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Health and Safety News

Occupational health and safety news and guidance

Blog posts June 2011

HSE launches consultation on safety in the adventure activities sector

Outdoor activity providers, sports clubs and teachers are among those being asked for their views on proposals to change the health and safety requirements for young people's adventure activities.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has stated that the Adventure Activities Licensing Authority (AAL…

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HSE states that the 2010/11 fatal injuries figure "reinforces an underlying downward trend"

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) confirms that the provisional figure for the number of workers fatally injured  in 2010/11 is 171 (which corresponds to a rate of fatal injury of 0.6 per 100,000 workers).

"Given that these statistics are based on a count of events that are rare, they are hig…

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Fatally injured workers figures published

New official statistics published today show the number of workers killed in Britain last year has increased.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has released provisional data for the year April 2010 to March 2011, which shows the number of workers killed was 171 an increase on the previous year, …

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Two firms fined for Bristol scaffold tube head injury

Previous post on 9 March 2011: Scaffold pole used as plumb line caused disabling injury

Two firms have been fined at Bristol Crown Court after a Bristol man suffered severe head injuries when a scaffolding tube fell on him from 15 stories, reports the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

An HSE invest…

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Derbyshire pupils hurt following hose burst

Emergency services were called to Noel Baker School, in Alvaston on Wednesday after a hydraulic hose burst, spraying children and a teacher with fluid.

Five children were taken to hospital for treatment for skin and eye irritation. Paramedics treated others at the scene.

Quebec environmental groups launch a campaign to stop asbestos mining in the province

Nature Québec and Pour que le Quebec ait meilleure mine say asbestos should not be mined because is too dangerous for human health, reports MontrealGazette.

Debate about whether to label chrysotile asbestos as a hazardous material under the United Nations' Rotterdam Convention began on Tuesday, …

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London company fined after gas cylinder explosion kills worker

Oak Farm Gas Company Ltd, (trading as Mr Fizz) has been fined after an explosion killed a worker and severely injured a member of the public. The gas firm specialises in the supply of high-pressure carbon dioxide, nitrogen and gas mixtures for licensed trade drink dispensers.

The Health and Safety E…

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Hertfordshire demolition company fined for failing to meet basic gas and electricity safety requirements

Kane Haulage Ltd. of St. Albans has been fined following a dangerous occurrence involving the release of over half a tonne of gas. It also carried out work while electricity supplies to the buildings undergoing demolition remained live.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) reports that the company …

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Worcestershire firms fined after worker's fingers severed

Two companies have been fined after an employee had a thumb, index finger and most of his middle finger severed in machinery. Fibres became attached to the teeth of the rollers of the machine the man was using and as he reached in to remove them, his right hand became trapped in the running nip betw…

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Scottish scaffold worker falls to his death

A worker has died following a fall from scaffolding outside a house. George Carr was working with a colleague in Dundee, yesterday, when he fell - he was treated at the scene by paramedics but died from his injuries.

The Health and Safety Executive is investigating the incident.

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North Devon decorating supplies company failed to provide hot running water

Mike Wye and Associates Ltd. of The Strand, Barnstaple, has been fined a total of £3,500 with £588 costs after a guilty plea to three contraventions of the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) reports that running water was provided at the …

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Northern Ireland H&S consultant fined following fatality

In September 2009 at Miskelly Brothers Ltd. in Ballygowan, Mr Norman McCord was fatally crushed when making adjustments to a block strapping machine.

The Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) reports that Miskelly Brothers Ltd. was fined a total of £50,000. Steven Jones, trading …

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Montreal crane operator injured in crane fall

A woman was taken to hospital and treated for multiple fractures, including two broken arms and a broken leg following the toppling of the crane she was operating.

CTV News Montreal reports that the mobile construction crane, working on a project at the former Seville Theatre site, fell into a 20-m…

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Overloaded crane kills two in Vietnam

An overloaded crane collapsed at the Hyundai-Vinashin Shipyard Company in Khanh Hoa Province, killing two workers. The Thanh Nien News reports that Le Bao Toan, 33, died instantly and Hoang Quang Thao, 39, died on the way to hospital. Two others were injured under the crane.

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Free Business Advice Open Days

Business Advice Open Days is a cross government support roadshow dedicated to providing FREE information and support. It will be useful to you if you are already running a business or if you are just thinking of starting one.

You can find out about your legal obligations, learn about recent develop…

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Canada continues to export chrysotile asbestos

Canada's Natural Resources Department continues to support the asbestos industry. The Observer reports that demand for chrysotile remains strong, driven by developing countries where it is used in cement products, brake linings and clutch facings.

In a letter to Natural Resources Minister Christ…

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RWE npower and contractor AMEC Group Ltd fined for death of maintenance worker

Christopher Booker from St Athan, fell around 12 metres through an unprotected opening in a platform at Aberthaw Power Station in the Vale of Glamorgan on the evening of Sunday 10th June 2007.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) reports that a large opening in the walkway was left unprotected afte…

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More people sick in E. coli outbreak

An outbreak of E. coli linked to contaminated vegetables has caused at least 18 deaths and now hundreds of infections in Germany, Sweden and other countries.

It is believed to have spread through Europe from tainted salad vegetables, with contamination suspected to have occurred at some point during…

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Surrey company fined after scaffold collapse

Johnson Scaffold Services Ltd, of Chaldon in Surrey, has been fined after a large section of scaffolding collapsed at a site in Walton-on-Thames.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) reports that the scaffolding was not installed according to the original drawings and had not been adequately tied. …

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Cornish car park owner jailed for ignoring safety

Nicholas Andrew Eastwood of The Burrows, St Ives, has been jailed for ignoring safety issues on land he owns.

Truro Crown Court heard that following a complaint, inspectors from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) visited the land, they found part of the land being used as a car park near the edge…

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20 Blog Posts