Contractor fined following incident at sewage works
A construction company was prosecuted after an incident which saw an employee lose his arm.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigated the incident which occurred at a Huddersfield Waste Water treatment works in March 2008.
View press release ‘Contractor fined following incident at sewage works’
March 31, 2010
Posted in: HSE, Health and Safety 
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Stone workers event is a resounding success
A stonemasons’ health and safety event in Vauxhall, south London, has been such a proved so successful that further events are now being arranged to answer the demand.
Directors, managers, owners and supervisors of stonework companies who deal with quality marble, granite and other stone finishes for the domestic end of the market attended the event. The safety workshop held at Marmi & Granito, discussed the potential health hazards that are associated with this kind of work.
View press release ‘Stone workers event is a resounding success’
March 31, 2010
Posted in: HSE, Health and Safety Comments Closed
Safety Notice – The back-loading and carriage of hazardous oil contaminated bulk cargo on offshore supply vessels
This Notice is concerned with the back-loading and carriage of hazardous ‘oil contaminated cargo’, otherwise known as ’slops’ or ‘wet bulk waste’, on offshore supply vessels (OSV).
Although industry guidelines for the carriage of oil contaminated cargo by supply vessels have been published for a number of years, incidents with the potential to cause fatalities are still occurring.
March 31, 2010
Posted in: HSE, Health and Safety Comments Closed
Potential effects of noise induced hearing loss
This video demonstration of noise induced hearing loss allows you to ’see’ the sort of damage that excessive noise can cause inside your ears.
The clip has been reproduced from “The Hearing Video” by the kind permission of WorksafeBC
View video demonstration of noise induced hearing loss
March 31, 2010
Posted in: HSE, Health and Safety Comments Closed
Top DIY Tips – Have an accident-free Easter break!
We Thought we would share the ROSPA Top DIY Tips with you
March 31, 2010
Posted in: Health and safety click Comments Closed
Podcast – Noise and vibration at work
In this episode: We talked to HSE’s Pete Lennon about tackling the risks from noise and vibration in the workplace.
HSE launches new construction initiative aimed at stopping bad practise on building sites. A Yorkshire council is fined £75,000 after an employee was killed by a reversing truck. New tower cranes laws commence April 2010. HSE Infoline describes what toilet facilities should be available in workplaces.
Listen online, subscribe or download the March 2010 podcast
March 31, 2010
Posted in: HSE, Health and Safety Comments Closed
Firm fined after worker’s arm trapped in drill
An engineering company has today been fined after one of its workers was injured when he got his arm trapped in a drilling machine.
Briggs of Burton plc, of Derby Street, Burton-on-Trent, was fined £5,000 and ordered to pay £1,922 in costs at Burton-on-Trent Magistrates’ Court today after admitting to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.
View press release ‘Firm fined after worker’s arm trapped in drill’
March 31, 2010
Posted in: HSE, Health and Safety Comments Closed
Fired up for Summer
This Sunday last was a pleasant day, summer had arrived with the clocks moving forward on Saturday night and as if to underline the event we had a good measure of sun albeit with a fairly brisk south westerly, ideal in fact for some garden maintenance. It always amazes me just how prolific nature is and once fallen branches, leaves and dead plants were collected we had built a sizeable rubbish heap.
The prevailing wind direction provided a safe opportunity to light a garden fire as the smoke and ash would blow harmlessly across the open fields. And so it proved. When we called it a day and swapped rakes and hayforks for slippers and a cup of tea all that remained was a low hot glowing pile of white ash.
Shortly after seven in the evening as dusk drew in I took the dog out and glancing down the garden to the rubbish fire I was surprised to see fairly boisterous flames flickering in the gathering gloom. I knew immediately what was amiss. On the dyke edge around 10 feet from the fire is a big old willow tree. The centre of the tree has gradually disintegrated over the years and it is hollow to the extent you can see through parts of the lower trunk. Although literally not in the line of fire the gusting wind had clearly blown a hot ember into one of the dry hollows and now the tree was well alight with flames licking out up to 8 foot from the ground.
The fire was burning the core out of the tree and despite copious buckets of dyke water I could not douse the upper reaches within the tree itself.
The wife then remembered we had a couple of fire extinguisher samples in the store that we “borrowed” to safeguard a garden marquee two summers ago. Sure enough we had a 9litre water and a 9litre Foam extinguisher. I was loath to use the foam as the tree like many willows sits on the dyke edge so contaminating the water course was inevitable.
I picked up the 9 litre water and headed for the tree. It was a fair weight and I thought at the time that a lighter 3litre water additive extinguisher would have been as effective and much easier to manoeuvre. The flexible discharge hose allowed me to reach inside the tree and direct the nozzle upward toward the hidden fire. I pulled the pin and squeezed the trigger.
The fire was out within the 20 or 30 seconds it took to discharge the extinguisher. Pretty impressive compared to the gallons of water I had bucketed on previously with little result. It was only the second time in my long association with fire safety that I had used a fire extinguisher in anger. There is no doubt in my mind that as a first line of offence they have no equal.
I put out what was left of the original fire, something I should have done in the first place, and headed back to the house berating myself and feeling somewhat foolish. That’s the third bloody time that’s happened!! Willow ever learn.
Tony
March 30, 2010
Posted in: Fire and safety centre Comments Closed
Recycling firm fined for flammable material used in arson attack
A York hazardous waste recycling company was today fined £40,000 for failing to safeguard flammable liquid that was used in an arson attack on the business.
BCB Environmental Management Limited, based at Marston Business Park, Rudgate in Tockwith, pleaded guilty to breaching regulations 6 and 7 of the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 (DSEAR) after illegally processing drums of volatile chemicals close to unprotected electrical equipment and forklift trucks.
View press release ‘Recycling firm fined for flammable material used in arson attack’
March 30, 2010
Posted in: HSE, Health and Safety Comments Closed
Plumber and mobile home park fined as residents left at risk
An Essex plumber has been prosecuted for carrying out substandard and illegal work at a mobile home park, exposing residents to serious risk.
Harlow Magistrates’ Court heard today how Michael O’Sullivan laid gas pipes underneath a property without ensuring there was proper ventilation.
View press release ‘Plumber and mobile home park fined as residents left at risk’
March 29, 2010
Posted in: HSE, Health and Safety Comments Closed
