Environmental Safety Focus

Health and Safety Executive's new year safety message for Greater Manchester businesses

2008-12-29T10:47:00.001+00:00

29/12/2008 10:16
Health and Safety Executive (North West)
(HSE) Health and Safety Executive's new year safety message for Greater Manchester businesses after 7,000 workplace incidents

A total of 7,204 people were killed or injured in work-related incidents across Greater Manchester last year according to the latest figures from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). That's an average of around 138 incidents every week.

The toll, which includes ten deaths, is a stark reminder to the region's employers and their staff that they should resolve to make their workplaces safer in 2009.

David Sowerby, the HSE's North West Regional Operations Manager, said: "Behind these statistics are cases of real suffering and, for some, hardship through loss of income. We are asking that businesses take practical action to manage the risks people face in their day-to-day work."

The 2007/08 statistics for Greater Manchester's local authorities were:

Fatal injuries Total number killed or
injured
Bolton 2 731
Bury 0 393
Manchester 4 1,711
Oldham 0 594
Rochdale 0 684
Salford 0 656
Stockport 1 555
Tameside 0 487
Trafford 1 583
Wigan 2 800
Greater Manchester 10 7,204
TOTAL

Across the North West, 19,135 people suffered workplace incidents during 2007/08 and 28 of those were fatal.

David Sowerby said: "Each year at this time HSE reflects on the number of incidents in the preceding 12 months, and each year the same patterns are repeated. Again, our inspectors have found that falling from height and being struck by falling or moving objects were among the chief causes of death and injury. If workplaces could eliminate these factors, both of them avoidable, these startling figures would be hugely reduced. HSE is here to address the very serious health and safety issues at the root of these statistics, not the banning of people playing conkers."

HSE urges businesses to act by:

* Using safe platforms with guarded edges for working at height;
* Securing ladders properly where these have to be used;
* Securing loads before moving them;
* Laying workplaces out to keep vehicles and pedestrians apart, where possible.

David Sowerby said: "Simple assessments of risk, ease of tasks, accessibility, exposure to harmful substances and training can prevent many incidents.

"HSE works with a number of partners to provide free advice and education to those both carrying out and managing work and we need businesses and self-employed people to work with us to help reduce injuries and make Greater Manchester a safer place to work.

"Each of the injuries catalogued here is not only a personal tragedy for the individual concerned and their family, it also translates into lost working time and a cost to the business involved. When it comes to workplace safety we cannot be complacent, we all have a role to play in 2009."

ENDS

Health and Safety Executive's new year safety message for Cumbria businesses after almost 1,400 work

UK Health & Safety officials raising asbestos awareness on college campuses

2008-12-02T23:01:00.001+00:00

Officials with the UK’s Health & Safety Executive (HSE) are visiting colleges to raise awareness about the risk of asbestos in the workplace, especially among the construction trades. The goal is to reach young adults as they enter the workplace and before they experience significant asbestos exposure. They are also working local companies like construction supplier Jewson’s Barnsley store to promote asbestos awareness directly to tradesmen. Asbestos exposure is associated with several serious illnesses, such as mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis.

For the full story, go to Safety Media.

REACH Navigator - Navigator

2008-10-14T19:14:00.000+01:00

REACH Navigator - Navigator

HSE - REACH: Chemicals

2008-10-14T19:11:00.000+01:00

HSE - REACH: Chemicals

(HSE) HSE warns companies to protect against falls from height

2008-09-12T17:07:00.000+01:00

Health and Safety Executive (North West)

(HSE) HSE warns companies to protect against falls from height

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) today warned employers to take adequate measures to prevent falls from height, one of the largest causes of workplace injuries. The warning follows HSE's prosecution of a Liverpool construction company for failing to implement safe systems for work at height despite repeated warnings.

J&D Property Services Limited of Breck Road, Liverpool was fined a total of £15,000 and ordered to pay £5,000 in costs after pleading guilty to breaching section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 (for which it was fined £12,000), and regulation 6(3) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 (for which it was fined £3,000), at Liverpool Magistrates Court yesterday.

The prosecution follows HSE's investigation of an incident on 28 July 2006 at a construction site at 142-148 London Road, Liverpool. A 22-year-old concrete layer employed by subcontractors R & J Concrete Flooring Limited was laying a concrete floor, when he fell four metres through a hole into the well of a lift shaft which had not been made safe. The investigation found that the lift shaft was not covered securely and the edges were inadequately protected.

HSE Construction Inspector Sarah Wadham said:

"HSE subsequently served a Prohibition Notice on J & D Property Services Limited requiring the company to put in place edge protection. On a further site visit on 7 September 2006 a second Prohibition Notice was served requiring the company to stop work until measures had been taken to prevent a fall.

"J & D Property Services Limited placed its employees at risk by not taking reasonable precautions to prevent accidents while working at height. The company failed to manage the site properly, sent an unsupervised apprentice to carry out work to protect the voids and exposed many workers to risks from falling through a lift shaft opening which was inadequately protected.

"The boarding that had been put in place was more dangerous than the opening itself, because it provided a false sense of security to those who worked nearby. When the injured person stepped on the boarding it collapsed under him, and he fell through the opening to the ground below. He was seriously injured and lucky not to have been killed.

"Falls from height remain the most common cause of deaths in the workplace. Latest figures show that 45 people died from a fall from height at work in 2006/07, with 3,750 suffering major injury. More than half of such deaths occur in construction. Companies involved in building, refurbishment or maintenance must ensure that the work is planned properly and sensible measures taken so that workers are not exposed to risk."

Notes to editors:

1. Section 3 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 states: "It shall be the duty of every employer to conduct his undertaking in such a way as to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that persons not in his employment who may be affected thereby are not thereby exposed to risks to their health or safety."

2. Regulation 6(3) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 says: "where work is carried out at height, every employer shall take suitable and sufficient measures to prevent, so far as is reasonably practicable, any person falling a distance liable to cause personal injury."

3. The maximum penalty for a breach of Section 3 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 is a fine not exceeding £20,000 on conviction in a Magistrates' Court or an unlimited fine in the Crown Court. The maximum penalty for a breach of the Work at Height Regulations is a fine of £5,000 in the Magistrates' Court or an unlimited fine in the Crown Court.

4. Further information about preventing falls from height can be found at: http://www.hse.gov.uk/falls

Asbestos - the hidden killer

2008-08-19T20:51:00.001+01:00

Health and Safety Executive (North West)
(HSE) Health and Safety Executive asbestos campaign aims to prevent history repeating itself in Lancashire

Asbestos - the hidden killer, campaign aimed at young tradesmen

The number of asbestos related deaths in the North West is a reflection of the region's industrial heritage, with four local authorities included in the top 20 for male and female deaths from the deadly disease.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is trying to prevent history repeating itself in Lancashire through its latest campaign, 'Asbestos the hidden killer!'.

Steve Coldrick, Head of HSE's Disease Reduction Programme said:

"People regard asbestos as something only previous generations were exposed to but it is still a present danger. Anyone working in a building built or refurbished before the year 2000 should be aware that it could contain asbestos and take the necessary precautions to work safely."

"The 'Asbestos the hidden killer!' campaign is specifically aimed at young tradesman such as plumbers, electricians and joiners after research highlighted that while they recognised the dangers of asbestos, they didn't believe they were personally at risk."

Every week 20 tradesmen die simply because they have breathed in asbestos fibres during the course of their work.

Between 1985 and 2004, there were 3,097 asbestos related deaths due to past exposure in the North West. In Lancashire there were 598 deaths.

By proportion to population, the statistics show that Barrow in Furness (158) had the highest number of male deaths in the country. Crewe and Nantwich (103) was in 16th place. Blackburn with Darwen had the fifth highest number of female deaths (28) and South Ribble had the 14 highest numbers of female deaths (14).

Tradesmen are encouraged to find out more about protecting themselves against the dangers of working with asbestos by ordering the free information pack from the HSE Infoline 0845 345 0055 or via the HSE website: http://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/campaign/index.htm

A full breakdown by local authority area is included in the notes to editors.

Notes to editors:

1. HSE is working with key stakeholders (Trades Unions, Trade Associations, and Suppliers) to raise awareness amongst tradesmen that they are at risk from exposure to asbestos. During February and March 2008 a campaign will be rolled out to target building maintenance and repair workers (e.g. electricians, plumbers and carpenters and joiners) using the theme 'You are more at risk than you think!' that features both national and regional activity.

2. Asbestos was used extensively as a building material in Great Britain from the 1950s through to the mid-1980s. It was used for a variety of different purposes and was ideal for fireproofing and insulation. Any type of building built before 2000 (houses, factories, offices, schools, hospitals etc.) could contain asbestos. Asbestos materials in good condition are safe unless the asbestos fibres become airborne, which happens when the materials are damaged.

3. The Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2006 requires dutyholders to properly manage asbestos. Further information from the HSE web site.

4. A breakdown of regional statistics is available at http://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/pdf/mesomortality6804.pdf

The number of deaths from mesothelioma in the North West
between 1985 - 2004

Council Male Female Total
Total for North West 2,668 429 3.097
Lancashire 468 130 598
Blackburn with Darwen 32 28 60
Blackpool 61 11 72
Wyre 62 11 73
Lancaster 52 7 59
Preston 42 11 53
Ribble Valley 22 4 26
Chorley 31 12 43
Pendle 28 6 34
Rossendale 21 6 27
Fylde 27 5 32
West Lancashire 29 7 36
Hyndburn 22 4 26
South Ribble 25 14 39
Burnley 14 4 18
Cheshire 439 48 487
Halton 65 5 70
Warrington 48 5 53
Crewe and Natnwich 103 6 109
Ellesmere port and Neston 50 4 54
Vale Royal 66 11 77
Congleton 32 4 36
Macclesfield 45 9 54
Chester 30 4 34
Cumbria 309 29 338
Barrow in Furness 158 11 169
Copeland 34 1 35
Carlisle 40 7 47
South Lakeland 44 4 48
Allerdale 25 5 30
Eden 8 1 9
Greater Manchester 791 137 928
Tamneside 98 12 110
Bolton 103 13 116
Salford 83 17 100
Wigan 99 23 122
Trafford 71 12 83
Bury 56 7 63
Manchester 105 16 121
Rochdale 57 16 73
Stockport 74 11 85
Oldham 47 10 57
Merseyside 661 85 746
Wirral 223 15 238
Knowsley 82 13 95
Sefton 136 11 147
Liverpool 176 38 214
St Helens 44 8 52

Public enquiries: HSE's InfoLine: 0845 3450055
Caerphilly Business Park, Caerphilly CF83 3GG

HSE information and news releases can be accessed
on the Internet http://www.hse.gov.uk

Issued on behalf of HSE by Government News Network North West.

(DEFRA) Presence of the Citurs Longhorn beetle in Lancashire

2008-08-14T22:27:00.002+01:00

4/08/2008 12:48
Department for Environment, Food And Rural Affairs (North West)
(DEFRA) Presence of the Citurs Longhorn beetle in Lancashire

An invasive non-native insect that could harm woodland areas and garden plants in the UK has been identified. The Citrus Longhorn Beetle (Anoplophora chinensis) has been brought in on Acer plants (Acer palmatum or 'Japanese Maple') imported from China via the Netherlands and distributed by mail order. This pest is not established in Great Britain but there have been recent findings in Lancashire.

Although the beetle is known to have been introduced in Acers, it can affect a wide range of trees or shrubs, such as oak, beech, ash, maple, apple, pear, willow, hibiscus, horse chestnut, hornbeam, hazel, birch, mulberry and rose.

Citrus Longhorn beetles develop inside plant stems and tree trunks, taking between one and three years to emerge, and are therefore difficult to detect.

Prior to emergence, there are no obvious symptoms of infestation or the presence of a larva or pupa within a plant or tree. However, large (6-11 mm) exit holes are left by the emerging adults in the stem. These exit holes may be just above ground level, but can also be just below ground level and as such are not visible. Other symptoms can include:

* Scraped sections of bark
* Chewed leaves and damage to the petioles by adults
* T-shaped egg slits in bark
* Saw-dust like 'droppings' or wood pulp around holes and larval tunnels in the wood under loose or thin bark.

Examination of the ground at the base of the shrub or tree for signs of wood shavings provides a rapid method of detecting activity of late stage larvae.

These large black beetles grow to between 21-37mm long and have distinct white markings and long "horns" or antennae. The antennae are longer than the body and are black with white bands. It could be found on a wide range of trees or shrubs.

If you see one of these distinctive beetles, please isolate it in a sealed container and contact your local Plant Health and Seeds Inspector (PHSI) details of whom can be found on the Defra website - http://www.defra.gov.uk/planth/senior.htm or telephone 01904 455174.
The PHSI should also be notified if there is other evidence of Citrus Longhorn beetle infestation.

Notes to editors

1. Further information about the Citrus Longhorn Beetle is available at http://www.defra.gov.uk/planth/pestnote/2006/citlong.pdf

2. All suspect alien invertebrate plant pests must be reported to the local Defra Plant Health and Seeds Inspectorate office or the PHSI HQ, York (Tel.: 01904 455174, Fax: 01904 455197).

Public enquiries 08459 335577;
Press notices are available on our website
http://www.defra.gov.uk
Defra's aim is sustainable development

End

ISSUED IN BEHALF OF DEFRA BY COI NEWS & PR NORTH WEST

Nobel House
17 Smith Square
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Website http://www.defra.gov.uk

Crane crashes into house in Matlock - 13/08/2008 - Contract Journal

2008-08-13T22:42:00.000+01:00

Crane crashes into house in Matlock - 13/08/2008 - Contract Journal A mobile crane has crashed into a house in Matlock, Derbyshire, causing substantial damage to the property.

The 26-tonne mobile crane smashed into the house early this afternoon (13 August), when the family who lived in the house was out. The driver was uninjured.

In-year Riddor analysis – Quarter 2 2007/08

2008-03-31T15:41:00.000+01:00

In-year Riddor analysis – Quarter 2 2007/08

Dangerous onsite stunts return on YouTube - 20/03/2008 - Contract Journal

2008-03-23T14:16:00.000+00:00

Dangerous onsite stunts return on YouTube - 20/03/2008 - Contract Journal

Site waste Management Plan 6th April

2008-03-23T11:23:00.004+00:00

Link to the pdf For site Waste Management plans

Alfred McAlpine fined £250,000 after roadworks death - 14/03/2008 - Contract Journal

2008-03-15T12:29:00.000+00:00

Alfred McAlpine fined £250,000 after roadworks death - 14/03/2008 - Contract Journal

Site Waste Management Plans

2008-03-10T22:28:00.004+00:00

Site Waste Management Plans

Useful Link
SWMP Regulations 2008
Construction and Building trades.

Construction firms are being urged to take early action on waste before the planned enforcement of Site Waste Management Plans (SWMPs) before 6th April 2008. the date when the regulations come in to force.

Originally developed as a DTI Voluntary Code of Practice, SWMPs provide a structure for systematic waste management at all stages of a project's delivery.

These plans are due to become a legal requirement for all construction projects over £250,000 in April 2008. With unused building materials that reaches figures of well into millions of tonnage, being discarded as waste every year, it is set to have a major impact on the industry.

The plans focus largely on on-site operations and primarily identify:

* An individual responsible for resource management
* The types of waste that will be generated
* Resource management options for these wastes
* The use of appropriate and licensed waste management contractors
* A plan for monitoring and reporting on resource use and the quantity of waste

Key benefits of a SWMP:

* Provides structure approach to management and recycling on site
* Reduces cost of waste management
* Increase profit margins
* Better control of regulatory risks relating to materials and wastes on site
* Compliance of contractual needs of public and private sector needs
* Help you to deal with any queries from environmental regulatory