Don’t fall silent intiative

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An excellent and very important initiative from IOSH: The “Don’t Fall Silent” campaign addresses a critical and persistent issue in workplace safety. The focus on prevention and cultural change is particularly vital, as falls from height remain a leading cause of workplace fatalities, as the HSE’s provisional figures sadly confirm.

Here’s a brief summary of the campaign’s key messages and why each point is so crucial:

  • Planning: This is the foundation of all safe work. IOSH’s emphasis on only working at height when “absolutely necessary” aligns with the risk hierarchy of control. The best way to prevent a fall is to eliminate the need to work at height in the first place.
  • Competence: Proper training is essential, but a key element of this is ensuring workers are not just trained but also competent and confident in applying that training. Supervision is critical to ensuring that knowledge is put into practice correctly.
  • Equipment: The campaign highlights the need for not just having the right equipment but also ensuring it’s properly maintained. A harness or a guardrail system that isn’t inspected and in good condition can be as dangerous as having no equipment at all.
  • Culture: This is arguably the most challenging and most important aspect of the campaign. A positive safety culture is one where safety is seen as a shared value, not just a set of rules. When workers feel “empowered to speak up,” it means the organization values their input and won’t penalize them for raising concerns, which is a major factor in preventing accidents.
  • Collaboration: This point recognizes that safety is a collective effort. It’s not just the employer’s responsibility. It involves contractors, designers, suppliers, and regulatory bodies all working together to share knowledge and create a safer environment for everyone.

The campaign’s title, “Don’t Fall Silent,” is a powerful call to action that resonates with the need to actively and openly address these risks rather than accepting them as an unavoidable part of high-risk work. It’s a proactive approach that is well aligned with modern health and safety management.

Records form part of your arrangements

Communicate wisely – Health and Safety investigations dig deep

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Keep your communications professional and make sure you know where they are stored. Useful tips if you are ever on the sharp end of an investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). 

Section 20 of the Health and Safety at Work act 1974 gives the HSE the power to “require any person to produce any books or documents… which are necessary for you to see for the purposes of your investigation”. 

This seems entirely reasonable if there has been an accident or incident worthy of an investigation, and indeed should be welcomed, not least for valuable lessons learnt. But, as an employer or employee, have you ever considered exactly what documents the HSE might be requiring from you, and have you thought how and where they should be stored so that you can comply easily with an inspector’s request? 

Most employers are aware where they store their Health and Safety policy, risk assessments and minutes of meetings such as safety forums or committees. But do you know where your WhatsApp safety chat is stored and uploaded? Could you put your hands on that memo on the intranet that updated the latest safety data sheet? 

More importantly, do you have good knowledge of any communication between your employees on Health and Safety issues which may be informally recorded in texts or emails without any consideration being given to them being read in “hindsight”.

Our basic advice is:  

  • Keep essential Health and Safety documents in one, easily accessed place, whether physically or online 
  • Be aware that your documents and communications may be subject of inspection and keep them current. 
  • Make sure you are actually doing what your documents say you do – if not, change your actions or the documents…  
  • Ensure your workforce are aware that their communications could one day be looked at by an external body and remind them to think before communicating and keep it strictly professional. Don’t forget that can include texts, chats, emails and social media posts. 

 For help and advice on any of your Health and Safety issues contact us. 

Summer safety

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Some key pointers for worker safety during hot spells

Hydration:

Encourage your staff to drink plenty of water throughout the day, especially before, during, and after work.  However sugary or caffeinated drinks should be used sparingly as they may partially dehydrate.

Rest and Shade:

Take or schedule more frequent breaks in cooler or shaded areas – you might consider providing a welfare spot with a gazebo  for shade.  Consider whether workers are able to rotate between tasks where there is greater exposure to heat/sun if frequent breaks are more difficult to incorporate.

Appropriate Clothing:

Provide loose-fitting, light-colored, and breathable clothing. Avoid excessive layers of protective equipment when possible without lessening the protection that may be required for the tasks.

Heat Illness Awareness:

Train workers to recognize the signs and symptoms of heat-related illnesses, such as heat exhaustion and heatstroke.  Make sure that your staff and in particular first aiders know the emergency procedures.

Workplace Environment:

Ensure there is adequate ventilation in the workplace and use fans or air conditioning when possible.  Monitor your workplace temperatures and adjust the work schedules as needed.

This Napo film below has a light-hearted summary …

If you have unique challenges that you need advice on just contact us to arrange a chat.  By the way the Napo films are the property of Via Storia.

Fear of non-compliance on inspection

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A survey of 2,000 individuals who work in varied roles across a range of UK sectors has found 68% of respondents feel their business/organisation would likely not comply with on-the-spot Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspections. 

This is because they feel the business/organisation they work for doesn’t have the data to prove that its fixed and movable assets are managed and maintained to the required regulatory standards.

The article headline extract above makes a strong case to review your maintenance arrangements and record keeping.  The article is rather skewed towards digital asset management records, but the question stands – is your firm prepared to be inspected and would it be compliant?

If you are in doubt about your legal duties and responsibilities (such as suitability, maintenance, inspection, information and training…) then why not drop us a line.  Happy to provide pragmatic no-nonsense advice on an ad-hoc or retained basis.

Happy Christmas 2023

Happy Christmas 2023

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The festive period can be a stressful time of the year. While it may be an opportunity for people to wind down and relax, finishing off work, meeting deadlines and rushing to buy presents and visit family are a few ways in which the Christmas holiday puts increased pressure on people and exacerbates mental health issues.

Pace yourselves and be kind to others, ask for help if you are not coping and reach out to those who may be struggling.

To all those who we advise and those who we will advise nex year, Happy Christmas.

Stay safe over the festive season and if you think there are hazards at the Christmas party you can take some steps to minimise the risks by:

  • Knowing your limits
  • Staying away from office equipment
  • Keeping quiet about work-related disagreements
  • Not asking about that promotion during the party and,
  • Having a good time

Heading for a Fall

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The HSE have published the annual statistics for 2022-23 and there are some stark reminders that people are still suffering injuries or worse in the workplace.

For those of us that work hard to protect people at work one fact really stands out:

“Just three different accident kinds accounted for 60% of the fatal injuries to workers over the last five years. Falls from a height, being struck by moving vehicle and being struck by a moving, including flying/falling, object continue as the three main causes of fatal injury…”

It’s a sobering thought and hopefully one that will get us all looking at the hazards in our workplaces to ensure they are eliminated or properly mitigated.

So, what can you do NOW?

Let everyone in your workplace knows that accidents can and do happen – use the HSE facts to re-enforce your message.

Involve your teams in recognising the hazards  –  use the HSE facts as a prompt for an immediate, practical assessment.

Reconsider if you can eliminate any of the hazards in your workplace.

If you can’t, check your risk assessments are up to date and the safety measures in them are working in practice.

Creating a safe working environment doesn’t just prevent the shock and resulting trauma of an accident for the person concerned it also protects everyone else in your workplace.

It also contributes to a safer work force across the country, which ultimately saves time and money:

“35.2 million working days lost due to work-related illness and workplace injury.  £20.7 billion estimated cost of injuries and ill health from current working conditions.”

Save on Manual Handling courses – money, time and misery

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477,000 workers suffer from work-related musculoskeletal disorders

7.3 million working days lost due to work-related musculoskeletal disorders

Don’t become one of the statistics…

Get up to date now with the latest manual handling techniques for you and your work force and save on lost days and misery…

So Pro Safety offers:

Half day, face-to-face course

Up to eight staff

Delivered at your premises.

Courses start from as little as £65 per person depending on
the number of people attending a session.

Save even more – all courses booked before end of February receive 10% discount.

Contact us now and mention SAVEFEB

Beat the statistics, nurture your work force

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Nearly one million workers in Britain suffer from stress, depression, and anxiety.

These are the latest statistics from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). The figures from the workplace regulator show there were an estimated 914,000 cases of work-related stress, depression, or anxiety in 2021/22 and an estimated 17 million working days lost.

DO SOMETHING NOW

More than ever employers need to ensure that there are up to date arrangements in place to support their employees’ well-being.

JUST THE LATEST FAD!

It’s been a tough few years and mental health seems to be the latest “buzz” word. It’s tempting to ignore it and hope it goes away.

For small businesses making new arrangements around mental health may seem onerous and a little “new age”. However it is not only the “right” thing to do, morally and legally, it actually makes good business sense.

A recent survey from Deloitte suggests the total annual cost of poor mental health to employers has increased by 25% since 2019, costing UK employers up to £56 billion a year. Deloitte’s findings also suggest that UK bosses will receive an average return of £5 for every £1 spent on mental health.

GOOD NEWS

The good news is there are some great resources to help employers comply with their legal duties around mental health.

The HSE has created a Talking Toolkit to assist employers in speaking to their employees and taking the important first step towards preventing work-related stress and developing the actions and stress risk assessment employers need to comply with the law.

Talking Toolkit: Preventing work-related stress (hse.gov.uk)

By law employers need to assess the risk of work-related stress and to put steps in place to tackle those risks. This can also reduce sickness absence, boost morale and therefore help improve productivity.

Work Right is a campaign by the Health & Safety Executive aimed at helping smaller businesses and workers. The Working Minds section offers a range of tools and support to help businesses and workers understand the best ways to prevent work related stress and encourage good mental health. Check out the helpful sample risk assessments. Click below:

Simple steps can make a huge difference to someone’s working life, and we spend a huge proportion of our lives at work…

“Baby it’s cold out there”…

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Frosty Friday and it’s getting colder.

But what’s it like inside your work place?

Are you a “Chilly Billy (or Belinda!)” employer?

Temperatures have plunged…

Are you “hot” on providing warmth for your work force?

At this time of the year, it seems nobody can get it quite right.

The person in the corner is cold and distracted, whilst the colleague under the heating is puffing and panting.

As an employer do you have a duty to keep everyone at the right temperature?

Yes, you do!

The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations require employers to provide a reasonable indoor temperature in the workplace.

This depends on the work activity and the environmental conditions.

The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations also require reasonable workplace temperatures for indoor areas of construction sites.

Under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations, employers must:

  • assess the risks to workers
  • put controls in place to protect them

Temperature in the workplace is one of the risks you should assess whether the work is being done indoors or outdoors.

You should consult with your work force on the best ways to cope with high or low temperatures.

Is there a minimum temperature?

Yes

The Approved Code of Practice on the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations suggests the minimum temperature for working indoors should normally be at least:

16°C or

13°C if much of the work involves rigorous physical effort

Just so you know…

There is no maximum temperature for workplaces.

However, all workers are entitled to an environment where risks to their health and safety are properly controlled. Heat is classed as a hazard and comes with legal obligations like any other hazard.

Assess your risks now…

Want to ensure you are making the right decisions on heating in the workplace?

Head to the Health and Safety Executive’s handy Workplace temperature checklist to check whether you need to assess the risks and get some advice on protecting your work force.

Work equipment markings

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Following BREXIT … the requirements for placing work equipment and machinery on the UK and EU markets, including arrangements for conformity assessment, marking and labelling have changed.

Only safe and compliant products should be placed on the market. Changes made to the UK’s legal product safety framework will allow it to remain operable.

CE marked goods on the GB market

CE marked workplace products will be accepted in GB until 31st December 2022. This includes workplace goods which have been assessed by an EU-recognised notified body.

GOV.UK – Placing manufactured goods on the market in Great Britain.

Placing products for use at work on the GB market: a product safety guide (PDF) .

The new UK mark

The UK Conformity Assessed (UKCA) mark is the new UK product mark for workplace products and other goods. From 1 January 2021 UKCA marking began to replace CE marking for goods being placed on the GB market.

From 1 January 2023 you must use the UKCA mark on all workplace goods products.