The UK lost 17 million working days to work-related stress, depression or anxiety in the year 2021 to 2022 according to the latest data from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).  An estimated 914 thousand workers suffered with mental ill-health relating to their work, accounting for half (51%) of all work-related ill-health cases (1.8 million) for the year.

Moving and handling heavy or bulky objects on construction sites is needlessly harming the health of tens of thousands of workers every year.  Working in construction is a physically demanding job and many construction workers’ health is suffering due to pain in muscles, bones, joints and nerves that affect every aspect of their lives and in many cases their ability to work and earn a living.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is warning construction workers that the long-term impact on their health can leave them struggling to stand, walk, or sit down.

MD Safety comment:  An asbestos survey is a absolute legal requirement before refurbishment or demollition work.

A Warrington-based construction company has been fined £90,000 after exposing people to asbestos during a renovation project in the Hanley area of Stoke-on-Trent.  Despite failing to attend Staffordshire Magistrates’ Court on 24 August 2023, Esskay Construction Ltd was found guilty in its absence.  

Around 200 workers have walked out of ExxonMobil's petrochemical plant at Mossmorran in Fife over health and safety issues, according to a union.  Unite claims health and safety warning signals and procedures are not in 'full working operation' at the site.  It also said the workers, from three separate contractors, were not told of any contingency safety plans in place.

An Ellon-based tyre company has been fined £9800 for health and safety breaches which came to light as part of an investigation into the death of an employee.  Kairdson Tyres Limited, which provided vehicle recovery services to Police Scotland, pleaded guilty at Aberdeen Sheriff Court on Thursday to failing to ensure their employees had information, instruction and training to carry out vehicle recovery work in a way that was properly planned, appropriately supervised and carried out in a safe manner.

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) has found that Network Rail failed to have a recognised safe system of work in place to cover a revised working arrangement, which resulted in a train narrowly missing two track workers in Staffordshire during July last year.

More needs to be done to protect Britain’s truckers from work-related stress.  That’s the view of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), whose Working Minds campaign will now target HGV drivers – and their bosses – to promote good mental health whilst at work. The Road Haulage Association (RHA) today, Thursday 10 August, joins as a campaign partner.

MD Safety comment:  This is a great initiative for those responsible for fleet management.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has extended its Working Minds stress campaign to cover drivers of heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) and their bosses to promote good mental health at work.  Announcing the news yesterday, the HSE added that the Road Haulage Association has joined the campaign as a new partner.

MD Safety comment: Unfortunately there's so many SMEs out there unaware of their legal duties in respectof H&S.

York-based insurer Hiscox says many Yorkshire and Humberside SMEs have no health and safety policy.    Hiscox surveyed 1,500 UK business owners and decision makers and found over two-thirds (67 per cent) of Yorkshire businesses do not provide health and safety information such as posters and leaflets. Almost two-thirds (59 per cent) do not provide employees with annual health and safety training, either.

Network Rail has a ‘long way to go to improve its management of fatigue’, with mandated hours exceeded too often.  That’s one of the conclusions in the Office of Rail and Road’s (ORR) Annual Report of Health and Safety on Britain’s Railways 2022-2023, published last month.