Health and Safety Executive updates welding fume extraction regulations

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has released an updated best practises guide on welding fume extraction.  In response to the new guide, Engweld, a supplier of engineering and welding equipment, has summarised the update and highlighted the key changes which may affect its customer base.  New enforcement expectations require all businesses undertaking welding activities to ensure that effective engineering controls are provided and used correctly to control fumes arising from welding activities.

Advice

IOSH Coronavirus Advice and support

Employers and occupational safety and health (OSH) professionals have a vital role to play in preventing the spread of coronavirus.  In an effort to mitigate the spread of the disease, an increasing number of employers are making efforts to modify working patterns, including encouraging staff to work from home if they develop any of the symptoms.  During a worldwide emergency like this, many employees can feel anxious and concerned about their health, safety and wellbeing. It is important that employers communicate with their staff in order to allay these concerns to the best of their ability.

Social distancing, keeping businesses open and in-work activities during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

The latest COVID-19 information from the HSE, TUC and CBI:

Lone working

A summary of your duties to protect lone workers

Protect lone workers from  stress and other work-related health problems

How to make sure lone workers are healthy and safe

How to train lone workers,  keep in touch with them and monitor their health and safety

Protect home workers

As an employer, you have  the same health and safety responsibilities for home workers as for any other workers.  When someone is working  from home, permanently or  temporarily, as an employer you should consider:

- There will always be  greater risks for lone workers with no direct supervision or anyone to help  them if things go wrong.

- Keep in touch with lone  workers, including those working from home, and ensure regular contact to make  sure they are healthy and safe.

- If contact is poor, workers may feel disconnected, isolated or abandoned. This can affect stress levels and mental health. 

HSE issues exemption for the manufacture and supply of biocidal hand sanitiser products in the UK

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has taken steps to support hand sanitiser manufacturers as UK production is increasing to tackle Coronavirus.  Due to unprecedented demand for biocidal hand sanitiser products during the coronavirus outbreak, HSE is providing derogations that will assist the UK manufacture and supply of biocidal hand-sanitiser products that use propanol as their active ingredients. During the temporary exemption, biocidal hand sanitiser products containing Propan-2-ol will not be required to obtain a product authorisation if they meet the relevant WHO-specified formulation II.

Coronavirus advice for employers

People unable to work for more than seven days because of coronavirus (COVID-19) can obtain an isolation note through a new online service. Isolation notes will provide employees with evidence for their employers that they have been advised to self-isolate due to coronavirus, either because they have symptoms or they live with someone who has symptoms, and so cannot work.

Building firm fined after worker injured

Stan England Builders Limited has been fined following an incident when a worker suffered serious injuries after falling from a mezzanine level and wooden platform.  Aberdeen Sheriff Court heard that on 31 March 2016, Alan Ness was working at a residential property in Banchory. He began taping areas on the ceiling of a mazzine level. He gained access to this level by a wooden platform which had a ladder propped against it. As he was working close to the edge of the mezzanine level, he lost his footing and stumbled a drop of 18.5cm onto the wooden platform. He was unable to regain his footing and fell a further 2.5 metres head first onto the floor below. He sustained head, back and neck injuries.

£600,000 fine for yoghurt manufacturer

A Telford yoghurt manufacturing company has been fined £600,000 fine after two employees suffered serious injuries following the release of an acidic cleaning solution.  Telford Magistrates heard that, on 1 January 2016, one of the employees of T M Telford Dairy Ltd suffered serious burns from contact with 1% nitric acid cleaning solution that had a temperature of 650C, when working on a faulty valve on a “cleaning in place” system on the company site in Donnington Wood.  The valve blew off under pressure and the hot acidic cleaning fluid surged out, hitting the roof overhead and spraying on to the workers. While trying to escape from the acidic cleaning fluid, one of the engineers fell from a hooped ladder and sustained a head injury.

Coronavirus (COVID-19): latest information and advice

The Department of Health & Social Care (DHSC) and Public Health England (PHE) are leading the UK government response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.  

You can get up-to-date information about Coronavirus (COVID-19) and what you need to do on GOV.UK.