40 metres, more than a bowlful of water will need to be drawn off.

-This need not be wasted but can be used on the garden.

-Do not drink from bathroom taps.

We understand that, if requested, most Water Authorities will attend premises and take water samples for analysis.

 

Essential Safety

Are Conkers Poisonous? - Posted 18th October 2010

Through some research Essential Safety has found the following information.  

Although ingestion can cause unpleasant symptoms in children, the bitter taste will generally deter more than curious nibbling.

 

We could only find evidence of one recorded fatality, in 1952, which appears to be as a result of eating multiple conkers over two separate days.

 

We could not find any evidence or case history of skin irritation or allergic reactions through handling conkers.

 

We suggest that thorough hygiene procedures for children handling any natural or outdoors items, plus instruction to children not to place conkers in their mouth and due vigilance for children nibbling conkers through curiosity should be reasonable controls.

 

On a general note, Liz Dauncey's book 'Poisonous Plants, a Guide for Parents & Childcare Providers', might be a useful reference document for you to cmplete your own risk assessment.

 

Essential Safety

 

 

Work Related Driving - Posted 20th September 2010

 Work related driving can be defined as any occasion when an employee is required to drive as part of their work. This might include, but is not limited to:

· Driving to sites

· Driving to meetings/seminars

· Visiting clients/customers

· Travelling to airports etc as part of a longer trip

 

It has been estimated that up to a third of all road traffic accidents involve somebody who is at work at the time. This may account for over 20 fatalities and 250 serious injuries every week.

Many incidents happen due to inattention and distraction as well as failure to observe the Highway Code. All employees have a legal duty to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others affected by their acts or omissions. This duty equally applies whilst they are driving as part of their work. Some things to think about are: 

• Vehicle Maintenance & Inspection Inspections
• Journey Planning
• Managing Driver Fatigue
• Use of Mobile Telephones Whilst Driving
• Breakdowns
• Personal Security

If you would like further guidance or a full policy for your workplace contact Essential Safety.

 

How to Read a Material Safety Data Sheet - Posted 21st August 2010

 

Manufacturers and suppliers are legally obliged to provide information regarding the hazardous nature of any substances they supply. Commonly referred to as Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS), this information must follow a standard format under a series of different headings.

 

Whilst MSDS's provide important information about a substance they DO NOT assess the risks. However, the information contained within the MSDS is a vital part of any COSHH Assessment.

 

During the course of our work on behalf of our Clients, we see MSDS’s of varying quality & detail – Some very good, and some not so good! And manufacturers do not always make it easy to realistically assess the risks from the use of their substance. We recently came across one that recommended a full face visor and overalls when applying floor paint! Of course, with a little judicious investigation of the material in question, we were able to recommend more appropriate controls for our Client – saving them time & money! Unfortunately, manufacturers can be as guilty as the next person of an over-cautious approach to controls in the workplace.

 

Even with the better examples, finding the important information within an MSDS is often a task in itself – and that’s before we can get round to assessing the risks.

We have a simple guide "How to Read a Material Safety Sheet". Just email and request this from essentialsafety@gmail.com

 

Essential Safety

 

How a fire risk assessment could have saved companies £1,000's

A major retailer, a restaurant and a hotel have recently been prosecuted for failing to meet current fire safety standards.

In the prosecutions an inadequate fire risk assessment, fire alarm and detection system were common failures.

For a few hundred pounds a good fire risk assessment will highlight problem areas and help businesses reduce the risk of fires and hefty fines.

When the Fire Services were called out to deal with the fires they noted breaches in fire safety which resulted in prosecutions and fines of £95k, £26k and £20k respectively.

Tips for the Safety of Young Persons in the Workplace

A suitable and sufficient risk assessment must be in place for all young persons before they commence work. A young person is anyone under eighteen years of age.

This risk assessment will take account of:

•    The fitting-out and layout of the workplace and the particular site where they will work;
•    The nature of any physical, biological and chemical agents they will be exposed to, for how long and to what extent;
•    What types of work equipment will be used and how this will be handled;
•    How the work and processes involved are organised;
•    The need to assess and provide health and safety training; and

•    Any risks from particular agents, processes and work.

For further advice or information contact Essential Safety.