Welcome back to the latest periodic news update.
You will find more important updates from the Health and Safety Executive, prosecution information on companies found in breach of Health and Safety legislation and lots more information that we hope you find relevant to your company.
If you wish, you can download a copy of the newsletter by clicking the button:
In this edition we look at……
Company news
The company have now moved to new Premises at Consett Innovation Centre (DH8 5XP). The new modern facility offers larger office space for staff and also excellent training facilities within the building.
The move was necessary to support current growth and future expansion plans.
Covid-19
Are you ready to work with COVID-19 as a risk? It goes without saying we are all facing unprecedented times and we hope this has not affected the health of your staff, loved ones or business. As business looks to re-open we have been busy helping companies to consider and control risks to staff and customers via risk assessment. The HSE have stated they will consider taking a range of actions to improve control of workplace risks. These actions include the provision of specific advice to employers through to issuing enforcement notices to help secure improvements with the guidance. North Durham Safety LTD are also currently working through measures being introduced on various Construction contracts they are involved with as the sites are slowly re-mobilised. If you need some advice please get in touch. https://northdurhamsafety.com/contact/
WHO’S IN THE DOCK
Boss who forged dead worker’s signature jailed for two years.
Contracts Manager Mark Bray of Roofing Consultants LTD admitted failing to take reasonable care of other persons, pursuant to section 7 of the Health and Safety at Work Act, contrary to section 33 (1)(a). He also pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice after copying the dead man’s (Kenneth Drake) signature on a risk assessment to make it appear he had agreed to the controls. Roofing Consultants LTD fined a total of £100,000 plus £30,000 costs and High Ridge Roofing Solutions LTD (also involved with the work) were fined £12,000 with £33,000 costs.
For more information on this case follow https://www.ioshmagazine.com/2020/01/17/boss-who-forged-dead-workers-signature-jailed-two-years
Poor management control puts workers at risk.
A Logistic company in Blackburn was fined after failing to provide fall protection for workers replacing the roof of their premises.
Blackpool Magistrates’ Court heard how inspectors from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) visited a warehouse in Blackburn on 29 May 2019 and observed two workers on a roof without any physical protection or any work equipment in place to prevent or minimise the distance of a fall.
Further investigation by the HSE also found that the roof of the warehouse was fragile and people were exposed to risk of falling through. The company, Speed Drop Logistics Ltd, did not have any measures in place to prevent workers falling from or through the roof from where there was an obvious risk of personal injury or even death. The removal of tiles could of been carried out from underneath the roof using a scissor lift or a cherry picker. Scaffold could of been used and in place to create a barrier prevent the risk of fall.
The company pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 6(3) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 and were fined £80,000 and ordered to pay costs of £1570.60.
Falls from height are one of the most common causes of work-related fatalities in the country and the risks associated with working at height are well known.
Personal Protective Equipment
All employers and employees have duties with regard provision and use of personal protective equipment (PPE).
PPE is important equipment which will protect the user against a variety of identified health and safety risks in the workplace. Examples of PPE include Safety footwear, safety harness, hard hat, eye protection, hearing protection, high-visibility clothing and gloves. Respiratory protective equipment (RPE), is also a type of PPE.
When considering protection for workers the last option should be PPE. This is achieved by considering elimination of the risk, substitution of the risk for a safer method, use of engineered controls, workplace re-design, use of procedural control.
For example:
- Respiratory Protection – Measures to prevent airborne dusts, use of extraction systems before relying on use of face masks;
- Protection from moving vehicles – Workplace re-design to focus on segregating pedestrians and vehicles, one way systems, barriers to prevent pedestrian access, work only in good lighting, installing speed limits with suitable signage, creation of protected crossing points before considering high visibility clothing.
The need to use PPE in the workplace needs careful consideration in order to provide the correct level of protection and ensure the company is as efficient as possible. It should cover selection and use, storage, training, maintenance. The Personal Protective Equipment Regulations 2002 and the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 (as amended) give the main requirements. These have been replaced by the Personal Protective Equipment (Enforcement) Regulations 2018 and Regulation EU 2016/425 of the European Parliament and of the Council.
We are currently guiding and preparing risk assessments bespoke to some of our customers with regards PPE use. You can get more information from the Health and Safety Executive website at https://www.hse.gov.uk/toolbox/ppe.htm and we are happy to help if you need more support simply get in touch with us at info@northdurhamsafety.com or call 03332228959
Legislative updates
SPOT-CHECKS TO RESUME IMMINENTLY, HSE CONFIRMS
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has announced it is restarting ‘proactive’ inspections, as much of the country gets back to work after the lockdown was eased.
The safety regulator stopped carrying out spot-checks after the lockdown announcement in March, despite sectors such as construction continuing to operate.
As previously reported, more than 4,500 complaints were made to the watchdog between 9 March – when the first UK case of coronavirus was confirmed – and 3 May 2020. A HSE spokesperson has confirmed that Inspectors continue to visit workplaces following up any reports or concerns about safety in the workplace including over COVID and ensuring compliance. On the spot inspections are resuming imminently.’
It confirmed it has responded to around 5000 workplace concerns and is inspecting some workplaces in response. ‘This will continue as more businesses return to work,’ the spokesperson added.
‘As businesses start getting back to work, we can see scope for making further proactive enquiries of employers. We’re pulling together plans as we speak.’
In his 10 May speech, prime minister Boris Johnson made available up to £14m for the HSE for extra call centre employees, inspectors and equipment during the easing of the lockdown.
‘We’ve been given the encouraging news of access to additional funding to support our advice and regulatory activity as businesses implement the new guidance on working safely during corona virus,’ said the HSE spokesperson. ‘The funding will help support HSE’s capability to address an increased number of concerns and enquiries from workers, their families and employers alike.’
UK GOVERNMENT INTRODUCES NEW FIRE SAFETY BILL
The UK government has introduced a new bill to improve fire safety in buildings in England and Wales.
The new legislation, if passed, will amend the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 to place a legal requirement on residential building owners to inspect cladding and fire doors.
The introduction will also empower fire and rescue services to take enforcement action and hold building owners to account if they are not compliant.
It will provide a foundation for secondary legislation to take forward recommendations from the Grenfell Tower Inquiry phase one report, which stated that building owners and managers of high-rise and multi-occupied residential buildings should be responsible for a number of areas including:
• regular inspections of lifts and the reporting of results to the local fire and rescue services
• ensuring evacuation plans are reviewed and regularly updated and personal evacuation plans are in place for residents whose ability to evacuate may be compromised
• ensuring fire safety instructions are provided to residents in a form that they can reasonably be expected to understand
• ensuring individual flat entrance doors, where the external walls of the building have unsafe cladding, comply with current standards.
James Brokenshire, minister for security, said: ‘We remain committed to implementing the recommendations made following phase one of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, and the government has already made major reforms to building safety. ‘This bill will help bring about meaningful change to improving building safety.’
The new Fire Safety Bill follows the recent announcement of the government’s intention to create a Building safety regulator to be established by the Health and Safety Executive.
Green light for traffic management plan
The Health and Safety Authority in Ireland has launched a new traffic management plan online tool for use in the construction sector.
The plan has been developed to help construction stage project supervisors and contractors plan, manage, and coordinate the movement of vehicles and pedestrians on site. It will also allow users to meet obligations under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Construction) Regulations 2013, which establishes clear requirements for the safe operation of work-related vehicles. In order to provide practical guidance, the plan is broken down into six sections: information, training, temporary works, hazards, controls and resources.
New Safety Steps guidance
New Safety Steps guidance on working at height has been launched by the Access Industry Forum.
Developed by the Construction Industry Advisory Committee’s Managing Risk Well Working Group and leading industry organisations, the guidance seeks to keep safe those who need to carry out work at height.
It covers general information on working at height that can be used to underpin more specific points for work at height.
It can also be used in poster campaigns, for the creation of flowcharts/infographics, provide structure for training materials, assist in toolbox talks and for rules and guidelines.
The UK Health and Safety Executive has updated guidance booklet INDG143 – Manual handling at work: a brief guide.
It is aimed at employers to help them carry out their duties under the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992.
This fourth revision brings the risk assessment process in line with L23 on manual handling, in order to help identify low-risk tasks. It now includes more information on simple risk filters for lifting, lowering, and carrying operations; simplified advice on pushing and pulling; and a simple filter for manual handling when seated.
If you want more information regarding anything in this publication or need support please give us a call on 0333 2228959 or email at info@northdurhamsafety.com