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Health and Safety News

Occupational health and safety news and guidance

Blog posts : "H&S News"

RIDDOR Changes

An update to the consultation on the “Common Sense, Common Safety” recommendation to amend RIDDOR:

The amendment would increase the “over three” days time period after which an injury must be reported to enforcing authorities to “over seven” days. The increased period coincides with the point wh…

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UK nuclear regulator publishes five-year plan

The Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) has published its Corporate Plan setting out its strategic intentions over the next five years and explaining how these will be resourced.

In the foreword of the plan, by Nick Baldwin (Chair of ONR) and Mike Weightman (HM Chief Inspector of Nuclear Installatio…

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15-year-old boy burned working on Cumbrian farm

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE), is investigating after a teenage boy was badly burned on a farm in Egremont.

Police said the 15-year-old boy was doing odd jobs at a farm when the incident happened on Monday night.

It is reported that the boy had burn injuries to his lower body and had been u…

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Argentina refinery closed for investigation

An explosion early on Wednesday at a small refinery in Argentina killed one worker and left another with severe burns; local officials ordered Brazil's state-run oil company Petrobras to shut down the facility, pending investigation.

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Ladder Exchange Initiative 2011

The Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE’s) Ladder Exchange Initiative 2011 will commence on 1st September and will run for 3 months, ending at close of business on 30th November.

HSE has facilitated this initiative since its introduction four years ago, over which period more than 8,000 dodgy lad…

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Safety statistics show fall in leaks and injuries offshore

The number of offshore oil and gas leaks that could potentially lead to a major incident has fallen, according to new safety statistics released today (Tuesday 19 July)

Figures from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) show that there were 73 major or significant hydrocarbon releases associated wit…

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Today is Action Mesothelioma Day 2011

Mesothelioma is a terminal chest cancer that develops between 15 and 60 years after exposure to asbestos.

The British Lung Foundation campaigns to raise awareness of mesothelioma and to improve the treatment and care of people who are affected by it. This campaigning culminates each year on Acti…

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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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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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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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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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Interim report on lessons learnt from Fukushima

Releasing the findings on 18 May, Mike Weightman, executive head of the ONR, stressed that current and proposed reactor designs in the UK are different to those at Fukushima, therfore:

"In considering the direct causes of the Fukushima accident we see no reason for curtailing the operation of nuclea…

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Interim report on lessons learnt from Fukushima for UK nuclear industry

On 18 May 2011, Mike Weightman, the UK's chief inspector of nuclear installations, will publish his interim report on the implications and lessons learnt for the UK nuclear industry from the nuclear crisis in Japan.

The report will be available on the Office for Nuclear Regulation website.

Previous …

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Corporate manslaughter appeal refused

Safety and Health Practitioner (SHP) reports that the Court of Appeal has refused an application to appeal from Cotswold Geotechnical Holdings which was convicted under the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007, following the death of Alex Wright.

Previous related news: Cotswold G…

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Changes to the HSE reporting system

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) reports that, from September this year, the majority of work-related injuries and incidents reportable under RIDDOR will have to be notified to the HSE via its website (fatal and major incidents and injuries will still be reportable by 'phone).

In a further step…

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Australian bosses go undercover for safety truth

As part of  WorkSafe Victoria's 'The Skeleton Project', three CEOs spent a day with their workers, under the cover of a workplace safety researcher, to find out more about musculoskeletal injuries.

Read more about The Skeleton Project and find out how it gave these CEOs a unique insight into the i…

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Legionnaires' disease outbreak in Glasgow

The Daily Record reports that one man has died and two other people have been taken ill with Legionnaires' disease.

The Greater Glasgow's Public Protection Unit met with Health Protection Scotland, Environmental Health and the Health and Safety Executive to investigate whether or not there is a comm…

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20 Blog Posts