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Health and Safety News

Occupational health and safety news and guidance

Blog posts : "safety"

Infographic: One Festive Tipple Too Many – The Sober Truth of Drink Driving During December

An estimated 10 million British motorists drink and drive. In December, when alcohol consumption rises by 40% in the UK, nearly 8% more people are arrested on drink driving charges than any other month of the year. 

These surprising figures show just how many people are risking their lives – and…

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7 Ways to Prevent Forklift and Equipment Hazards

Image of a forklift truckMechanised lifting and transportation greatly enhances the efficiency of workplace operations - but only if health and safety is given the attention it deserves. Neglecting hazards can cause accidents, leading to loss of livelihood, delayed operations, and disruption to both cost and time-efficiency…

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5 challenges of being a manufacturer in 2018

Photo shows a worker wearing personal protective equipmentThe manufacturing industry faces many challenges year on year. It’s an important sector to both current and emerging markets.

These are the most commonly faced challenges to the industry in the UK in 2018.

  1. Manual handling and safety

Manufacturing can be a dangerous industry, and it’s…

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A Guide to Personal Protective Equipment and Clothing

Photo shows a worker wearing Personal Protective EquipmentPersonal Protective Equipment, often referred to as PPE, describes the equipment that is used in order to protect workers against any risks to their health and safety. PPE covers a wide range of equipment throughout many different industries, with some of the most common items of equipment being hel…

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Chemical Safety in the Hospitality Sector

Photo shows a hotelCleaning products and chemicals are probably one of the most common hazardous substances used in the hospitality sector. Apart from sharp equipment in kitchens that presents a risk, chemicals also present many hazards such as burns, skin irritation and respiratory harm. To minimise these risks, prop…

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5 Health and Safety Hazards During the Winter – And How to Avoid Them

Photo shows footprints in the snowPlummeting temperatures and fallen leaves have been foreshadowing what this “year of the snowstorm” might look like, which is said to likely be the coldest since 2010/11. At this time of year, new potential hazards arise in the workplace – both outside and in – that need to be taken care of to preve…

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8 Unusual Places You Might Find Asbestos

Photo shows an ironing board - some old boards may contain asbestos, covers were also lined with asbestosAs a naturally occurring material, the history of asbestos in tools and products stretches back thousands of years. Its seemingly miraculous properties of fire resistance and tensile strength led to its use in all kinds of products, with a particular boom in the early 20th century.

While many of …

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Using Virtual Reality To Simulate Real Risks

Photo shows an example augmented realityThere will always be a place for PowerPoint presentations, especially if business boardrooms have anything to say about it. But as an effective learning tool, there is room for improvement.

Even the most attentive student isn’t going to absorb everything they need from bullet points and anecdotes…

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Why hi-vis clothing is a vital workplace investment

Photo shows a man wearing a hi vis vest

In very simple terms, the reason for investing in hi-vis (high visibility) clothing for your workers is quite straightforward - it can stop them from being injured. It will also possibly save you from all kinds of reputational damage or compensation claims if one of your workers gets hurt in an …

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Safety measures all construction workers must take

Photo shows a construction worker holding a hard hat

To ensure the safety of themselves as well as clients there are certain safety measures all construction workers must take to assure everyone on a site it free from any potential danger. For more read our article.

Safety measures

Construction is considered one of the most dangerous occupat…

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How to protect your employees in extreme weather

Photo shows farm land covered in snowWith the autumn progressing and winter well on its way, it’s time to make sure employees are aware of the risks that a turn in the weather can bring.

Any job has its risks but some are more inherently risky than others, such as scaffolding for instance. When harsh weather is combined with heigh…

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Building a safety net: Protecting the workplace with effective project management

Photo shows a woman wearing a hard hat holding buildings in her handConstruction sites are considered high-risk environments. Pay a visit to one and you will immediately see why — with large teams of people simultaneously working on various aspects of the project, all kinds of tools and heavy machinery involved and in motion, and the different areas of the site itse…

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Are you taking safety seriously or do you continue to gamble with your employees' lives?

Photo shows a reach truck in a warehouse

Unfortunately, there are still a high percentage of employers who don't take safety seriously enough and are yet to embrace and appreciate the importance of occupational safety.

There is also by some a belief that providing a safe working environment is too expensive, they cannot justify the …

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Understanding the risks of working at height: Key factors to consider

Photo shows workers on scaffolding working at height

In some industries, it’s inevitable that employees are going to need to work at height. This is inherently risky, but it’s possible (and necessary) that businesses identify and assess those risks before reducing them. In fact, businesses have a legal obligation to do this.

Here are some o…

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Chemical safety PPE - top to toe

Photo shows a woman handling a chemical and wearing safety glasses

Working with chemicals can obviously be dangerous. As careful as you may be, accidents do happen. However, with the correct Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) you can mitigate the risk of harm. There are a wealth of different elements of PPE designed to protect against chemical hazards and know…

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Eight steps to becoming a safer driver

Photo shows a woman driving a car

The number of people on the road in the UK is rising, but according to government statistics, the rate of accidents is increasing even faster. That means it is important for us to take steps to become safer in our cars. Here are eight steps to follow to become a better driver.

  1. Adopt a bett…

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Five ways to avoid the Fawlty Towers fire drill debacle

John Cleese and the Fawlty Towers team are extremely good at injecting hilarious farce into otherwise ordinary situations. I laugh out loud every time I watch any episode, including the episode where Basil Fawlty incompetently conducts a fire drill (This is the sixth episode of the first series enti…

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Benefits of ergonomics in the workplace

Photo shows workers in an office

How much money does your company invest annually in office furniture? The chairs and desks your employees use could be costing you unnecessary money — especially if they do not promote proper posture or do not allow users to adjust the headrest, armrest and back. In a survey of 250 companies,…

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Health and safety in the Tattoo Parlour

Photo show a tattoo parlour

Tattoos have always been popular, but in recent years’ tattoos have become less of a taboo and moved more into the mainstream, with 1 in 5 adults in the UK having a tattoo. A study has also shown that 1 in 10 people with a tattoo experienced problems with their tattoo, including swelling, itchin…

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4 essential safety tips for operating a cherry picker

Photo shows a worker using a cherry picker to work at heightCherry pickers – also known variously as elevated work platforms, basket cranes or man lifts – are movable access platforms that can be extremely useful for working at height. Mounted onto a truck, these machines provide high level access for many commercial applications including maintenance and cl…

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20 Blog Posts