The Trades Union Congress (TUC) and the construction trade union UCATT have slammed the proposed changes to the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR), arguing that they will lead to a further downgrading in safety reporting.
Subject to parliamentary approval, the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 will apply from 1 October 2013.
Trade unions have criticised the changes for reducing the number of major injuries which require an automatic RIDDOR report.
A trade union source listed the following injuries as examples of those which will no longer require an automatic report:
The latest proposed changes come just over a year after previous changes to RIDDOR.
As of 6 April 2012, RIDDOR’s over-three-day injury reporting requirement changed. The trigger point has increased from over three days’ to over seven days’ incapacitation (not counting the day on which the accident happened).
The reduction in the requirement to report major injuries could be dangerous. Many of these type of injury are potentially life changing for those involved. If companies no longer have to report them then they are less likely to take preventive measures to stop them reoccurring.
Ensure your company has procedures in place and that employees are trained, instructed and informed in their work duties and that of the company procedures.
If you require assistance contact us.
Currently there are no national standards for tattooing and body piercing and there is a need to promote safety and consistency across the range of tattooing and body piercing practices, as health risks can arise from improper practice, particularly poor infection control practice.
Such health risks include infections, such as the risk of transmission of blood-borne viruses like hepatitis B and C, and HIV.
It is thought by introducing a guidance will help to ensure the health and safety of both clients and operators and that tattooing and skin piercing practitioners will be operating in compliance with legal requirements.
The guidance is open for review over the next six months, until 8 February 2014.
Click here to read the draft. http://www.cieh.org/WorkArea/showcontent.aspx?id=47704
Employers have a common law duty to take reasonable precautions for the safety of both legitimate visitors and uninvited visitors, such as trespassers, to their premises.
Visitors including clients, members of the organisation normally working at other sites, sales representatives, attendees of meetings, seminars and training events, temporary workers and contractors.
There is also a duty of care to uninvited visitors, such as trespassers. The Occupiers Liability Act 1984 defines under what circumstances a duty is owed. Occupiers will be liable to an injured trespasser if three conditions apply.
1. The occupier knew of the risk or had reasonable grounds to believe that it existed.
2. The occupier knew or had reasonable grounds to believe that trespassing may occur.
3. The risk is one that the occupier may reasonably be expected to offer some protection against.
An employer must carry out risk assessments that take into account the risks to visitors and to others caused by having visitors in the workplace.
A risk assessment is an important step in protecting your business and the people that may come into contact with it, as well as complying with the law.
Good communication is necessary to advise visitors of any particular hazards in the workplace and of emergency procedures.
An employer should also consider any particular requirements or vulnerabilities of visitors. An employer should ascertain before the visitor arrives whether any special arrangements need to be put in place, for example,
Visitors should be supervised, monitored or accompanied as necessary and appropriate, particularly in restricted or hazardous areas. Supervision should be adequate to prevent the visitor from straying into hazardous areas and becoming exposed to danger.
If you require assistance with any health and safety issues, please contact us.
We have waited a while for the temperatures to rise, now that they have some people are enjoying it and some are not.
Forecasters say this is the longest period of hot weather since 2006, with no end in sight to the hot, sticky days and long, muggy nights.
With this in mind, employers and their employees should be reminded that heat in the workplace can lead to stress which is an ignored hazard in the workplace, hot environments can also lead to a rise in safety risks. The heat can be linked to lower mental alertness and physical performance, and consequently more injuries.
Have meetings with members of staff and ask for their opinions in relation to their work duties in the heat. Let them feel part of the decision, after all they’re the ones working in these conditions.
Remind them to drink more fluids and to seek guidance if they are feeling stressed.
If you need any advice contact Walker Health and Safety Services.
PC Exercises
For most office workers, being glued to their desks while typing away at their computers for an average of 8 hours a day is already a part of their normal routine. However, sitting at the computer all day may not exactly be good for the body, as it can bring about backaches due to poor posture and eye strain, among other effects.
On the other hand, being in a desk job does not have to be an ordeal for your health. If you’re one of those people who have to be at a desk all day long, there are some simple steps that you can follow in order to improve your posture and keep your health in check.
Eye blink – Make an effort to blink your eyes more often to prevent them from drying out.
Neck roll – Relax your shoulders and lower your chin, count to ten. Rotate your head so that your right ear is touching your right shoulder and count to ten. Do the same on the other side.
Neck shrug – Sit up straight in your chair and shrug your shoulders up towards your ears and relax, repeat and relax.
Upper back stretch – Sit up straight in your chair, place your palms of your hands on your shoulders with your elbows forward to shoulder height. Press your elbows together and count to ten. Repeat and relax.
Arm extension – Sit up straight with your arms out in front. Press your palms together and count to ten. Repeat and relax.
Wrist rotation – Let your arms fall to your sides and slowly rotate your wrists 5 times clockwise and anti clockwise. Repeat and relax.
Hand stretch – Relax your arms by your side and spread your fingers. Count to ten. Slowly pull your fingers into a fist, count to ten. Repeat and relax.
Everyone should try and do these exercises every day.
These exercises can be done anywhere, not just the office. Try them on the bus, in a restaurant or whilst queuing as we do love to queue!
If there are any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us – Walker Health & Safety Services
