The UK ceased being a member of the European Union on 1st February 2020 and has now entered a transition period due to run until 31st December 2020. So what does this mean for your health and safety responsibilities? While we are in the transition period the rules and regulations that cover health and safety will continue to apply and … Read More
CONCERNED ABOUT CORONAVIRUS
While the risk to individuals in the UK remains low it is not unreasonable to be concerned about the global spread of the new Coronavirus following the outbreak in Wuhan, China. In the UK, as at 10th February, it has been reported that a total of 1,114 people have been tested of which 8 had tested positive and the rest … Read More
MANUAL HANDLING GUIDANCE REVISED
The HSE have published an updated version of their leaflet “INDG143 Manual Handling At Work A Brief Guide”. The leaflet is aimed at employers and gives information on the problems associated with manual handling and gives guidance and practical advice on how to reduce the risk of injury from manual handling. While the regulations and the HSE’s policies on manual … Read More
DRIVING GIG GUIDE LAUNCHED
The term “gig economy” is generally used to refer to people working on a less formal basis than the traditional full-time 9 to 5 job. Typically, this can involve someone working on a task by task basis for several providers, often with the work arranged through an online platform. This may be the sole source of income for some individuals … Read More
NEW CHEMICAL EXPOSURE LIMITS NOW IN FORCE
Last year we reported how the EU was in the process of introducing new lower workplace exposure for certain substances that have been identified as being either carcinogenic or mutagenic (capable of causing permanent change in an organism’s genes). EU member states were given until 17th January 2020 to implement these changes into national legislation. Exposure limits are based on … Read More
CLEARING SNOW AND ICE: WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW?
Health and safety regulations require employers to assess risks and where necessary take action to reduce those risks, this includes the risks of slips and trips. Specific regulations require that, so far as is reasonably practicable, every floor and traffic route in a workplace should be kept free from obstructions and from any article or substance which may cause a … Read More
METAL FABRICATION INSPECTIONS
The HSE have announced that during January, February and March 2020 their inspectors will be targeting metal fabrication workplaces. The inspection programme will be focussing on the control of substances hazardous to health, in particular welding fume and metalworking fluids. In February 2019 the HSE issued a safety alert following the publication of scientific evidence that exposure to all welding … Read More
Pigs In Blankets – Risk Management
Christmas is a time for many things, family, tradition, joy, remembrance, food and sharing are just a few, but one thing no-one wants to share is food poisoning. Yes, I know, the health and safety people are being Christmas grumps again, but with the Food Standards Agency estimating that there are one million cases of food poisoning in the UK … Read More
UPDATED HSE SAFE WELDING GUIDANCE
In February 2019 the HSE issued a safety alert regarding exposure to welding fume and the measures that HSE inspectors will expect to see in place where welding is carried out. This followed scientific evidence from the International Agency for Research on Cancer that exposure to mild steel welding fume can cause lung cancer and possibly kidney cancer in humans. … Read More
VIBRATION CLAIMS AND DUPUYTREN’S CONTRACTURE
The most common health issues associated with exposure to vibration through the hands and arms are a range of conditions collectively known as hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) and certain specific diseases such as carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Typical early symptoms of these conditions include tingling and numbness in the fingers, not being able to feel things properly, loss of strength … Read More