Health and Safety News Update as on Week ending 25 July 2008

Written By Helen Griffiths | Jul 26th, 2008 | | | Category: Health And Safety News Roundup

The big news of the week has been the penalising of Rolls Royce. The company was fined £120,000 when they were found to be guilty of exposing some of their workers to hazardous substances. The HSE has also cracked down on a firm not ensuring safety for workers working at heights. In another of the HSEs inspections in Tyneside, 14 firms were given official notices for not maintaining adequate safety measures.

APN Highlights Forklift Health and Safety Awareness - July 24, 2008

The Association of Pallet Networks (APN) has launched a safety poster campaign to raise awareness of what employees and bosses should do in the event of a forklift truck rollover. Entitled ‘Buckle Up, No Excuses’, the safety posters have been developed by the APN’s health and safety forum group, roadtransport.com reports.

PABIAC Launches Phase 2 of Health and Safety Drive - July 24, 2008

The Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) Paper and Board Industry Advisory Committee (PABIAC) has launched the second phase of its plan to improve the health and safety performances of companies which operate in the papermaking, corrugated packaging and recovered paper sectors.

Entitled ‘Making a Difference 2008-2011′, the initiative sets out the strategic direction for health and safety in the industry for the next three years and sets targets for firms to aim for, one of which is to reduce the annual injury incidence rates from the current figure of around 1,170 per 100,000 employees to 850.

MEP’s Call for Health and Safety Training for Young Workers - July 23, 2008

Three MEPs have called for employers to invest more to ensure the health and safety of young workers is protected in the workplace by facilitating suitable training and instruction.

Derek Clark, UK Independence Party MEP for the east Midlands, Jean Lambert, Green MEP for London and Chris Heaton-Harris, Conservative MEP believe educating inexperienced employees about the dangers present in the working environment must be driven home.

Tyneside firms targeted in HSE crackdown - July 22, 2008

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) recently inspected more than 100 companies as part of its drive to improve health and safety in the workplace.

The authority issued 14 official improvement notices to various firms, which require employers to take immediate steps to reduce the risk of danger members of staff are exposed to.

Rolls Royce Workers Exposed to Hazardous Substances - July 21, 2008

Rolls Royce has been penalised £120,000 for compromising the health and safety of its workers after five workers were exposed to hazardous materials, leaving them with skin rashes and chest problems.

Derby crown court imposed the fine and ordered the firm to pay costs of £12,122.53 for contravening Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 by failing to ensure, as far as was reasonably practical, that its staff were not exposed to hazardous substances.

Forster Refurbishment Fined After Worker Falls Through Roof - July 18, 2008

Company directors are being urged to implement safe systems of work for employees who operate at height after a Burton-on-Trent firm was prosecuted for failing to do so.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is warning bosses to ensure the health and safety of staff who work at height after Staffordshire magistrates’ court fined Forster Refurbishment and Property Services £7,000 and ordered it to pay costs of £3,138 following a fall by an employee which left him with serious injuries.