Electricity – overhead power lines
The law says that any work near electric overhead power lines must be carefully planned and carried out to avoid danger from accidental contact or close proximity to the lines. The precautions necessary will depend on the nature of the work at the site and will be required even when work near the line is […]
What are the health risks from asbestos?
Asbestos is responsible for over 4000 deaths every year. Younger people, if routinely exposed to asbestos fibres over time, are at greater risk of developing asbestos-related disease than older workers. This is due to the time it takes for the body to develop symptoms after exposure to asbestos. Exposure to asbestos can cause four main […]
Time to clear the air
People often work in air contaminated with dust, fume and other airborne hazards that can damage health or even lead to an early death. In many cases when exposure cannot be avoided, employers will use respiratory protective equipment (RPE) to protect their workforce. Where RPE is used, it must be able to provide adequate protection […]
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CHAS move to online forms
CHAS are developing electronic applications forms to make it easier for clients to prepare and upload information. Future applications will also be easier as previously submitted information will be available to edit instead of having to be completely re-submitted. They are hoping to have completed designing the system by the end of July which they […]
Burning issue
Eight years on from the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 coming into force, fire statistics show a significant reduction in fires, but an increase in enforcement actions against businesses for breaches of fire safety. Risk assessment is the cornerstone of fire safety and the 13 fire advisory guides produced by the Government are now […]
Health & Safety Insurance Cover
Recently there has been a trend, following workplace incidents involving injury or a fatality, for investigators to look not only at companies and their management but also at the role and responsibility of the health and safety advisor. Many safety advisors think they are covered by either Professional Indemnity or Public and Products Liability Insurance, or […]
Trench Work
According to BS6031 Code of practice for earthworks, a trench is any excavation whose length greatly exceeds it width. They sometimes qualify under the Confined Spaces Regulations. Incidents in trenches are not as common as falls from stepladders, but are often fatal. A typical small trench collapse will contain 800kg of soil, which is equivalent […]
Safety Nets
It is estimated that safety nets are rigged beneath more than 12,000 workers and that there are approximately 200 “worker-net contacts” a year in the UK. Nets need to be rigged correctly, using suitable anchor points that can cope with the European standard of a peak load of six kilonewtons at 45°. (more…)
Safe use of ladders
Ladders are hard to match for versatility and ease of use when working at height, but they must be inspected regularly to keep them safe. Pre-use checks should be carried out immediately before the ladder is used and recorded inspections should be carried out at suitable intervals and after any event that could have compromised […]