From 6 April 2012 [subject to Parliamentary approval] RIDDOR’s over three day injury reporting requirement will change. From then the trigger point will increase from over three days’ to over seven days’ incapacitation (not counting the day on which the accident happened).

 Incapacitation means that the worker is absent or is unable to do work that they would reasonably be expected to do as part of their normal work.

 Employers and others with responsibilities under RIDDOR must still keep a record of all over three day injuries – if the employer has to keep an accident book, then this record will be enough.

 The deadline by which the over seven day injury must be reported will increase to 15 days from the day of the accident.

 New guidance that explains the change will be available to download from the HSE website on 16 January 2012 - http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/l73.htm

The Chancellor has promised that 84% per cent of health and safety regulation will be scrapped or improved, according to this year’s Budget. Last year, in its response to the Löfstedt review, the Government said it is committed to reduce health and safety regulation by more than half. The latest figure announced in the Budget takes into account last year’s Red Tape Challenge, which asked the public and business for their suggestions on which laws could be amended, or revoked entirely.

A Treasury spokesperson confirmed that “167 of the 199 health and safety regulations considered as part of the Red Tape Challenge” will either be withdrawn or improved. To help businesses make sense of this huge legislative streamlining exercise, the Budget commits the HSE to redesign information on its website this year to distinguish between regulations that impose specific duties on businesses and those that define ‘administrative requirements’.

RIDDOR

Among the significant legislative changes that had previously been announced by the Government, the Budget highlights amending RIDDOR, by extending to seven days, from three, the period an employee needs to have taken off work before an injury or incident needs to be reported – a change that is due to come into force next month.

FIRST AID

Also highlighted is an amendment to the Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981 to remove the requirement for the HSE to approve the training and qualifications of appointed first-aid personnel.

STRICT LIABILITY

The Budget reaffirms that changes in strict liability will be brought in this year, so that health and safety law will no longer hold employers to be in breach of their duties in civil law where they have done everything that is reasonably practicable and foreseeable to protect their employees. In addition to this measure, the Budget announces that the HSE will provide more help for businesses by this summer on what is ‘reasonably practicable’ in respect of specific activities, where evidence demonstrates that businesses need further advice to comply with the law in a proportionate way.

A new ban on some supply and use of paint strippers containing the hazardous substance ‘dichloromethane’ (DCM, and also known as methylene chloride) is coming into force.

For the purposes of this ban, the term ‘paint stripper’ is taken to mean DCM (or mixtures containing it) intended for stripping paint, varnish or lacquer.

Pure DCM (or mixtures containing it) sold and used for other purposes (e.g. degreasing) aren’t banned and can continue to be sold and used (although not for stripping paint).

The new ban makes a distinction between three types of use:

• ‘Industrial’ use of paint strippers in ‘industrial installations’ (i.e. facilities where paint stripping takes place) – this is allowed to continue as long as certain safe working practices are followed.
• ‘Professional’ use by workers where this takes place away from an industrial installation. This will be banned, but UK can choose to allow continued safe use by specifically trained professionals.
• ‘Consumer’ use by the general public, such as DIY. Supply to consumers is banned.
• Industrial use

Use of DCM-based paint strippers can continue in industrial installations so long as certain safe working practices are followed.

For more information, email Andrew on Andrew@spectrumrisk.co.uk

A manufacturing company has been prosecuted for continually falling below acceptable health and safety standards at its factory.

Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard that skip manufacturer received nine Improvement Notices and a Prohibition Notice for safety failings at its premises

During a visit, a HSE Inspector learned that the company did not have examination certificates for lifting equipment at the factory, which meant the devices, had not been tested & also discovered that staff were operating mobile cranes and forklifts without any training.

The inspector revisited the factory on three separate occasions and during each visit found additional safety deficiencies.

These included flammable substances being stored outside, rather than inside a fire-resistant unit.

There were also inadequate systems in place to ventilate harmful gases, which were created on the production line, and staff were not issued with adequate respiratory protection.

Other dangers included an unguarded dimension saw, and the factory’s electric wiring was in such a bad condition that workers were at risk of coming into contact with exposed electrical wires.

The Company appeared in court on 29 February and pleaded guilty to breaching s2 (1) of the HSWA 1974. It was fined £18,000, plus full costs of £6210.

HSE Construction inspectors will be carrying out an intensive inspection initiative during February and March 2012.

These inspections will focus on the refurbishment/building site risks that make construction one of Britain’s most dangerous industries – working at height safely, good order on site, and the risks associated with the removal of asbestos.

• Falls from height remains one of the most common causes of fatalities and major injuries in the construction industry, with more than five incidents every day.
• 54% of the workers who have died in construction over the last few years were doing refurbishment, repair and maintenance jobs.

HSE will not hesitate to take action if they find poor practice that is putting the lives of workers and the public at risk

Why is HSE interested in COPD

There is increasing research evidence that COPD can be caused or made worse by dusts, fumes and irritating gases at work.

Work related COPD is a priority because of the human costs in terms of suffering, its effects on the quality of life and the financial costs due to working days lost and medical treatment.

Research findings suggest that for Great Britain: –

• Around 15% of COPD may be caused or made worse by work
• 4000 COPD deaths every year may be related to work exposures
• 40% of COPD patients are below retirement age
• A quarter of those below retirement age are unable to work at all

Can COPD be cured?

Once COPD develops the damage to the lungs cannot be reversed. However you can help stop it getting worse by reducing exposure to the dust, fume and irritating gases at work that are causing the problem, and if you do smoke, by stopping.

You should consult your doctor for further medical information and advice on treatments.

COPD is a major cause of disability and death. It is the 4th 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 out. Walking up a hill, playing football or even playing with your grandchildren can become difficult because of shortness of breath.

Other common symptoms include;

• a persistent chesty cough and phlegm
• wheeze
• more frequent and troublesome chest infections

COPD is a slow developing condition, the symptoms tend only to start becoming a problem in mid-life, usually in the late forties onwards.

Because COPD creeps up slowly, many people do not realise they have the disease. They think their symptoms are simply due to lack of fitness or getting older. This means that often the disease does not get diagnosed in the early stages.

The sooner you realise you have lung problems, the quicker you can try to stop smoking and reduce harmful exposures to dusts, fumes and gases. Medical treatments may also help.

More to follow tomorrow……………………………………

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The waste was found on Freeman Road North in early November and a week later more was discovered at Thurnby Lodge Boys Club on Thurncourt Road.

In both cases, corrugated asbestos waste was found in large sheets or smashed up and sealed in plastic bags.

Leicester City Council’s environmental crime team said it was investigating. Councillor Sarah Russell, one of the assistant city mayors, said if the asbestos material discovered was not disturbed by the public, it was “unlikely” to have any health implications to people.

“The dumping of asbestos material in public places like this is highly irresponsible and a matter we treat very seriously,” she said.

“There are strict guidelines about the way asbestos material is disposed of and the implications of not following these guidelines can lead to a prosecution.”

Enforcement officer Paul Rudkin, from Leicester City Council, added: “We are appealing to any members of the public who may have had an asbestos structure removed recently, or who have any information whatsoever that may assist with our investigation.”

Source: BBC News Leicester

A man has died in hospital after a tyre explosion at a small family business in Wales.

The victim, who has yet to be named, is thought to have been inflating a tyre at the metal fabrication workshop in Pumsaint, Carmarthenshire, when the accident happened. Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue service sent two fire crews to the village from Lampeter and Llandovery after the alarm was raised.

Witnesses had reported hearing a “loud bang” at about 9.30am on Wednesday at the business in the centre of the village. Paramedics also attended the scene and the man, who was in his 30s, was airlifted to hospital.

A spokesman for Dyfed-Powys Police said the man later died from his injuries. Investigations into the cause of the accident are continuing.

Two-fifths of workers feel under pressure to be seen at work in a growing trend that has been blamed on the tough economic times, a study has said.

More than a quarter thought the amount of time spent at their office desk was considered a measurement of their performance, said the survey which found an increasing tendency towards “presenteeism”. A similar amount said their line managers did not let them work flexibly despite staff believing it would improve their productivity.

Mobile phone giant O2, which carried out the survey involving 2,000 office workers, said it suggested many businesses were missing out on benefits of flexible working. These included productivity gains, better employee and customer engagement, and efficient processes.

Flexible working was dropped for many workers due to increasing pressure to show they are in the office, said David Plumb, of O2.

He added: “We have found that flexible working has different mindsets depending on if you are the employee or the employer, and that employees spending more time at their desks because they believe they have to is not going to contribute to driving UK business forward.”