As we all know, Christmas is a time for jollities and japes, overindulging in mulled wine and of course, one too many mince pies. For me, the most important part of the holiday season is taking the time to relax and step back from the trials and tribulations of everyday life.
Although Christmas is …
The possibility of a fire breaking out at work often seems too remote to warrant much attention, and as a result many businesses tend to give insufficient thought to workplace fire safety. In fact, many employees are quite clueless as to what to do to prevent fires and how to react should a fire bre…
Van drivers, along with other drivers of commercial vehicles, need to ward off complacency when driving. This is because they are often driving along the same routes day after day, whether travelling between sites or simply driving back and forth from work. When you drive the same route regularly it…
Carbon monoxide has been called “a silent killer” by Dame Sally Davies, chief medical officer for England, stating that the deadly toxin “leads to 50 deaths every year”. At first glance this figure may seem relatively low when compared to other statistics (for example, from 2010 to 2011, 388 people …
Handling asbestos can release fibres which are known to cause lung cancer and other lung and respiratory problems. According to the 2012 Control of Asbestos Regulations, removal of some asbestos waste is designated a ‘licensed’ task (and must be handled by special licensed contractors).
What …
The implementation of new laws in October 2013 will make it more difficult for employees who have been injured at work to make a successful claim for damages, according to a legal expert.
This could lead to thousands of workers being unsuccessful in claiming compensation for injuries sustained at w…
According to a report published in December 2012 by the HSE, the major accident rate for wood-workers is 17% above the national average for all kinds of machine workers. Such incidents could cost your business huge amounts of compensation, and further problems whilst you wait for a valued member of …
Just about any manufacturing business, and many other types of company, will require warehousing or other storage space of one sort or another. Large or small, managing that space comes with risks – and they may not be in places you’ve anticipated. As a business owner, you have a legal duty to prote…
Starting with a risk assessment
It can difficult to choose the right fire extinguisher for your business. A good place to start is with a risk assessment. Firstly, a risk assessment is a legal requirement. Secondly, it will help you identify hazardous areas, potential sources of fuel and the size o…
Since there are many variables concerning safety in the trucking industry (equipment, drivers, materials being shipped, other vehicles on roads and highways etc.), it shouldn't come as a shock that it's one of the most crucial focal points for many companies. The nature of the industry means that dr…
Christmas is the busiest time of year for retailers as millions of shoppers head out to purchase gifts for friends and family. At this time of year the risk of suffering a slip or fall increases greatly as the cold, wet and increasingly icy weather makes shopping conditions dangerous. To avoid any u…
It doesn’t matter what industry you work in, there will always be hazards. Accidents at work can vary from the very minor and easily avoidable to the potentially fatal.
A quick look at the Health and Safety Executive statistics for last year will give you some indication of the significant amount…
People who work high above the ground have a number of things to consider so that they stay safe. From telephone line workers to tree pruners to window cleaners, all personnel who must work high above the ground need the best, most stable access equipment for height.
Equipment that provides support…
The black and yellow warning signs that we see displayed in different places play an important role in our lives. They protect us from many potentially hazardous situations.
Regardless of the hazardous place, it is always the responsibility of someone to warn all parties concerned about the hazard…
The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) are running a three-part series on Legionella, the latest installment looks at control methods and risk assessments of Legionella in water systems.
Read the IOSH article Good Practice: Legionella in hot and cold water systems.
It is also wort…