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Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE) Selector Tool
The most recent Joint Project between Safety Groups UK and the HSE and others. One outcome of the work was the development of an RPE Selector tool. Details of Respiratory Protective Equipment and the selector tool can be found on the HSE Website at: http://www.healthyworkinglives.com/advice/minimising-workplace-risks/personal-protective-equipment/rpe.aspx
Added to website 11/2/12
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Lea and Ouse Valleys Safety Association awarded Alan Butler Silver Award.
The Alan Butler awards are given to Local Safety Groups by Safety Groups UK in recognition of the work they do to promote health, safety and environmental practice in their local area. These awards are open to the more than 70 local safety groups in the UK. LOVSA submitted an application at the end of 2011 for which we have been awarded a Silver Award. Awards are to be presented in the House of Lords on 23 January 2012.
Added to website 20/1/12
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Working at height, HSE Guidance
Managing work at height follows a hierarchy of controls – avoid, prevent, arrest – which begins with the question – can the work be done safely from the ground? Fall restraints and safety netting should only be considered as a last resort if other safety equipment cannot be used.
- Assessing work at height - Assess the risks, take precautions, and issue clear method statements for everyone who will work at height.
- Roof work - Plan safe access, and prevent falls from edges and openings.
- Fragile surfaces - The hierarchy of controls for working on or near fragile surfaces is avoid, control, communicate, co-operate.
- Ladders - When it's appropriate to use ladders – and the three key safety issues – position, condition and safe use.
- Tower scaffolds - Select the right tower for the job; erect, use, move and dismantle the tower safely; ensure that it is stable; inspect it regularly; prevent falls.
You can find this Guidance on the HSE website at: http://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/safetytopics/workingatheight.htm
Added to website 20/1/12
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Example risk assessments, from HSE
The examples show how other small and medium-sized businesses have approached risk assessment. They are not exclusive and more are being added from time to time.
There are examples from Shops, Offices, motor Vehicles and other workplaces. If you can't find your industry listed, pick the one closest to it and adapt it for your own workplace. Use it as a guide to think about:
- some of the hazards in your business
- the steps you need to take to control the risks.
Even where the hazards are the same, the control measures you adopt may have to be different from those in the examples to meet the particular conditions in your workplace.
If you work in a low risk office-based environment or a shop, you can complete your risk assessment quickly and easily by using HSE's web-based tools.
Remember
A risk assessment is only effective if you and your staff act on it. You must follow through with any actions required and review it on a regular basis.
You can find this on the HSE website: http://www.hse.gov.uk/risk/casestudies/index.htm.
Added to website 20/1/12
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Temperature eBulletin
Keep up to date with the latest news and information on temperature via a free regular email bulletin. Go to the HSE website to sign up to the Temperature eBulletin
Added to website 20/1/12
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Pesticide Approvals
New products that have gained approval via HSE. Details can be found on the HSE website http://www.hse.gov.uk/biocides/copr/approvals/index.htm
Added to website 20/1/12
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Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH)
What is a "substance hazardous to health"? Substances that are hazardous to health can take many forms. You can find more information on what consititutes a hazardous substance here: http://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/basics/substance.htm.
Added to website 20/1/12
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Working at height video.
The Health and Safety Executive has released a video on working at height when carrying out building and plant maintenance activities. More than 3 million people in the UK work at height as part of their job and the video aims to increase awareness of he steps that should be taken to ensure that the work is carries out safely. The video can be downloaded or viewed on line at http://www.hse.gov.uk/falls/video
Added to website 20/1/12
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Advice on transporting Chemicals.
The Chemical Business Association has published new guidance on transporting chemicals safety. Designed to complement Department for Transport guidelines, the best practice guide focuses on load security and is aimed at anyone involved in the loading, stowing, segregating, securing and unloading of packaged chemicals. You can access the guide at : http://www.chemical.org.uk/regulatoryissues/transport/loadsecuringguidance.aspx
Added to website 20/1/12
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Löfstedt Review of Health and Safety Legislation.
Professor Löfstedt has now published his review of health and safety. His general conclusions were:
- The general sweep of requirements set out in health and safety regulation are broadly fit for purpose but there are a few that offer little benefit to health and safety and which the Government should remove, revise or clarify, in particular the duties for self-employed people whose work activities pose no potential risk of harm to others.
- The much bigger problem is that regulatory requirements are misunderstood and applied inappropriately. The changes I am recommending seek to address where this arises by:
- streamlining the body of regulation through consolidation;
- re-directing enforcement activity towards businesses where there is the greatest risk of injury or ill health;
- re-balancing the civil justice system by clarifying the status of pre-action protocols and reviewing strict liability provisions.
- This will help to ensure that all key elements of the regulatory and legal system are better targeted towards risk and support the proper management of health and safety instead of a focus on trying to cover every possible risk and accumulating paperwork.
The full review is available from here: http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/lofstedt-report.pdf
Added to website 20/1/12
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New edition of EH40/2005 Workplace Exposure Limits.
This edition of EH40 replaces the previous version, first published in 2005, and takes account of new substances and workplace exposure limits (WELs) introduced in 2007 and 2011. EH40/2005 Workplace exposure limits Date of publication: 2011 ISBN: 9780717664467 Series code: EH40 Price: £15.00 or Download a free copy from: http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/priced/eh40.pdf
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