Even the smallest businesses have the legal responsibility to manage health and safety at work and are mandated to appoint a competent person to take ownership of fulfilling this obligation.
The definition of a competent person
A competent person does not have to be a qualified and dedicated h…
Offices may not seem like dangerous places to work, but they can pose serious health and safety risks. An estimated 609,000 non-fatal injuries were sustained by workers in 2016/17, according to the Labour Force Survey - and that’s just those that were officially reported.
Given the size of the …
Mechanised 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…
The 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.
Manufacturing can be a dangerous industry, and it’s…
Personal 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…
Workplace safety standards continue to improve each year; however, today’s workforce, especially within a warehouse, still can be dangerous environments with many potential hazards and associated risks.
Warehouse safety goes hand in hand with productivity. Lost workforce hours, damaged stock a…
Nowadays, the world is so connected and easily accessible that business now requires people to fly to the other side of the world in order to sell products, meet clients and establish potential partnerships.
However, as a business sending employees to travel into uncharted territory, it’s vital t…
Cleaning 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…
VOCs, or volatile organic compounds, are a family of chemicals that readily evaporate and turn into gases and vapour. Put simply, this means they give off odorous fumes and increase the concentration of potentially harmful chemicals in the air.
And in the modern age, they can be…
People who develop asthma because of the type of work they do have what's known as occupational asthma. It's actually referred to as adult-onset asthma and accounts for up to 15% of asthma cases in adults. What's more, it's believed that in certain industries, as many as 10% of workers develop o…
Promoting a strong health and safety (H&S) culture is not rocket science, but it takes time, effort and resources!
The overall culture in a company has a tremendous effect on the health and safety performance of employees. Culture is a notoriously tricky concept to pin down and fully unders…
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 …
Whether you're clearing a gutter or your employees are working on a roof, any tasks completed above the ground must be conducted carefully with health and safety firmly in mind. Even the shortest fall can result in serious injury, while more significant falls can even result in fatalities.
In rec…
With 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…
Construction 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…
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 …
Now that the nights are drawing in and we’re all starting to think about turning the central heating on, the subject of workplace temperature becomes ever more important.
The relevant laws that govern indoor workplace temperature are set out by the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Reg…
Minor injuries at work are common, but by following the simple steps below, you can make sure that your workplace is safe.
Repetitive Strain Injuries
Repetitive strain injuries (RSIs) can occur when individuals sit at desks for long periods of time. Today, virtually all office jobs require…
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…
It is a marvel when you get to see tall skyscrapers which are the end products of months or years construction work. The final building looks amazing especially the outer glass panels that reflect the blue sky. Furthermore, occupants get to have the best view of the city’s skyline every single d…