safe environment April 07

director fined £2,000 after ignoring Health and Safety Executive enforcement notices
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) reminded company directors that they must ensure that work is carried out whenever required by an Enforcement Notice or face the legal consequences.
In April a director of Techlink Enterprises Ltd, an office furniture manufacturer, of was charged with offences related to failing to comply with two Improvement Notices. Ormskirk Magistrates’ Court fined him £2,000 and ordered him to pay £1,000 costs.

HSE Inspector Lisa Bailey said:
"The Improvement Notices offered the opportunity to carry out the work that needed to be done to ensure that employees didn’t suffer ill health because of the wood dust in the air and that a hand rail was fitted to the mezzanine level.”

"When HSE returned the work had not been carried out and this prosecution has resulted. Improvement Notices are only issued where action needs to be taken for the safety and protection of employees. In this case a company director did not ensure the work was carried out when the Improvement Notices were issued, leaving the health and safety of staff at risk.”
The director pleaded guilty of two charges under section 37(1)(1) Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, of allowing offences to be committed by the company of failing to comply with the requirements of Improvement Notices.

Myth of the Month
The HSE has launched a myth of the month series aimed at correcting common misconceptions about HSE. This month’s myth is “HSE has banned stepladders”.
“We have not banned stepladders - nor have we banned ladders! Despite this, the allegation is regularly repeated and some firms have fallen for the myth and acted upon it.
For straightforward, short duration work stepladders and ladders can be a good option, but you wouldn’t want to be wobbling about on them doing complex tasks for long periods. A large number of workers are seriously injured or killed using ladders and stepladders each year. So:
· Yes – we want people to use the right equipment for the job.
· Yes – there are some common-sense rules for using them safely.
· But no – we have not banned them! “

CDM 2007
The new Construction (Design and Management) Regulations (CDM 2007) were launched April 6th

Inovation not revolution

2.2 million people work in Britain’s construction industry, making it the country’s biggest industry. It is also one of the most dangerous. In the last 25 years, over 2,800 people have died from injuries they received as a result of construction work. Many more have been injured or made ill. These regulations are intended to improve this accident and ill health record further.

Kevin Jones
www.safetyadviser.co.uk