The Guardian - June 2010
Businesses Failing on Fire Drills
Whilst the UK government recommends that businesses undertake annual fire drills, 25% of workers claim never to have taken part in one; 20% also stated that their workplace has no marked fire exits. These are just two of many disconcerting statistics found by a recent study.
The findings imply both business and employees are failing to take emergency fire procedures seriously. 42% of those interviewed said they would delay their exit to pick up personal belongings or work documents. A further 6% said they would also pause to collect hot drinks, which pose increased risks of scolds and slips.
This lacklustre approach to fire safety has resulted in unnecessarily extended evacuation times. The London Fire Brigade explains that an average evacuation should take 2.5 minutes, but 10% of those asked admitted they remain at their desks for over a minute after an alarm activation.
It therefore comes as no surprise that businesses and employees alike are being called upon to take a more proactive approach to fire safety and hold more regular drills.
David Geer (Global UK Business Director at RSA) says, 'It is crucial in the case of fire safety that companies not only evacuate employees from the workplace quickly and efficiently in an emergency, but also make sure that staff are made acutely aware of fire safety procedures and the location of their nearest fire exit... Businesses that do not take fire safety seriously are risking their employees' lives and their livelihoods'.
This article was originally published on the Workplace Law Network website - http://www.workplacelaw.net/news/display/id/27448 - and is reproduced here with kind permission.
£4,500 Asbestos Fine
A building firm has incurred fines of £4,500 having been found guilty of breaching Regulations 5, 11, and 16 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006 (232269).
HSE inspectors found that insufficient checks for asbestos or asbestos containing materials had been carried out before the company began their refurbishment works at a Golf and Country Club near Darlington. With some areas of the site still occupied, a prohibition notice was immediately served and tests carried out to confirm if any harmful fibres had spread throughout the Club.
Whilst the test results were negative, a significant number of asbestos containing materials were found in the disturbed construction areas, within pipe lagging and wall and floor voids.
Victoria Wise, the HSE Inspector involved in this case, warned that, 'construction and maintenance workers are the most at-risk groups from asbestos-related disease due to the nature of their work... inadvertent disturbance of asbestos-containing materials can be frequent and regular where asbestos products have not been adequately identified or managed'.
Ms.Wise also stated, 'This prosecution should act as a reminder to those in the construction industry, and those in control of the repair and maintenance of buildings, of the importance of ensuring that a suitable and sufficient assessment for asbestos has been carried out'.
Asbestos exposure is the most serious occupational health issue in the UK and is responsible for approximately 4,000 deaths each year.
HSE 2010
Government Overhaul of Health & Safety Legislation
Just weeks after forming a coalition government, David Cameron has appointed former industry Minister, Lord Young, to undertake a review of all Health & Safety legislation. His findings are due to be published in the summer before working with Whitehall departments, as the Prime Minister's personal adviser, to implement them.
At the centre of these new plans is Lord Young's pledge to restore 'common sense' over regulation, stating that 'we need a system that is proportionate and not bureaucratic'.
Predictably, the response within the industry has been mixed, with voices of support crossing those of caution. Judith Hackett from the HSE has said, 'We welcome your [Lord Young's] review and stand ready to make available to you whatever information or insight we can', whilst Richard Jones, IOSH's Policy and Technical Director, welcomed the new government's focus on educating people about what is really required.
By contrast, eyebrows have been raised by Lord Young's assumption that offices constitute risk free environments. James Retallack, compliance director at construction firm Aggregate Industries, has said on the subject, 'I don't think you can or should separate offices from any other workplace. People can fall down stairs, electrocute themselves, lose fingers in the shredder, trip over cables and injure themselves just as easily in an office as in a factory or on a construction site'. Peter Barnard, HR chief at Grimsby Institute, a further education college, agreed 'offices can be hazardous places... Tell the typist with RSI from poor typing or seating posture that health and safety law should not cover them. This legislation is about health, safety and welfare, not just safety'.
Clearly the stage is set for some very interesting developments as we await the outcome of Lord Young's report in the coming months. S2 Partnership will, of course, be issuing updates as and when they arrive.
RiskWise: Log-on to Learn More
This month saw the beginning of the RiskWise support team's first open training sessions. Lasting approximately 40 minutes these short, yet concise, webinars are designed to expand users' knowledge of the key areas of RiskWise, including: basic system navigation, logging inspections & actions, customising the Home Page and using Data Search.
If you would like to explore the wider functionality of RiskWise and would like to participate in the next session please do not hesitate to contact the RiskWise team at riskwise@s2partnership.co.uk.
The S2 Partnership's Guardian e-bulletin is designed to provide information of a general nature and is not intended as a substitute for professional consultation and advice in a particular matter. Under no circumstances will S2 Partnership be liable for any damages arising from the use of or reliance on the contents of this newsletter.