Health and Safety News
We scour the Internet for Health and Safety related news items on an almost daily basis.
The news articles and clippings, curated by MD Safety, highlight the requirements for compliance with UK Health and Safety Legislation and best practice across all industry sectors.
The majority of the information and cases will apply to a greater or lesser degree to our broad range of Clients and lessons to be learned will be able to be gained.
Construction company fined after worker falls from domestic garage roof
A construction company has been fined for failing to comply with work at height regulations after a worker fell from a garage roof in Worcester. Kidderminster Magistrates’ Court heard that on 4 February 2020, the worker had accessed the roof using a ladder and was working on his knees with his side to the open edge whilst fitting a rubber trim. There wasn’t any edge protection in place and he fell from the roof. He sustained a broken hip, fractures to his foot and knee damage as a result of the fall.
Read MoreWorking safely during coronavirus (COVID-19)
Find out how to reduce the risk of COVID-19 spreading in your workplace - from 19th July 2021. These new guides cover a range of different types of work. You may need to use more than one of these guides as you think through what you need to do to keep people safe.
Read MoreIs the Health and Safety at Work Act a problem?
Subash Ludhra, Managing Director at Anntara Management Ltd and former IOSH President, looks at how people’s attitude towards health and safety has potentially impacted the Health and Safety at Work Act.
Read MoreTool company fined after employee sustains fatal head injuries
Cheltenham Tool Company Limited has been fined after an employee was fatally injured while moving heavy machinery. Cheltenham Magistrates’ Court heard how on 13 November 2019, 57-year-old Ian Challinor, a maintenance engineer at the company, was working with colleagues to move a large and heavy milling machine using a forklift and machine-moving skates. During the work at the site on Swindon Road, Cheltenham, the machine became unstable and toppled onto him causing fatal head injuries.
Read MoreFatalities spike in agricultural industry
Agriculture is one of the most hazardous industries in the world. Latest GB figure have revealed a spike in fatalities in an industry renowned for its under-reporting. In April this year, 21-year-old farmer Caroline Rennie was found dead in a field in Aberdeenshire following an accident with a tractor and seed drill.
Read MoreEmployee killed in electrical incident
A warehouse management solutions company has been fined after an employee was electrocuted while servicing an air compressor. Andrew Meade was carrying out pre-planned maintenance on an air compressor at a distribution centre in Gravesend, when he was electrocuted. Maidstone Magistrates’ Court was told. He was not found for more than an hour following the incident, which happened on 8 December 2017. His injuries were fatal.
Read MoreViolence and abuse against shop workers increasing
Violence and abuse against shop workers is on the rise but the perpetrators are rarely prosecuted, according to new research. The retail trade body, the British Retail Consortium (BRC), says there were on average 455 incidents a day in 2019, up 7% on the previous year. It said things have worsened during the coronavirus pandemic and called for greater legal protections for retail workers.
Read MoreJuice manufacturing company fined after worker loses fingers
Fruit juice manufacturer, AMC Freshly Squeezed (UK) Ltd, has been fined after an employee had three fingers of their right hand severed whilst cleaning a screw conveyor.Liverpool Magistrates’ Court heard that on the 25 July 2019, a production operative was carrying out the daily process of cleaning the extraction area at their premises in Whitemoss Business Park in Skelmersdale.
Read MoreNadhim Zahawi says mask wearing will be expected after 19 July
Minister signals harder stance on face coverings in England as soaring Covid infections cause concern. Masks will still be expected in crowded places such as public transport when most remaining Covid restrictions are lifted later this month, a minister has said, in a marked toughening up of rhetoric amid concerns over soaring infection rates.
Read MoreHSE releases annual workplace fatality figures for 2020/21
Provisional data released today shows that a total of 142 workers were killed at work in Great Britain in 2020/21, an increase of 29 from the previous year, though the number of deaths in 2019/20 (113) was low compared to other recent years. In statistical terms the number of fatalities has remained broadly level in recent years – the average annual number of workers killed at work over the five years 2016/17-2020/21 is 136.
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