Work Right is a campaign initiative launched by the HSE which aims to help smaller businesses and workers. This provides guidance on a number of work related health and safety matters including mental health, musculoskeletal disorders and conditions that affect the back, joints and limbs and lung disease. As part of this overall campaign the HSE recently launched Asbestos & … Read More
New Guidance for the Production of ‘Blue’ Hydrogen
On 3rd February 2023 the Environment Agency published new guidance on the production of hydrogen from methane with carbon capture. The guidance is intended to help potential producers with permit applications and to ensure they minimise environmental impacts. The majority of hydrogen is currently produced through the use of fossil fuels in a process which involves heating a mixture of … Read More
HSE Initial Silica Inspection Campaign Results
Since October 2022 the HSE have been running a targeted inspection campaign focussing on manufacturing industries that use materials containing silica. In particular sone working, brick and tile manufacturing, kitchen worktops and foundries. Exposure to fine respirable silica dust which can penetrate deep into the lungs is associated with long-term health issues such as silicosis, lung cancer and chronic obstructive … Read More
Emery Cloth Safety Alert
Following investigations into a series of accidents related to the use of emery cloth while using rotating machinery HSE Northern Ireland (HSENI) have issued a safety alert. Emery cloth is a form of abrasive which is used primarily to polish and smooth metal components. Accidents often occur while using emery cloth with rotating machinery such as metalworking lathes where there … Read More
Updated Guidance on Protecting Buildings from Fire and Sprinkler Maintenance
Updated building fire safety guidance documents have recently been made available from the Fire Protection Association / RISCAuthority, these include: The latest edition of the guide “A to Z of essential principles in the protection of buildings”. This sets out to identify and order aspects of building design and construction that can be strengthened to protect property and business against … Read More
Updated MEWP Safety Guidance
Falls from height are one of the most common types of fatal accidents at work. A key factor in reducing the number of these accidents has been the use of Mobile Elevating Work Platforms (MEWPs). While these can be safer than other means of accessing work at height, there have been serious and fatal accidents where operators became trapped between … Read More
Updated Stone Dust Exposure Guidance
The HSE recently published an updated edition of their guidance document ‘HSG201: Controlling exposure to stone dust’ this updates the previous edition published in 2001. The guide aims to help employees and employers understand the health risks associated with exposure to stone dust and how these risks can be managed through processes and control measures. The guide employers should be … Read More
Managing Trees Safely
Two employers recently received significant fines after children were killed or seriously injured by falling trees on their property. In the first case Newcastle City Council were fined £280,000 after an incident on 25th September 2020 in which a tree in poor condition in a school playground, fell causing the death of a six year old girl. In the second … Read More
New Guidance for Supporting Employees with Disabilities and Long-term Health Issues
Statistics show that despite record high levels of employment in the UK currently there is still a significant disability employment gap and disabled people are twice as likely to fall out of work once gaining work. The HSE has published new guidance to help employers support their disabled staff and those with long-term health conditions. The guidance is primarily aimed … Read More
Change to Permitted uses of Creosote in Northern Ireland
Creosote, in particular coal tar creosote, has been used for many years as a wood preservative, however following concerns about health effects EU wide restrictions were put on the use of creosote in 2003. These restrictions limited the use of creosote to industrial and professional uses and prohibited sales of treated wood except for industrial and professional uses with an … Read More