Blog

HSE Investigations: A Business's Worst Nightmare

Mon, 28 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The Impact of an HSE Investigation

An HSE investigation can have far-reaching consequences for a business, including:

🟠 Financial Penalties: Severe breaches of health and safety regulations can result in hefty fines, which can significantly impact a company's bottom line.

🟠 Legal Action: In some cases, HSE investigations can lead to criminal prosecution, potentially resulting in imprisonment for individuals responsible for the breach.

🟠 Damage to Reputation: Even if a business is found not guilty, an investigation can damage its reputation and lead to negative publicity.

🟠 Loss of Business: Customers may be less likely to do business with a company that has been involved in a health and safety incident.

Here are a few examples of investigations which have ended in prosecutions this year:

👉 National Grid fined £3.2 Million - The National Grid was fined more than £3million after its failures left a man with life-changing injuries from working on a pylon in South Wales. He received an electric shock of 33 thousand volts and sustained burns to 40 per cent of his body. National Grid Electricity Distribution (South Wales) Plc and 4 Power Ltd both received fines in relation to the incident, which happened on 3 December 2020.

👉 D&D Commercial Services Limited fined £54,000 - An Essex-based tyre refurbishment company was fined £54,000 following a worker sustaining significant injuries after being drawn into a machine. The machine had been freewheeling to a stop after being used, when the worker was drawn into it by his t-shirt, which resulted in part of his torso being shredded. The incident happened on 19 August 2021.

👉 Dawn Holliday, Landlord, sentenced and fined - A landlord was given a suspended sentence of 26 weeks and electronically tagged for 4 months after putting the lives of her tenants at risk by not maintaining gas appliances at a property in Kent. The HSE was awarded £750 in costs. Despite the Improvement Notice served on the landlord to undertake gas safety checks, she ignored this and further requests from HSE. She also claimed the tenants had moved out and had not been paying rent, and the investigation found this claim to be completely untrue.

Preventing Accidents with H&S Best Practices

To avoid the potential consequences of an HSE investigation, it's essential to implement robust health and safety best practices. Here are some key strategies to consider:

🟢 Risk Assessment: Conduct regular risk assessments to identify potential hazards and assess the likelihood and severity of accidents.

🟢 Safe Systems of Work: Develop and implement safe systems of work to prevent accidents and injuries.

🟢 Training and Education: Ensure that all employees receive adequate training and education on health and safety matters.

🟢 Emergency Preparedness: Develop and test emergency plans to respond effectively to accidents and incidents.

🟢 Regular Inspections: Conduct regular inspections of the workplace to identify and address potential hazards.

🟢 Consultation with Employees: Consult with employees on health and safety matters to ensure their concerns are addressed.

Being investigated by the HSE can have a devastating impact on a business. By implementing robust health and safety best practices, however, companies can significantly reduce the risk of accidents and minimise the potential consequences of an investigation. If you're looking for expert guidance on health and safety, consider partnering with a reputable consultancy firm like What No Safety. We’ll ensure your workplace health and safety policies and procedures are solid, and if an accident should happen, we’ll be there to help you navigate the process.

What is HAVS and How Can You Prevent It?

Mon, 23 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

What is HAVS?

HAVS is a condition caused by prolonged exposure to vibration from hand-held power tools. The vibration can damage blood vessels, nerves, and joints in the hands and arms, leading to pain, numbness, and reduced dexterity. Industries such as construction, manufacturing, and agriculture are particularly at risk.

Did you know that . . .

Vibration can cause long-term painful damage to your hands and fingers?
Shocks and jolts from driving certain types of vehicle can cause severe back pain?

The Dangers of HAVS

The effects of HAVS can be debilitating, impacting both the individual and the business. Symptoms may include:

🔸 Numbness and tingling in the fingers

🔸 Not being able to feel things properly

🔸 Loss of grip strength

🔸 Fingers going white (blanching) and becoming red and painful on recovery (particularly in the cold and wet, and probably only in the tips at first)

Left untreated, HAVS can lead to permanent disability and a significant reduction in quality of life.

Preventing HAVS

Fortunately, HAVS is preventable. Employers have a legal responsibility to assess and control vibration risks in the workplace. Key prevention measures include:

🔸 Reducing exposure time: Limiting the duration of vibration exposure is crucial.

🔸 Using low-vibration tools: Investing in tools with lower vibration levels can significantly reduce risk.

🔸 Providing protective gloves: Anti-vibration gloves can help to absorb some of the vibration.

🔸 Regular breaks: Encouraging workers to take regular breaks from using vibrating tools can help prevent fatigue and reduce the risk of injury.

🔸 Health surveillance: Monitoring workers' health through regular checks can help identify early signs of HAVS.

The Role of Employers

Employers play a vital role in preventing HAVS. By implementing effective control measures and prioritising worker health and safety, businesses can create a healthier and more productive workplace.

Where the risks are low, the actions you take may be simple and inexpensive, but where the risks are high, you should manage them using a prioritised action plan to control exposure to hand-arm vibration. Identifying signs and symptoms at an early stage is important. It will allow you, as the employer, to take action to prevent the health effects from becoming serious for your employee.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has identified good practice controls that can help to eliminate or reduce vibration risk. HSE inspectors are promoting these controls during inspections and will expect to see evidence of the elimination or of the reduction to the lowest level that is reasonably practicable. Where vibration risks remain, inspectors will be looking for evidence that the risks are being managed adequately and that suitable health surveillance is in place

For information on established good practice for managing HAV risks in your workplace please contact us at What No Safety for expert advice and support.

Resources for Information:

Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005

Safeguarding the Future: How to Ensure Workplace Safety for Pregnant Workers

Tue, 20 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Understanding the Risks

Certain workplace hazards can pose a greater risk to pregnant women and their unborn babies. These hazards include:

Exposure to harmful substances: This can include chemicals, dust, fumes, and biological agents.
Physical hazards: Heavy lifting, awkward postures, and repetitive tasks can all increase the risk of injury or strain.
Work stress: High levels of stress can be harmful to both mother and baby.
Long working hours and shift work: These can lead to fatigue and increase the risk of accidents.
Exposure to infectious diseases: This can be a risk for some healthcare workers and those working in childcare settings.

Employer Responsibilities

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE), the UK's national regulator for workplace safety, has guidance for employers on protecting pregnant workers and new mothers. Here are some key employer responsibilities:

➡️ Risk assessment: Employers must carry out a risk assessment to identify potential hazards in the workplace that could affect pregnant workers and new mothers.

➡️ Individual risk assessment: Once a worker informs their employer that they are pregnant, a specific risk assessment considering their individual circumstances should be conducted.

➡️ Control measures: Employers must take steps to control or eliminate risks to pregnant workers and new mothers. This may involve providing alternative duties, modifying work schedules, or providing appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).

➡️ Safe working environment: Employers must maintain a safe working environment for all employees, including measures to prevent slips, trips, and falls.

Empowering Pregnant Workers

Pregnant workers also have a role to play in protecting their own health and safety in the workplace. This includes:

Communicating with employers: It is important for pregnant workers to inform their employer as soon as they are aware of their pregnancy.
Discussing any concerns: Workers should discuss any concerns they have about workplace safety hazards with their employer.
Following safe work practices: Pregnant workers should continue to follow all safety rules and procedures in place at work.
Seeking advice: Pregnant workers can find more information and advice from their midwife or doctor.

For more detailed information on the specific guidelines and legal requirements, refer to the HSE website.

What No Safety can help businesses of all sizes develop and implement effective safety programs to protect pregnant workers and new mothers. Contact us today to learn more about our services.

Why Electrical Safety Matters in the Workplace

Mon, 22 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000

What are the hazards?

“Every year accidents at work involving electric shock or burns are reported to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Electric shocks do not always cause lasting injury but in certain circumstances can result in death, known as electrocution. The sudden muscular contraction during the shock can result in injuries from, for example, falling. Electric current flowing through the body can cause deep burns.” – HSE, Electricity at Work

As the HSE shows, electric shocks and burns are the hazard you might think of first, but here are a few more that might not be so obvious...

🟠 Fires and Explosions. Electricity can kill or severely injure people, and cause damage to property, from the effects of fires and explosions.

🟠 Electrical arcing (sometimes called a ‘flashover’ or ‘arc flash’). Perhaps as a result of a short circuit caused by unsafe working practices, electrical arcing can generate intense heat leading to deep-seated and slow-healing burns, even if it persists for a short time. The intense ultraviolet radiation from an electric arc can also cause damage to the eyes.

🟠 Arcing, overheating and, in some cases, electrical leakage currents. These can cause fire or explosion by igniting flammable materials. This can cause death, injury and considerable financial loss.

Navigating the Dangers

Most electrical accidents occur because people are working on or near equipment that is:

thought to be dead (not electrically live or charged) but which is actually live;
known to be live but those involved do not have adequate training or appropriate equipment to prevent injury, or they have not taken adequate precautions.

Here are some key steps you can take to improve electrical safety in your workplace:

⚡️ Establish a system of rules and procedures wherever electrical work is to be carried out, or ensure that contractors brought in to do electrical work have appropriate rules and procedures. These should be written down and everybody involved must be made aware of them.

⚡️ Provide electrical safety training for all employees. This training should teach employees how to identify and avoid electrical hazards, as well as what to do in the event of an electrical accident.

⚡️ Regularly inspect and maintain electrical equipment. This includes having qualified electricians inspect all electrical equipment on a regular basis and repairing or replacing any faulty equipment immediately.

⚡️ Encourage employees to report any electrical hazards they see. By creating a culture of safety, you can encourage employees to speak up about potential hazards before they cause an accident.

Electrical safety is a serious issue, but it is also preventable. By taking steps to improve electrical safety in your workplace, you can help to keep your employees safe and healthy. If you are a manager or business owner take a look at the free resources linked below from HSE to ensure you and your team are working safely.

What are some of the biggest challenges you face in ensuring electrical safety in your workplace? If you have questions and need expert Health & Safety advice, reach out to us at www.whatnosafety.co.uk

Free Resources:

Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Electrical Safety website

Electricity at Work: Safe Working Practices Guide – HSE

Don't Drop the Ball: Mitigating the Risks of Falling Objects in the Workplace

Mon, 24 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Falling Object Culprits: Everyday Items Turned Hazards

A wide range of objects pose a risk of falling in the workplace. Some of the most common culprits include:

🟡 Tools and equipment: Wrenches, hammers, drills, and other tools left unsecured on ledges, scaffolding, or ladders can easily topple and injure workers below.

🔵 Building materials: Bricks, lumber, drywall, and other construction materials can become dislodged during handling or storage, especially if stacked improperly.

🟠 Inventory and stock: Loosely stacked boxes, heavy items on high shelves, and improperly secured pallets can all come crashing down if bumped or jostled.

🟢 Ceiling materials: Falling tiles, light fixtures, or suspended ceiling components can cause serious injuries, especially in areas with heavy foot traffic.

🟣 Debris and waste: Accumulated debris from construction work, overflowing rubbish bins, or loose scrap metal can create a slipping hazard and potentially become projectiles if disturbed.

Mistakes to Avoid: Building a Culture of Safety

While falling objects can seem like random events, they often stem from preventable mistakes. Some common missteps to be aware of include:

👉 Improper storage: Overloading shelves, neglecting to secure items with tie-downs, and failing to maintain safe clearance from edges.

👉 Inadequate housekeeping: Cluttered work areas, overflowing bins, and failure to clear debris create tripping hazards and increase the risk of objects falling from unstable piles.

👉 Insufficient training: Workers who lack proper training on safe lifting techniques, hazard recognition, and proper use of tools are more likely to cause accidents.

👉 Neglecting maintenance: Faulty equipment, damaged ladders, and worn-out ropes can all lead to unexpected failures and falling objects.

Building a Strong Foundation for Safety

Fortunately, there are a number of effective strategies to mitigate the risks of falling objects:

⭐️ Conduct thorough risk assessments: Identify potential hazards in your workplace and implement control measures to address them.

⭐️ Implement safe storage practices: Invest in proper shelving and storage solutions, ensure items are secured, and maintain safe clearance from edges.

⭐️ Develop a housekeeping program: Regularly clean work areas, dispose of waste properly, and address spills promptly to prevent slips and falls.

⭐️ Provide comprehensive safety training: Train workers on safe lifting techniques, hazard recognition, proper use of tools and equipment, and fall protection measures.

⭐️ Regularly inspect equipment and infrastructure: Identify and address any potential hazards related to damaged equipment, ladders, or scaffolding.

⭐️ Encourage a culture of safety: Empower workers to report unsafe conditions and promote open communication about potential hazards.

Remember, preventing a falling object accident is far easier than dealing with the aftermath. If you need support or advice in assessing your workplace for hazards and forming robust safety practises, reach out to us.

Demystifying Health and Safety Competence: What Every Business Owner Needs to Know

Mon, 27 May 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Competence: More Than Just Training

“Competence is the ability for every director, manager and worker to recognise those risks in operational activities and then apply the right measures to control and manage those risks.” - Judith Hackitt, Chair of HSE until 2016

As Judith Hackitt, Chair of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), aptly states, competence goes beyond just ticking a training box. It's the ability of everyone in your organisation, from directors to managers and staff, to recognise potential hazards in their daily tasks and take the necessary steps to control them.

Here's a breakdown of what competence encompasses:

Training: Equipping your employees with the knowledge to identify risks specific to their roles.
Skills: The practical ability to apply safety procedures and use equipment correctly.
Experience: The on-the-job understanding of how to handle real-world situations safely.
Knowledge: Awareness of relevant health and safety regulations and best practices.

Why Competence Matters

Competence isn't a one-size-fits-all concept. The level of health and safety expertise required varies depending on the role and workplace. An office worker wouldn't need the same level of knowledge as someone working on a construction site. The key takeaway is to ensure your team is equipped to handle the risks they encounter most frequently, especially those with serious consequences.

Your Role in Building a Competent Workforce

As an employer, you play a crucial role in fostering a culture of health and safety. Here's how:

Risk Assessments: When conducting risk assessments, consider the competence of relevant employees. Are they equipped to handle the identified hazards?
Competent Person Appointment: It's your legal duty to appoint someone with the necessary skills and experience to oversee health and safety within your organization. This goes beyond simply being able to perform a specific task safely.
Industry-Specific Needs: Certain industries have specific health and safety regulations. Explore training and certification programs relevant to your field, such as working at heights or handling hazardous materials.

Health and Safety Passport Schemes: A Helpful Tool

These schemes can be a good starting point to check if someone working on your premises (including contractors) has received basic health and safety awareness training. However, remember – a passport is not a guarantee of competence.

The Bottom Line

Building a competent workforce is an ongoing process. By prioritising training, fostering a culture of safety awareness, and appointing a competent person, you can create a safer and healthier work environment for everyone.

Looking for more information on established good practices for managing health and safety competence in your workplace? Contact us today!

abarrett@whatnosafety.co.uk | 01722 326 390