safety news letter

Here is an example of a safety newsletters we send out to employees. We can send these direct. If you want to know more contact us at info@she.ltd.uk

safety news letter June 08

Welcome to this month's safety newsletter. The idea of these newsletters is to raise safety awareness and to get you involved. This month’s topic is an introduction to risk assessment.

Background
A risk assessment is an important step in protecting workers and business, as well as complying with the law. It helps to focus on the risks that really matter in the workplace – the ones with the potential to cause real harm. In many instances, straightforward measures can readily control risks, for example ensuring spillages are cleaned up promptly so people do not slip, or cupboard drawers are kept closed to ensure people do not trip. For most, that means simple, cheap and effective measures to ensure the most valuable asset - your workforce - is protected.

What is risk assessment?
A risk assessment is simply a careful examination of what, in the workplace, could cause harm to people, so that business can weigh up whether they have taken enough precautions or should do more to prevent harm. Workers and others have a right to be protected from harm caused by a failure to take reasonable control measures. The law does not expect business to eliminate all risk, however they are required to protect people as far as ‘reasonably practicable’. "Reasonably practicable" means risk vs. cost; if a safety fix is going to cost pennies to prevent a fatal accident then it is reasonably practicable to implement it. If however a safety fix is going to cost millions to save a paper cut then this would not be reasonably practicable.

How to conduct an assessment
The Health and Safety Executive recommend a five step process:
1. Identify the hazards
2. Decide who might be harmed and how
3. Evaluate the risk and decide on precautions
4. Record the findings and implement them
5. Review and update where necessary

When thinking about conducting a risk assessment the following terms are useful:
a hazard is anything that may cause harm, such as chemicals, electricity, working from ladders, an open drawer etc; the risk is the chance, high or low, that somebody could be harmed by these and other hazards, together with an indication of how serious the harm could be.

We can all do risk assessments, and we often do so without even thinking about it. Risk assessment is about applying "common sense". It is knowing what to look for and how to deal with it.

Next month we will be looking into the mechanics of risk assessment, however if you want to know more now go to http://www.hse.gov.uk/risk/fivesteps.htm for information or go to http://www.she.ltd.uk/Risk%20Assessment/risk.html to try and spot some hazards.

Kevin Jones
www.she.ltd.uk

Your company has already got risk assessments - just ask

Top Ten Tips – writing an environmental policy statement

issued to the Northants Chamber:

Top Ten Tips – writing an environmental policy statement
More and more of the “bigger” companies are requesting safety and environmental information from their suppliers and contractors. To help business comply with the raft of environmental legislation and to improve their environmental “credentials” here are my top ten tips for writing an environmental policy statement.

1. Look at what you do and how it “impacts” on the environment. If you use materials then these are a “resource”. Include in your statement a commitment to minimise the use of natural resources.

2. Look at what you do and how it “impacts” on the environment. If you produce waste, then include in your statement a commitment to reducing waste going to landfill through reusing, reducing and recycling.

3. Look at what you do and how it “impacts” on the environment. If you use gas and electricity then add a commitment to being more energy efficient.

4. If you have staff, include a sentence on improving staff environmental awareness by providing information, instruction and training.

5. State that you will comply with all “applicable” environmental legislation and other “appropriate” requirements (you will need to find out what these are).

6. Be honest state “At **** we realise that our activities have an impact on the environment.” If necessary include large/ small to add a bit more detail.

7. State you will “prevent pollution” this will be received well with both corporate and tree huggers!

8. Make it available to all, if you are going to put on your website, do so. If you state this in your policy statement make sure you are doing what you say you are doing.

9. Make it applicable to you and your organisation. It does not need to be “War and Peace”, make it shorter and concise.

10. Include a commitment to “continual improvement”, continual means a gradual improvement over a set period of time. Do not expect to be perfect in one month!

Lastly (and I know this could be tip 11), this is just the policy statement. The real work is the arrangements under pinning it. You do not have to have a system such as ISO14001; it can be a small internal system. As long as it works!

For more information contact she ltd or go to our website www.she.ltd.uk

www.she.ltd.uk

other training providers

For interactive and informative training (Cheshire) go to:
www.achievesafety.co.uk
www.waterhygienecard.co.uk

if you would like links uploaded to our main site contact us at
info@she.ltd.uk
www.she.ltd.uk

Environmental Awareness Training date

SHE Ltd (who provide Safety Health and Environmental services) announced that it will be running a *CIEH Environmental Awareness Certificate Course on June 10th at Sywell.

This one day training course provides employees with knowledge and understanding of the key concepts involved in environmental awareness

*CIEH Chartered Institute of Environmental Health

For further information contact Kevin Jones on 01933 381193/ kevin.jones@she.ltd.uk”

safe environment May 08

In this issue
Seton's Green Checklist
Talking Leaflets
Environmental Tip of the Month

Seton's Green Checklist
Save Energy and the Environment

Seton who provide solutions for safety and the environment have published the following tips to save energy and the environment.

First of all, ask staff what they can do to make your workplace greener. You’ll probably find a few individuals who are really passionate about the subject and will help to drive the initiative through the business.

Introduce a recycling initiative into your workplace. Place recycling bins in every department – separate cans, plastic, glass and paper – and talk to your local Council about the recycling collection service they offer. Also, look to use scrap paper for note-pads and replace the vast volume of post-it notes we use on a daily basis.

Instead of using a vending machine that dispenses a polystyrene cup with every drink, use a kettle and bring in your own mugs. This reduces the amount of rubbish you produce and means that you can get a bigger cup of tea – just don’t forget the biscuits!

Buy a good quality fan rather than using an air conditioning unit on hot days. Keeping blinds and windows shut is a simple way to stop the office heating up. On cold days shut doors to keep the heat in. Ensure your building has sufficient insulation.

Consider using email instead of writing memos and sending faxes. You’ll save paper and ink and it’s much more reliable. Seton invests in an electronic catalogue http://www.setoncatalogue.co.uk and participates in a recycling scheme – we encourage all of our customers to do as much as they can help to reduce their environmental impact.

Encourage employees to reduce their reliance on their car to get to work. Offering improved facilities for cyclists such as cycle shelters , a shower and locker room could make a real difference. The Government is also offering a number of incentives for employers such as tax free bicycles and tax incentives for ‘cycle-to-work’ days – full information can be found at http://www.bikeforall.net/content/cycle_to_work_scheme.php

Save electricity – it’s the biggest contributor to global warming! Buy energy efficient electrical appliances and light bulbs , and actively encourage staff to turn off lights and computers when they leave in the evening – signs placed near the door are a great reminder. The average business spends £6,000 a year by leaving the electricity on over the weekend and Bank Holidays (source: http://www.carbontrust.co.uk/energy/startsaving/top_tips.htm )

For further ideas and information on going green and saving energy she ltd recommends the following sites:Carbon Trust dedicated site to reducing the impact of businesses on climate changeEnvironment Agency dedicated to protecting the environment

Talking Leaflets
Can't be bothered to read?

If you are a sad individual like our Senior Consultant who likes to listen to health and safety pod casts then this is the web page for you! The HSE have published in MP3 format some of its popular health and safety leaflets. They can be downloaded to your MP3 player or listened to on your PC. Go to: http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/tlindex.htm for details.

Environmental Tip of the Month
Clear as day

By altering one thing at a time you can make a difference! Before switching on electric lights, make sure you're making the most of natural daylight. Open those blinds, better still move your desk near a window... (keeping in mind your health and safety!!!)

For more information check out the blog:
http://safetyadviser.blogspot.com/

Check out our new listing on "the best of Wellingborough":
http://www.thebestof.co.uk/wellingborough

or go to our new website:
www.she.ltd.uk

Kevin Jones
kevin.jones@she.ltd.uk

Course Details

CIEH Environmental Awareness Certificate

An ideal course for those wanting to progress environmental management systems.

Location: Sywell
Date: Tuesday 10th June 08
Time: 10:00am till 16:30
Price: £115 per person (including buffet lunch)

10% Discounts for Chamber MembersContact us for details...

Offer expires: 15/05/2008

Contact us for details
kevin.jones@she.ltd.uk
www.she.ltd.uk

Environmental Awareness Training date

Issued on the Northamptonshire Chamber News website

Environmental Awareness Training date

SHE Ltd (who provide Safety Health and Environmental services) announced that it will be running a *CIEH Environmental Awareness Certificate Course on June 10th at Sywell. This one day training course provides employees with knowledge and understanding of the key concepts involved in environmental awareness

*CIEH Chartered Institute of Environmental Health

For further information contact Kevin Jones on 01933 381193/ kevin.jones@she.ltd.uk”

Risk Assessments

she ltd are dedicated to improving health and safety, as such we have launced a new website for risk assessment information. "Spot the Hazard" at:

http://www.she.ltd.uk/Risk%20Assessment/risk.html

HSEs Myth of the Month

All park benches must be replaced because they are 3 inches too low

http://www.hse.gov.uk/myth/may08.htm

www.she.ltd.uk

Training

Need safety health and environmental training?

Check out what we can do

http://www.she.ltd.uk/training/training.html

podcasts

The HSE have recently gone high tec and are now doing podcasts:

http://www.hse.gov.uk/podcasts/index.htm

www.she.ltd.uk