Health and safety news and updates
safety4business produces this completely free monthly update on health and safety news for distribution to selected clients. The update is not intended to be comprehensive, as that would clearly involve a very long and unwieldy communication. Instead, it aims to identify the most relevant items, providing you with the option to investigate further if needed.
We hope you find the news and update both interesting and effective in helping you to keep abreast of what is happening in the world of health and safety.
News
Work-Related Tinnitus
Research into the effects of tinnitus - a buzzing or ringing in the ears - shows that it has a profound impact on all aspects of people's lives.
The findings come from an online survey of 900 sufferers carried out by two leading charities in the field of hearing loss. Other findings include:
• 23% hadn't told their work colleagues about their tinnitus because they were concerned it might affect their job prospects
• 22% thought that workplace noise caused their tinnitus
• Over 40% said their condition had a negative effect on their personal relationships
The research was carried out by the Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID) and the British Tinnitus Association (BTA) to mark the start of the first National Tinnitus Week.
Safety Concerns Satisfied in New EU Bill
The European Parliament has adopted a watered-down bill to open Europe's services market to cross-border competition.
High among the UK concerns was a threat to safety standards if the original proposals had been carried. The EU legislature adopted a heavily amended version by 394 votes to 215 with 33 abstentions after voting to remove the most disputed 'country of origin' principle, under which companies that provide services in another EU state would have been allowed to do so under their home country rules only.
The amended law means companies will be free to provide services in any EU country but must respect the labour, health, safety and environmental standards of the host country - often stricter in Western Europe than in the new East European member states.
IIAC Retains Doubts on Occupational Voice Loss
The Industrial Injuries Advisory Council, which advises the Secretary of State for Employment and Welfare Reform on the Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit scheme, has published a Position Paper on Occupational Voice Loss.
The Paper concludes that:
'there is currently insufficient good quality epidemiological evidence of an association between voice loss and particular occupations'.
This means that voice loss and vocal disorders, in particular those relating to occupational groups, will not be made prescribed diseases for the purposes of the IIDB scheme. The Council states, however, that it recognises the issue to be an emerging area of research and intends to keep the subject under review.
Legislation Update
RNID and TUC Alert Employers to New Noise Regulations
The TUC, and the RNID are warning employers they may well have to make significant changes to their workplaces and systems if they are to conform to the new Control of Noise at Work Regulations which come into effect on 6th April 2006.
The new regulations alter the noise levels at which workers will be required to have hearing protection available and to wear it. Additionally, they require employers to reduce noise through a 'hierarchy of control measures', ranging from acoustic and mechanical design down to hearing surveillance and protection.
HSE's dedicated noise pages are at http://www.hse.gov.uk/noise/index.htm.
Asbestos-Containing Textured Coatings a Lower Risk
A report by the Health and Safety Laboratory confirms that risks from asbestos-containing textured coatings (TCs) are much lower than previously thought, supporting proposals that work with TCs will no longer require a licence.
HSE will discuss the results with stakeholders in April and plans to make final recommendations to the HSC in May, with revised Regulations scheduled for 1st October 2006. These will repeal and replace:
• The Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002;
• The Asbestos (Licensing) Regulations 1983, as amended; and
• The Asbestos (Prohibitions) Regulations 1992 (Prohibitions Regulations), as amended.
HSE will also publish a single ACoP, which will include requirements for work with TCs.
HSE Update
HSE Outlines Challenges at IOSH Conference
Geoffrey Podger , the HSE Chief Executive addressed delegates at the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) 2006 conference on the ways in which his organisation will respond to the challenges it faces in influencing and regulating for 'healthy individuals and healthy workplaces'.
He told the conference that the immediate challenges included:
• Reducing occupational illness
• Protecting migrant workers
And
• Promoting 'sensible risk principals'
On the subject of 'sensible risk principals', which will be launched in early summer, he said:
"HSE is concerned about the quality of risk management. In particular, that too much time is spent by some on trivial risks and unnecessary paperwork and not enough on the serious risks that cause real harm and suffering. We are determined to play a leading role in getting the balance right."
New HSE Websites
Help with Worker Involvement
Employers wishing to encourage worker involvement in health and safety management can now access a dedicated Health and Safety Executive website which:
• Explains what is meant by worker involvement
• Details the legal position
• Discusses the benefits
• Explains how to involve the workforce
• Provides case studies and tools
SME Support
A new Health and Safety Executive website Workplace Health Connect has been created to provide a confidential service to smaller businesses (5 to 250 workers) in England and Wales.
The site is designed to give free, practical advice on workplace health, safety and return to work issues. It offers:
• An Adviceline and a supporting website giving tailored practical advice to callers
• A service that aims to transfer knowledge and skills direct to managers and workers, enabling them to tackle and solve any future workplace health issues themselves
• Workplace visits in 5 separate areas across England and Wales.
• A service that complements Safe and Healthy Working, an existing service for small companies in Scotland.
HSE Leaflets, Books and Guidance
Guidance for Electroplating Industry
Engineering Sheet No 4 (rev), Workplace welfare in the electroplating industry, has been published on the HSE website. It describes typical health and safety problems encountered by HSE inspectors visiting electroplating workshops and provides suggested remedies likely to meet employers' duties under The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations.
Manual Handling Information for the Hospitality Industry
HSE has published an information sheet, Preventing back pain and other aches and pains to kitchen and food service staff , which provides practical information on good manual handling techniques and lifting aids that will be useful to any section of the hospitality industry.
It carries specific information for kitchen staff on significant risk areas, such as pot washing, dishwashing, preparing food, storage and cleaning.
In Court
Faulty Seat Led to Serious Injury
Robert Hopkinson, 45, who formerly worked as a driver for waste disposal company Onyx UK, has been awarded £47,000 in an out-of-court settlement with his former employer after injuring his back at work and sustaining a permanent disability. The claim was settled a week before trial after Onyx admitted full liability.
The injury happened after Mr. Hopkinson had to manoeuvre a roll-on roll-off truck across a very rough road, something he frequently had to do and which the vehicle he was driving was designed to handle. But as the wagon bounced, the seat jolted and hit the bottom of his spine.
When he told his manager about the seat, he laughed and said replacing it would cost more than the wagon was worth and it would therefore stay. Mr. Hopkinson had to continue driving the vehicle with the faulty seat for over two weeks, but the increasingly painful injury then forced him to go on long-term sick leave.
Following 21 months off work on sick pay, Mr. Hopkinson was dismissed by Onyx.
Commenting on the award, his solicitor, Sally Rissbrook of Irwin Mitchell solicitors, said:
"Onyx showed a blatant disregard for Mr. Hopkinson's health and made him endure agony, which turned an already serious injury into a permanent disability."
Shop Owner Ignored Warnings
Rochdale Magistrates have fined a shop proprietor £9,000 for failing to protect the health and safety of members of public and his own employees during major building work at the shop premises where he operated a Costcutter franchise in Middleton, Rochdale.
The proprietor failed to assess health and safety risks, exposing customers to hazards such as 1-metre deep holes next to the counter. Inadequate measures had been taken to prevent people from accessing dangerous areas of the premises, and ceiling fixtures, light fittings and live wires were exposed in all areas accessible to the public.
These failures were compounded when he ignored warnings from the Council's officials. He pleaded guilty at Rochdale Magistrates Court to 4 offences under health and safety legislation.
Compensation for Manual Handling Injuries
An employee of Durham County Council has been awarded damages of £33,750 to compensate him for injuries received whilst manually handling a bouncy castle at Chester Le Street Youth Centre in March 2002. He attempted to move the item on his own; a manoeuvre which had become accepted practice despite being documented by the Council to require 2 persons.
Customs & Excise Settle Out of Court
An ex-Customs and Excise manager has been awarded around £140,000 in an out-of-court settlement over alleged workplace-induced stress.
The employee, aged 58, who maintained his stress and depressive illness was made worse by his employer's actions, was supported by the Public and Commercial Services Union in his court action.
Gassed Workers Victims of 'Unlawful Killing'
Two workers gassed to death in a workplace pit in June 2004 were the victims of 'unlawful killing', an inquest has ruled. After a four-day hearing at Hereford Town Hall the jury said that Stuart Jordan and Richard Clarkson, two employees of metal refining plant Bodycote HIP, died as a result of 'gross negligence' in the way the company enforced safety standards. The two men died when lethal gas leaked into their work area.
Case papers will now be sent to the police and Crown Prosecution Service, and the Health and Safety Executive is studying the verdict.
The inquest heard how company policy made works manager Mr Jordan directly responsible for risk assessment on the site despite the fact that he had not been given any training in the role. No checks were made on works managers to ensure they were meeting risk assessment responsibilities, or were capable of meeting them given their workload.
Mr. Jordan and Mr. Clarkson, a maintenance engineer, were overcome by argon gas that had filled a pit containing a furnace vessel in which metal processing took place. Training in safety procedures came down to word-of-mouth and 'accepted practice' on the shop-floor.
Bodycote said it was 'shocked and disappointed’ by the verdict and would appeal.
Note: The information contained within this document is intended as a summary of selected items of health and safety news and information. As such, it is not offered or intended as complete, exhaustive and accurate reporting of such news and information. Safety4business accepts no responsibility for the completeness of the information, and no liability for actions resulting from it.
