In a report submitted to the European Council, the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) has concluded that there are no major weaknesses in the design and resilience of the UK’s nuclear power stations.

Operators of oil and gas installations could do more to improve safety reps’ competence, particularly in relation to major operational hazard risks, which would bring benefits in risk management, safety culture and business costs.

There are no fundamental safety weaknesses in the UK’s nuclear industry but lessons can nevertheless be learnt from the Fukushima disaster to make it even safer.

The EU’s Environment Committee has called on the European Commission to update accident-prevention rules for dangerous-substance sites, including improved chemical classifications, clearer information for the public, and more frequent site inspections.

The HSE has launched a three-month consultation on how it plans to recover costs for its interventions from businesses that fail to comply with health and safety laws.

Energy giant Shell UK must pay £1.24 million in fines and costs following an explosion and fire at its Bacton gas terminal in Norfolk.

Five companies have been fined a total of £5.35m with £4.08m in costs over the Buncefield Oil Storage Depot explosions in Hemel Hempstead, in December 2005.

Three companies have been convicted in relation to the Buncefield oil depot explosion in Hertfordshire, in December 2005.

In a report submitted to the European Council, the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) has concluded that there are no major weaknesses in the design and resilience of the UK’s nuclear power stations.

Operators of oil and gas installations could do more to improve safety reps’ competence, particularly in relation to major operational hazard risks, which would bring benefits in risk management, safety culture and business costs.

There are no fundamental safety weaknesses in the UK’s nuclear industry but lessons can nevertheless be learnt from the Fukushima disaster to make it even safer.

The EU’s Environment Committee has called on the European Commission to update accident-prevention rules for dangerous-substance sites, including improved chemical classifications, clearer information for the public, and more frequent site inspections.

The HSE has launched a three-month consultation on how it plans to recover costs for its interventions from businesses that fail to comply with health and safety laws.

Funding has been awarded for an ambitious five-year research project exploring the history of injury, disability and industrialisation in the British coal-mining industry.

Data on the health, safety and environmental performance of UK chemical distributors in 2010 has just been released by the Chemical Business Association (CBA).

A Sellafield worker has won a top award for his efforts as a health and safety rep for his union, Prospect.

To support safety managers and leaders in implementing effective workforce involvement (WFI) programmes, the Energy Institute (EI) has developed a series of posters to encourage colleagues to contribute to safety in the workplace.

The HSE has funded research into incidents in the construction sector that result in a high number of casualties and/or a significant damage to property or infrastructure.

Experts from Lorien Engineering Solutions are reminding practitioners that there are processes that can be introduced to help prevent chemical explosions.