Agency driver was crushed to death by overloaded pallet of tiles

A transport company has been fined after a lorry driver who had worked for the firm for just two weeks was crushed to death by a pallet of tiles weighing 1400kg.

Named in local press reports as Petru Pop, the agency worker was carrying out a delivery for Reason Transport UK on 23 November 2016 in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. He was delivering a pallet of stone tiles using a tail-lift and a manual pallet truck. After struggling to lift and manoeuvre the pallet onto the truck’s tail-lift, he lost control of the pallet, which fell onto him. He sustained fatal crush injuries.

Drivers to be banned from picking up mobile phones

It will become illegal for anyone to pick up and use their mobile phone while driving, under new legislation to be enacted next year.  The change will end a loophole that can allow drivers to escape punishment for using a hand-held phone to take a photo or play a game.

BESA GUIDANCE, NEWS AND USEFUL INFORMATION

The Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) has published new guidance to help engineering and construction firms keep their staff safe in the light of new government restrictions.

The Association’s Covid-19 Panel has produced two new guidance documents providing clear and practical information about how to reduce the risk of virus transmission on site and methods for carrying out risk assessments for workers who have to stay away from home

Tough new measures to tackle modern slavery

Ambitious new measures to strengthen the Modern Slavery Act 2015 to ensure that large businesses and public bodies tackle modern slavery risks in supply chains have been announced by the UK government.

Health and safety lessons from COVID-19

It is certainly the case that 2020 has been a difficult year for businesses – and much of this has been down to the COVID-19 pandemic. This unprecedented scenario has made it ether challenging or in some cases impossibles for organisations to work normally. But it is important to also look at COVID-19 as a potential learning experience.

World Mental Health Day

The World Health Organisation recognises World Mental Health Day on 10 October every year. This year's theme set by the World Federation for Mental Health is 'mental health for all'.  

Rise in under-25s video calling when driving, says RAC

The RAC motor organisation claims they've got figures suggesting one in five under-25s are using FaceTime, SnapChat or WhatApp at the wheel.  It says there's a rise in drivers making and taking calls illegally - the highest level since 2016.

Video - Workers rescued after scaffolding collapse

The two men were left dangling on the side of this building in New York City

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Contractor Renown Consultants fined £450k

Renown Consultants Limited has today been fined £450,000 alongside £300,000 in costs after being convicted under the Health and Safety at Work Act for failing to ensure that two of its workers were sufficiently rested to work and travel safely.  

HSE and UKLA have released a revised guide on the management of metalworking fluids

Follow the link to the revised guide on good practice for safe handling and disposal of metalworking fluid (MWF). This booklet provides a guide on how to maintain MWF to prevent ill-health in machine workshops. It has been prepared by a panel of experts from the UK Lubricants Association (UKLA) Metalworking Fluid Product Stewardship Group (MWFPSG) and from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) with additional advice from experienced workshop managers and medical experts.