The National Access and Scaffolding Confederation has reissued its guidance on preventing falls (Preventing Falls in Scaffolding Operations). It has been revised several times and has influential results of its standards, in that scaffolders now use fall protection harnesses and lanyards when erecting and dismantling scaffolding. The National Access and Scaffolding Confederation say that as …
When working with stone, one of the health risks is a fine dust known as respirable crystalline silica (RCS). RCS is drawn deep into the lungs where it can cause lung diseases including silicosis (inflammation and scarring of the lungs), cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Silica is one of the HSE’s top priorities as …
If you have a member of staff off work with a injured ankle for a number of weeks, with no broken bones but badly bruised and swollen. Should you allow them to come back to work, if they asked? Before allowing your member of staff back to work you need to advise them to seek …
If you are planning to carry out some major landscaping works eg. moving earth, paths, wall construction or planting then as a client you must:- Ensure that you employ a competent contractor. Check that they plan to work safely. Monitor their work to make sure that the site and work activities remain safe. Remember you …
The HSE has updated its guidance on its 2009 ‘Managing risks of skin exposure at work’. There has been some rearrangement of the contents, plus:- References to revoked legislation on chemical packaging have been removed. There is no longer a detailed summary of legislation which applies to the subject. A new appendix shows the standard …
If you have the responsibility for repair and maintenance of premises you must identify asbestos containing materials (ACMs) and ensure that they are properly maintained. This duty is described in the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 (CAR). Although CAR came into force in 2012 the responsibility to identify and manage ACMs was first communicated in …
The Environment Agency suggests there are 260,000 business units employing 3.2 million people which are located in flood areas. As we are aware the EA is investing heavily in flood defences because of the effects of climate change. Obviously, Cumbria is the evidence of how devastating these floods are. A case highlighted in the EA’s …
As stated back in September 2015 after the final text of the BS EN IS0 14001:2015 environmental management standard as been launched. The scope of the standard has not changed by many of the requirements have. If you are already following systems which are compliant with the 2004 version of the standard, you have up …
The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 (EAWR) is one of the oldest pieces of legislation still in effect. The guidance has not been amended since 2007. The purpose of the EAWR is to prevent death or personal injury from electrical causes connected with work activities. This covers: Construction of electrical systems, including strength, safety during …
In September 2015 the HSE in Northern Ireland issued a Safety Alert on substandard boards. It describes how the boards failed: The boards did not meet strength criteria before putting into use. The boards have been damaged and not withdrawn from use. The boards have become distorted. The boards have been attacked by insects or …
Weak Scaffold Boards Are A Major Concern In The Construction Industry Read More »