Health & Safety News ......(just click on the title to be taken directly to the full report).

18 Aug 2008 Tyre manufacturer in dock over unsafe forklift practices

A worker inspecting commercial vehicle tyres was hit by an unsecured stack of steel pallets that fell off a forklift truck at the Wolverhampton premises of tyre giant, Goodyear Dunlop.

18 Aug 2008, Leisure firm fined over school trip accident

An adventure holiday company has been fined £12,000 for a safety breach which resulted in a child being seriously injured on a school trip.

August 12th, 2008 Worker fatality at Northampton refurbishment site

HSE is urging employers to ensure they have adequate safety measures in place to protect staff working at height. This follows an incident at a Northampton warehouse when a refurbishment worker died after falling seven metres from a tower scaffold.

August 12th, 2008 Construction managers warned to control risks of working at height

HSE has warned employers and senior managers that they must control the risks of working at height in the workplace. The warning follows the prosecution of the manager of a construction company after an incident led to an employee at a site in Mansfield suffering severe injuries and for failing to control the risks from falls from height at another site in Wollaton.

August 11th, 2008 Carillion to pay £94K after young employee fell to his death

Construction giant Carillion JM, formerly known as Mowlem, was fined £70,000 and ordered to pay £24,000 towards HSE costs after an inexperienced employee died in a 17m fall inside an oil storage tank.

July 7th, 2008 Ladder Exchange - starts September

Falls from height continue to be the main cause of death in the workplace and one of the main causes of serious injury. Dont let a dodgy ladder shatter your life. A new Ladder Exchange initiative is due to run in the autumn.

1st July 2008 HSE prosecutes HP Bulmer Ltd and Nalco Ltd following outbreak of legionnaire's disease

At inquests the Coroners' court had directly related the deaths of two people to the outbreak and the Health Protection Agency had originally attributed 28 cases of legionnaire's disease, although this figure was later revised to 26. More legionnaires info...

25/07/2008 - Man fined for smoking in his van

A painter and decorator from west Wales was fined £30 for lighting up in his own van.  More info on somke free England....

June 25th, 2008 HSE warns companies to prevent falls from vehicles following fatal fall incident

HSE is warning employers that they must ensure the safety of drivers who load and unload goods. This follows an incident where HGV driver Nigel Sargeant, age 46, of Boston fell 15 feet from his trailer and suffered fatal head injuries.

20 May 2008 Three asbestos victims awarded compensation
Three workers have been awarded compensation after developing asbestos-related diseases following exposure to the substance in their workplaces. Kenneth Chapman, 74, was awarded £180,000 after developing mesothelioma from exposure to asbestos dust during his 40-year career with New Southern Railway (previously part of British Rail) as a fireman, boiler-cleaner, and train driver.

20 May 2008 HSE consults on Health & Safety Law poster amendment proposals

The HSE will be consulting on proposals for amending the Health and Safety Information for Employees Regulations (HSIER) 1989. A recent review of the current approved poster showed that it was unappealing and rarely read by employees.

It is hoped that the publication of a new approved poster and leaflet provides an opportunity to present clear basic information about employees’ health and safety rights and responsibilities, and how to get further help and advice.

11th April 2008 The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) warn of the danger of leaving live electricity cables exposed after two workmen suffer serious burns.  There is a clear need to properly manage the risk from live electricity cables on construction sites.

4th April 2008 Control of Noise at Work Regulations to come into force for music and entertainment sectors

The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 (Noise Regulations) will come into force for the music and entertainment sectors on 6th April bringing them in line with all other sectors where the regulations have been in force since April 2006. The noise regulations will now apply to pubs and clubs, amplified live music events, orchestras and other premises where live music or recorded music is played (see editors notes).

7th March 2008 - Site Waste management Plans will be required after 6th April for construction sites.

New Regulations will come into force on 6 April 2008 making Site Waste Management Plans (SWMP) compulsory for all construction projects in England costing over £300,000. A SWMP records the amount and type of waste forecast to be produced on a construction site and how it will be reused, recycled or disposed.

4th March 2008 - Unacceptable performance by refurbishment sector of the construction industry

"Over one in three construction sites visited put the lives of workers at risk and operated so far below the acceptable standard that our inspectors served 395 enforcement notices and stopped work on 30f the sites", Geoffrey Podger, HSE's Chief Executive said today.

This comes after The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) carried out over 1000 spot checks of refurbishment sites across Great Britain during February as part of its rolling inspection programme targeting poor performing sectors in the construction industry.

27th February 2008 - 'Shattered Lives' could affect you, says HSE

Every 25 minutes, someone breaks or fractures a bone at work according to the latest figures from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). This week, the HSE launches the 'Shattered Lives' campaign, to highlight the devastating consequences of simple slips, trips and falls - including falls from height - in the workplace.

Every week, one person dies from a slip, trip or fall at work and the serious injuries from slips, trips and falls make up almost a third of all injuries reported to the HSE.

2^nd January 2008 . HSE warns of the danger of not segregating the public from construction sites following the death of a member of the public.  Developer fined £17,500 and ordered to pay £9,500 costs.