Loud noises can cause sensitive cells in the inner ear to become overloaded, leading to temporary hearing loss. Prolonged or repeated exposure can cause permanent damage, leading to conditions such as irreversible hearing loss or tinnitus (a permanent sensation of ringing, whistling, buzzing or humming in the ears). Employers have a duty to protect workers from the effects of … Read More
Ensuring Safe Fire Doors
The effectiveness of a fire door doesn’t just depend on the door leaf (the primary panel of the door that swings open and closed) but also on the various components such as hinges, handles, kick plates, knockers, bolts, etc., that are part of the whole assembly. It is important that the hardware selected for a fire door is suitable and … Read More
Fire Fighting Foam Chemical Consultation Launched
Some fire extinguishers work by creating a blanket of foam over burning material, which smothers the flames and cools the material. Historically a group of chemicals known as Per‑ and PolyfluoroAlkyl Substances (PFAS) have been used in these foams, as they have been found to have good oil/water repellence and heat resistance. The term ‘PFAS’ covers a large number of … Read More
Clarifying Requirements for Fire Doors at Entrances to Flats
The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 place duties on residents and responsible persons concerning fire doors in all residential buildings with communal areas. For buildings which are more than 11 metres in height and which have two or more sets of domestic premises, the responsible person must check fire doors at the entrances of individual domestic premises in the building … Read More
New Building Regulations for Wales
The Welsh Government recently announced changes to the Building Regulations in Wales. Among other changes, lower the height of a building from 15 m to 11 m so that where there is a material change in use of the whole building, then work must be carried out to ensure external walls meet certain requirements. Also there is a change in … Read More
Mesothelioma Awareness
Inhaling asbestos fibres is known to be associated with cancers such as mesothelioma and lung cancer, and other serious lung diseases such as asbestosis and pleural thickening. Mesothelioma is almost exclusively associated with exposure to asbestos and is estimated to be responsible for 20% of deaths in the UK related to occupational lung disease. A further 20% of deaths are … Read More
HSE Issues Excavator Safety Alert
When other people are working close to construction plant, there is a risk that they can be struck by the machine or any load being carried; where possible, pedestrians should be kept at a safe distance from vehicles. However, this is not always practical, for example, when slinging or unslinging a load, carrying out maintenance work on the plant, etc. … Read More
New and Updated Construction Plant Guidance
The Construction Plant Association (CPA) has recently published three new or updated guidance documents. Lifting Operations in Wind This is a new publication that looks at how wind affects cranes and loads. The guidance looks at measures for controlling a load safely, planning operations, when to take a crane out of service due to high winds and putting the crane … Read More
Building Safety Regulator Reforms Announced
Following recommendations contained in the reports following the Grenfell Tower fire, the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) was established under the Building Safety Act 2022. The BSR is part of the HSE and is responsible for: Setting standards for the design and construction of higher-risk buildings Helping accountable persons to manage building safety Overseeing the registration of building control bodies and … Read More
Driving In London – Blind Spot Information Systems
In 2021 a scheme was introduced where HGVs over 12 tonnes gross vehicle weight would require a permit to enter Greater London. Operators of relevant vehicles entering the area without a permit can be fined. The scheme aims to improve safety for vulnerable road users and reduce collisions. Under the scheme, vehicles are allocated a star rating based on how … Read More