Health and Safety News Roundup as on 17/07/08

Written By Helen Griffiths | Jul 17th, 2008 | | | Category: Health And Safety News Roundup

This week has witnessed a horrific accident involving a contracted rail worker doing maintenance work on the tracks near Rugby. Network Rail hasn’t released any details of the accident but this type of accident is a rare occurrence in today’s world. Also, notably the crane disaster action group BCDAG has now rejected the recommendation to form a central crane registrar.

Here is a summary of health and safety news from last ten days:-

Investigation into rail-worker’s death - July 16, 2008

A 41-year-old man was carrying out maintenance work on the mainline south of Rugby Station on Saturday morning when he suffered serious injuries, which eventually led to his death. Details about the accidents have not been released yet by Network Rail.

Risk assessments ‘key to reducing accident numbers’ - July 15, 2008

Vladimir Spilda, the European commissioner for employment, social affairs and equal opportunities, claims that millions of workers in the European Union take up to three days off from work as a result of workplace injuries. The resultant loss in revenue because of this is a major concern.

Council to invest in health and safety officers - July 10, 2008

According to the Thurrock Gazette, the local authority will spend £130,000 a year on the new employees after deciding changes in the law meant they had to be more thorough with their health and safety management.

Coroner to highlight ‘need to revise European safety standards’ - July 10, 2008

A Liverpool coroner is to write to Lord McKenzie to bring to his attention possible flaws in the safety standards of cranes following the death of a Polish employee on a Liverpool construction site last year.

Action group wants cranes to be registered - July 8, 2008

The Battersea Crane Disaster Action Group (BCDAG) has rejected government claims that a central register of cranes is not needed. Most notably, the group itself had put in suggestions for the creation of the registrar.

Company fined after OAP fall - July 8, 2008

Progas Heating, of Denny, Stirlingshire, was handed the penalty at Edinburgh Sheriff Court after an 89-year-old Edinburgh woman fell through a hatch in her kitchen floor which had been left open by a worker from the firm.