In the past year alone (2014/15), approximately 1.2 million people suffered from a work related disease. To put it into perspective, that’s approximately 1 in 60 people. This is also equivalent to 27.3 million working days being lost because of work-related illnesses and injuries, or over £14 billio…
Blog posts : "safety guidance"
The evolution of personal protective equipment
It could be argued that the first Ghostbusters movie, released in 1984, is one of the greatest films of all time; it stars Bill Murray and has a brilliant theme tune. The movie also transcends the cinema screen and provides insight into environmental law and policy with regard to Personal Protective…
The office: the dangers of un-serviced equipment
We’ve all seen the little green “Service by” sticker on the electrical equipment in and around the office, and let’s be honest, how many of those dates on the equipment have come and gone?
When anyone comes to work, we place utter trust in the employer to provide us with a safe environmen…
Keep your home safe from electrical fires
Among the top fears when it comes to keeping you and your family safe at home is the possibility of an outbreak of fire. Although rare and on the most part being able to be avoided, when fire does strike, it is a menacing sight and leaves thousands of people each year heartbroken, injured or even wo…Health and safety in the office; what are you missing?
The emphasis on health & safety is now such an important aspect of our society. Governments, companies and local services all place our safety as one of their top priorities. But when it comes to safety in the work place it’s down to the employer and the health & safety trained to keep the work plac…
Manual handling at work; when you probably shouldn't lift
At one time, what you could and couldn’t lift whilst operating in a workplace environment was down to what you could physically manage.
People love the phrase ‘can-do attitude’, but thankfully that doesn’t apply anymore when it comes to manual handling.
Whilst there are no legal limits…
The benefits of online first aid training
While children will all receive first aid training at school, it is important that adults are also first aid trained. Whether you have never received any training at all, or your existent knowledge is out of date, bridging that skills gap has become easier than ever with online e-learning courses. T…
New Links
Some recent additions to HealthSafetyNews.co.uk include a link to Lab Safety 101 on the main links page and to Earthworks-Jobs on the safety jobs page.
Lab Safety 101 is an excellent resource, aimed at students, which provides an introduction to general lab safety; safety advice for working with …
A guide to racking safety
Racking safety should never be overlooked. And yet, because racking is something which is used everyday, it is easy for businesses to get complacent. This is something that happens to SMEs and multinationals alike. So whether you’re a startup entering distribution for the first time, or a warehousin…
What you need to know about portable appliance testing (PAT)
Under the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, dutyholders (employers and self-employed people) are legally required to ensure that electronics with the potential to cause injury are maintained in a safe condition, so far as is reasonably practicable. Dutyholders are jointly responsible for equipme…
Using technology to create a sustainable business environment
Creating a sustainable workplace can be easily achieved in various ways, especially with modern technology such as software automation. The integration of technology into the work environment improves the safety and health of employees. One way to safeguard your employees, assets, and products is by…
Eliminate burns in the workplace
Burns are often overlooked as a workplace-related injury, but occur by the thousands each year and in several occupational fields. While burn injuries are less common than slip and fall injuries or sprains and strains, according to a study conducted by the Occupational Safety and Health Administrati…
Be CO safe at work
Toxic to humans, carbon monoxide (or CO) is an extremely poisonous gas caused by unsafe gas appliances. Dubbed the ‘Silent Killer’ as it’s colourless, tasteless and odourless, it has claimed the lives of many thousands of people. In fact, it is estimated that around 50 people die each year from …
What you need to know about the new 2015 health and safety legislation
It was back in 2011 when the UK government commissioned a review of health and safety legislation by Professor Löftstedt. Despite the fact that Professor Löftstedt concluded no real modifications were required, the government tasked the Health and Safety Executive Executive (HSE) with evaluating and…
Fire Safety: Foam Vs. Dry Powder Fire Extinguishers
A fire extinguisher is one of the most important pieces of fire safety equipment you can have in your car, home, or place of work. What is vital to know is that different extinguishers work on different types of fires.
Unfortunately, all fire extinguishers are red, making it difficult to decip…
Safety at Height: Ladders Vs. Scaffold Towers
In the UK every single year there are accidents related to falling from height that could and should have been avoided. In total, between 2013 and 2014 there were nearly 3,000 incidents where employees were injured from falls from height. Of that figure, 39 people died; that’s 39 people whose lives …
Musculoskeletal Disorders - 5 ways an employer can cut down on absences
Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) were responsible for the loss of more than 8,000,000 UK working days in 2013/14. So how could employers improve to get some of these days back in the future?
These statistics were published by the Office for National Statistics, who also revealed that more…
6 key requirements of an on-line health and safety management system
Are you looking to make managing your business's health & safety compliance an easier, more efficient process? Maybe you're a risk assessor who is looking to the benefits of an electronic system? We all know technology can revolutionise so why shouldn't the legal compliance industry benefit from the…
Frequently Asked Questions about PPE
Have a read below to find answers to some of the commonest questions we are asked about PPE (Personal Protective Equipment). Hopefully, you will find what you are looking for. If your question is not answered, or for further information, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with one of our friendly…
Setting up a health & safety procedure in a new business
Health and safety is a necessity for all new businesses, but it doesn't have to be a complicated process. Working out a simple and efficient approach that complies with legislation under the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974) and consistently ensures the safety of employees can make managing your …