Archive for August, 2011
25/08/2011
Asbestos dumped near children’s play area
Residents were horrified when they spotted the corrugated metal covered in asbestos – a material proven to cause serious illness like lung cancer – abandoned in Newland Road, Hornsey, at the back of Campsbourne Primary School, on Wednesday, August 17. The fly tippers, branded “irresponsible” by neighbours who feared children would not know [...]
22/08/2011
Prosecutions in Great Britain in June 2011
In June 2011, 35 companies or individuals were found guilty and fined as a result of being prosecuted by HSE. Four of these prosecutions, which involved six companies, were related to maintenance work. #1 A worker cleaning a large baling machine was crushed to death when it re-activated. He had received no proper training in [...]
18/08/2011
Asbestos in Schools
ITN News investigated the problem of asbestos in schools for almost a year. They tested a school and did a survey of many schools. Their bulletin provides an excellent overview of the problem – particularly in System built schools which are about 50% of all schools Click the link for a 5 minute film [...]
15/08/2011
Two companies and contractor fined for releasing asbestos
Two Worcestershire companies and a contractor from have been prosecuted for releasing asbestos fibres during an office refurbishment project in Birmingham city centre. Inspectors from the HSE uncovered a series of failings during the refurbishment work that included upgrading a lift containing asbestos insulating board. Birmingham Magistrates’ Court heard how the building owners and the [...]
12/08/2011
Friday Funnies
A Japanese train company which forced its drivers to clean toilets as a punishment is paying out almost £50,000 in fines. The West Japan Railway is paying compensation to 61 of its drivers after adopting the controversial punishment practices, according to Japan’s Jiji news agency. A court in Osaka heard that employees were forced to [...]
12/08/2011
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder (COPD) – the FACTS
COPD is a major cause of disability and death; it is the fourth leading cause of death throughout the world. What are the symptoms of COPD? Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a long-term illness that makes breathing difficult. The lungs and breathing tubes are damaged making it difficult to get air in and [...]
10/08/2011
Mesothelioma robs me of my father
I buried my father today – Bryan Scargill – who died, at 71, of Mesothelioma, a cancer which is exclusive to exposure to Asbestos. As a Safety Practitioner, I see reports every week about employees who are still being exposed to the deadly fibre; I meet employees who are ignorant of the risks and most [...]
09/08/2011
Wall-collapse director to face manslaughter charge
A director of a construction firm has been accused of causing, through gross negligence, the death of a child who was killed when a wall he designed collapsed on her. Three-year-old Meg Burgess was killed when a wall designed by the director and constructed by his company collapsed on to a public footpath where she [...]
05/08/2011
Are you managing your drivers?
The road safety charity Brake has published new research which indicates that one in eight (12%)drivers had nodded off at the wheel in the past year, warning that it takes only seconds of sleep behind the wheel to cause a fatal crash. “Head-nodding” occurs when someone nods off to sleep for between 2 and 30 [...]
04/08/2011
HSE’s Plan of Work 2011/12 – Part 2
The Construction Plan of Work 2011/2012 (Part 2) As well as considering the five generic issues (see previous post), they will also tackle: Management of health risks – they will promote awareness and knowledge of health risks in construction to achieve improved management and a corresponding reduction in occupational disease. Leadership – they will examine [...]
